The Portland daily press., 1884-12-24
New Publications.
IpYLs OF THE YEAR.

The first and lasting impression derived
from the reading of this volume OF Mr.. Bax-
tsrs verse is one of satisfaction in finding it to
be OF genuine poetic quality. There is no
doubt that he is a poet by grace of tempers-
ment and inclination. This is the point nec-
essary to be settled to readers satisfaction
before he can willingly give himself over to
the mood of contented following of an authors
guidance. The experienced journalist needs
no reminder of the uncounted volumes of
rhyme and measure that appear before him for
judgment, and which have no significance
whatever to the art Of poetry, but are mere
tricks of imitation or displays of verbal tinsel
upon the thinnest fabric of fancy and thought.
OF these unpoetic faults Mr.. Baxter has almost
none. His best traits are genuine; the defects
in his verse are such as in the press of weigh
tier affairs, readily slip from the rapid point of
the pen.
In these days of vague expression of half
seen things, it is promise of pleasure to find
a singer with so direct and strong poetic Wis.
ion as is that of Mr.. Baxter. His fancy is
thoroughly filled with the poetic image which
presents itself to him, and he is able to hold it
steadily il his minds eye until he has trans
ferred it Enthusiastically to the written page.
He possesses also quick observation of and
sympathy with the moods of nature, and pe-
culiarly direct and effective gift of adapting
them to his artistic purposes. Oae is astenish-
ed and delighted by the swift and vigorous
touches that give SO fine effects of color, light,
outline and literary suggestion. His talent is
OF so strong and innate character that some
hints of occasional blemishes in manner will
be understood. as they are meant, merely as the
reverse of the medal of praise. He lacks as
yet somewhat of certain workmanlike dis
cipline of words, a professional distrast of
poetic license, that would permit such words
as 'ope," 81 weet, +" "gainst"- in fact,
of pre-Vietorian period of literature when
poetry appeared to desire to remove itself, by
means of contractions, diversions and curious
words, from the usnal language OF daily prose-
Again, in some slight awkardnesses of rhythm
one sees that Mr.. Baxter's poetic gift
has not been subjected to patient technical
training. These very remediable faults having
been briefly noted. only remains the pleasanrer
task Of indicating some of the admirable pas
sages in which the volume abounds, leaving
however-for sake of this holiday time that
presses SO heavily upon newspaper columns
very much to the appreciation of the reader.
In "The Flight North" the rise and
passage of the Northward-bound birds is
rendered in verse that, particularly in the
stanza which sketches the pallid spendor OF
the Arctic regions, is fairly mssterly in its re-
serve of color and its large suggestive out lines.
"Crescendo" is both imaginative and tunefui.
"Dolce far Niente" is a successful blending of
the moods of fancy and reality. "July" is
filed with sincere and rapid poetic passion
August" is also very finely imagined with it's
heavy tropical cadences sThe Herdbels" il
extremely graceful; it has atmosphere and
music, though it contains soma less fortunate
lines. In the poems which describe the pass
ing of Life through the years space, there is
stately and suggestive quality, not quite satig-
factorily carried out, and somewhat disturbed
by the inadequate and too abrupt manner of
the final quatrains. "Decrescendo" and "De-
cember" are fairly admirable, and singularly
delicate studies of atmospheric color that re-
call the manner of some Of the best of modern
French painters.
The publishers deserve a word of praise for
their dainty setting of the poems Two etch-
ings, "Flood" and "Ebb," illustrative of the
text, are very meritorious. e. s. j.
Books Received.
IDYLs OF THE YEAR. By James Phinney Baxter.
cortland: Hoyt, Fogg q Donhsm.)