New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-06

as every reader Of these pages will perceive anu az
indeed the present publication OF TINS DOCK SUN,
GENTLY denotes. Most men at fonr-score nave ce"sO'
to take lively interest in the affairs OF inc "oiiu
Mr. Lunt, al that age, 10 the active director ol
Harbor OF Refuge on tho stormy south COAST VI
Massachusetts,, and he contributes to Literature a
complete edition of his poems
This book would be welcome, if for no other fea-
son, as memorial Of the past. 1t is strange ana
not a little pathetic, TO read hcre,-as tiesh anu
in some sense, cOntemporaneous tr'buteS-Poe"is
commemorative of Washington, OF BYRON ana oi
Napoleon BOnaparte. This poets muse Wa
touched by the Inourntul announcement OF inc
death of Byron. at Misslonghi, in 1924; by the
spectacle Of the bringing home OF the asheS u ',o
great Emperor 10 his grave on the banks OF the
Seine; and ty the attempt,-which certainly was
unwise if not sacrilegious-to have the remains Oh
Washington removed On 1889 from the tomb AT
Monnt Vernon 10 a crypt at the Capitol. IL IS
patrlot heart that beats beneath these melodouS
words One of the poems is Ballad OF bnhhci
Hill; another celebrates the MayitowCr ana tle
landing of the Pilgrims; a third was written loI
tie inaugural on Of the statue OF warren al O"i'o'
town, Mass in1S57. Webster, Everett Choa'e
Winthrop. Adams. George Peabody anu blshoP
Eastburn are among the shining names tha' az
honOred b. this singer and that grace the pages VI
his song The influence of that thorough Ciasslcai
Learning which was mOrc prevalent formerly thah
now it is In poetic authorship may be distinctly
traced throughout these compositions lhey "ic
tho works Of a scholar and man OF severe taSte'
Tie expression is Sighted but the thouehl Is
always held as paramount to the expression. feT-
hans indeed the noctic spirit Is sometimes sacri-
feed TO the prose fact. Mr. Lunts snDIcols are VI
Tho actual wo1ld--hisoric incidents, tho sea- the
IL. Al, tI. oh
great men, the common experiences OF NE ana lHo
affections of mankind He uses,-as Prior ana AZ
Swift did,-the satTical fable and the tamliiar
cpste IN verse His great chicftains and excmplais
In poetry are evidently, Milton and Byron WIN
the mysticaI writer's he has no sympathy; ana he
reprints parody of Emerson poem OF " Brdhha
a poem which always imprcs- us as much more
trivial and worthless than obscure. Mr.. Luht 5
poctry. furthermore is that of a Christian. Inc
religions spirit is not with him. either an aiccta-
ton or a mechanical cOnventionallty: II - real
And this quality, combined with Independence "i
mind. manly truthfulncss of thought, and thorough
honest, sensible workmanship in literary art arc
conspcuous and noble virtues of his writings.
In the literary period upon which we are now en-
tering it seems likely that somewhat less attention
will be given by Americans TO the study of English
authors and more to the study of their own. The
buiIdmg of an American literature has been carried
on SLOWLY. but ndustiiously and steadily, for the
last hundred years, and that literature has now
become very considerable body in all Of ITS
branches The labors Of men like Warner. Under
wood and George William Curtis, Of late years
have specially tended to direct careful Thought TO
this important subject The work is still gong on,
and time, and the physical death which 1t involves
will. at no distant day hallow more than one con-
Temporary American name, to which the care ess
present does not give its Iightful mcrItcd honor
II requires no gift Of prophecy to say that future
students of the making Of The literature OF America
will recognize remember and respect the name OF
George Luut. He has not, indeed made poetry The
labor of his life His talents have been largely ex-
pended upon politics, controversy, tho law and the
urwspaper He has reared no enduring monument
of verse such as Bryants Thanatopsis," OF Hal
lecks Marco BozzMis unique pieces, winch
everybody remembers and which will never Gln.
But he has been one of the builders of his countys
literature: he has written with taste, ygor elo-
lucncc and beauty; he has shown las IN such poems
as "Caligula" and the Ode on George Peabody a
poets Imagination and poets dignity Of thought
and through his mastery of certain of the nipple
Incnts of poetic expression be has sgnled powers,
in this field which fully cntitle him to high
rank among the writers Of his native Ncw-Enslaud.