The sun., 1883-11-04
A Delightful Misceilary.

This is q dainty volume OF pleasant dia-
loguo. interspersed with varied verse. which
Mr.. W. w. STORY has given US. under tho ap-
propriate title OF A Poefs Portfolio tHoughton.
Mifllin 4 co.,. Many of the poems. It Is true.
have been previously published. but here they
are prefaced and accompanied by criticism and
comment which Is always thoughtful and stim-
ulative. and sometimes pungent. Those who
know Mr.. Story's verso need not to be told
how finished and attractive in respect Of form
1t is : how far no is from conenting himself.
as too many of our modern Wrists do. with
corruscations of fancy and surprising effects
of melody. being at all times sedulous to
offer us something worth pondering and re-
membcring in his smooth and tuneful lines.
There are poems OF his which for compression
and pregnancy OF meaning may be likened to
Mr.. Brownings csoeric and cryptogrammatic
deiverances-minu the obscurity- and others
in whose serene mood Of deep and earnest
meditation we are reminded OF the best work
Of Mr.. Matthew Arnold. II Mr. Story is less
widely known than some who are less qualified
than he to claim place among the accredited
revealers Of poetic truth and beauty IL is
because he has preferred to seek expression in
another province OF artistic labor. and is
content that his nfrcluent utterances In verse
shall be watched for and treasured by the few
who know how to value serious and germinative
musings and who can feel the penetrating
charm Of unaffected sentiment.
Most OF the poems in this volume. though
few OF them are long in the current meaning of
the word are too long for quotation here. and
we would rs soon think of clipping petal from
u Hover or chipping an intaglio as to offer the
reader bits of them. But there are two or three
short poems. perhaps not the less rich in sig
nicance because they are small Of compass,
.lt Il, l,.,lll 4
give the reader u slight foretas,e of what he
may Gull for himself in this volume. Thus
apropos Of the essential loneliness which is the
lot Of every human being. and against whose
impenetrab!e wall love himself is fated to beat
his wings in vain. we have the following eight
lines on whose purport Mr.. Swinburnc would
have rung innumerabe changes without add
ing a iot. 1t may be. to its weight and poignancy:
Thy lips touched mine there flashed sudden fire
Oh was 1, ,oy frp ar ,i rn,n am t" CIR G5a,n a..r.
Turn it to pain'
The thirst of soul Loves rapture could not sake
- While we were twain.
VI our two beings one We could not make.
And that was pain.
Let US turn to something Of lighter mood.
Here are some charming verses which will be
appreciated by men who have passed the noon
tide Of life and can look with empered fond
ness on faces that recall old memories Tho
interlocutors in Mr.. Story's dialogue call this
poem "A Mistake"
How your sweet face revivea again
The dear old time my Pearl
IT, may use the pretty name
called you when a girl
Yon are so young: while Time of me
Has made a cruel prey,
1t has forgotten yOm nor swcnt
One grace OF youth
The same sweet face. the same sweet smile
The same liti. +. cure tool
What did you saw 1t was perchance
Your mother that knew ~
All. yes. of course. IL must have been
Aud vet the same you seem.
And for moment all these years
Fled from NE like dream
Then what your mother would not give
Permit ine. dear. to take,
The old mans privilrgr-a kiss-
Just for your mothers sake.