The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-14
Arnold on Emerson.

ALhOlu Ou IIluGTbOns
There are few passages of Emer-
son Of which it can be said that they
stand even pleasantly in the memories
of his English readers. In truth, Emer-
son is not, in my judgment, legiti-
mate poet. His poetry is interesting.
1t make one think, but it is not the
poetry of great poet. / say this with
regret, for admire Emerson, but say
it as matter of justice not only to
truth but to his own great soul and
mind. .f
Milton says that poetry should be
simple, serious, and impassioned.
Emerson's poetry seldom contains any
ne of these qualities. His poetry
lacks feeling, clearness and energy.
There are some passages, to be sure,
which in beauty and grace are worthy
of Gray, but Gray held his place as q
poet by the power and skill with which
his evolutions were conducted. Emer-
sons "Mayday" has no evolution at
all. In general his poetry has no evo-
lutions. In his "Titmouse" the reader
is never able to obtain clear idea Of
what his titmouse did. The author is
not concrete enough-not poet enough
to tell us. His readers are left to guess
for themselves. lido not place Emer-
son among the great poets or the great
men of letters. Who are the great
men of lettersp Such men as Cicero,
Plato, Bacon, Swift and Voltaire. They
were writers of grace and style. Emer-
sons style was not only uncertain but
often very weak. Some Of his English
critics had ventured to call him too
green. Emerson has written passages
of noble and pathetic eloquence and
shrewd and pointed wit, besides some
of the most exquisite epigrams. He
has not the style of great writer,
however. do not even consider Car
lyle great writer. Emerson promised
Carlyle Immortality for his histories.
They will not have it.
Emerson has been called the founder
of philosophy. Speaking carefully,
Aristotle. Plato and Kant cannot be
called great writers. Yet they build up
philosophers. Emerson cannot be called
u great philosophical writer because he
could not build. His philosophical
works have no progress, no evolution.
He knew his own defects very well,
and he formulated the defect of his
own style of production when he spoke
of his tendency to the lapidary style.
Some who say that Emerson's poetry is
too abstract and his philosophy too
vague declare that his best work was
his English Traits / am free to
admit that the English Traits have
most excellent qualities, but they are
not great 1t is but simple justice to
Emerson to measure him by the high
est standard. The faults of his EN-
elish Traits" are faults of observation.
Emerson observations were OF sys-
tematic benevolence. They will not
stand the stern test of actual condi-
tons. We should keep our literary
consciences true, and judge every kind
of literary work by the conditions
proper to 1t. Judged in that way EN-
glish Traits is certainly not work of
perfection.
lation to mankind is not that of great
poet, great writer, or - great philo-
sophy-maker, but it is of superior i'm
portance, nevertheless. His relation
Is more like that of the Emperor Mar
Gus Aurelius. He is the friend and
alder of those who would live in the
spirit All of the points in thinking Is
necessary for a purpose he takes, but
he does not combine them into sys-
TEN of philosophy. Emerson possessed
the talent necessary TO give aid to those
who desired to think and to see the
good and the pure in life. Character
and earnestness were necessary qualiti-
cations for such task, and those he
possessed in a large degree. The good
Is close to US, and the skepticism of our
age and of many Of our eminent men
should be resisted. Prctcnsion is USE
less. 1t never wrote an 'Iliad." it
never gave birth to nor developed u
Christianity, and 1t never abolished
slavery. Exclusion is deadly. The
exclusionist in religion does not see
that he shuts tho door 10 himself in
trying to shut out others. Compeusa-
ton finally is tho great law of life. 1t
10 everywhere. IL Is sure. and there Is
no escape from IL. More practical
positiveness Is what we want. Emer-
sons optimism and his defiance OF
favorable relations have in them that
which Is dangerous. Emerson's points
are true and fruitful if they are under
stood In the right sense. From their
own high points of view they are GER
tainly true The secret of his effect Is
in his temper--his hopeful and serene
temper Never had any man such a
sense of the Observation-Disclosures OF nature
and Of hope as did Emerson. His abid-
ing word for all his readers Is that the
qualities which benefit them II cheer
fulness, courage and the cndeayor TO
realize their aspirations. One can
hardly overrate the Importance and
the value of holding on to hope and
cheerfulness. This teaohing alene gives
to Emerson's work an cstimnble virtue.
Tho arov,a and unahot az EmersOn's