The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-19
Arnold on Emerson.

Suu VI MulIH NttAi w ooio NhRb WHY
stand even pleasantly in the memories
of his English readers. In truth, Emer-
son is not, in my Judgment, q legiti-
mate poet. His poetry is interesting.
1t make one think, but it is not the
poetry of great poet l say this with
regret, for admire Emerson, but l say
it as matter of justice not only to
truth but to his own great soul and
mind. t....--.. 1
Milton says that poetry should be
simple, serious, and imprisoned.
Emerson's poetry seldom contains any
one 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 a
poet by the power and skill with which
his evolutions were conducted. Emer-
sons ''Maydayn has no evolution at
all. In general his poetry has no evo-
buttons. In his "Titmouse" the reader
is never able to obtain q 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. l do not place Emer-
son among the great poets or the great
men of letters. Who are the great
men of letters? 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. l 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
"A 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-
glish Traits" are faults of observation.
Emerson's 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 it. Judged in that way EN-
glish Traits" is certainly not work of
perfection.
We realize then that Emerson's re-
lation to mankind is not that Of a great
poet, a 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 Aurelus. He is the friend and
alder Of those who would live in the
spirit. All of the points in thinking is
necessary for q purpose he takes, but
he does not combine them into a sys-
tenn 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 qualiii-
cations for such task, and those ne
possessed ina large degree. The good
is close to us, and the skepticism Of our
age and of many of our eminent men
should be resisted. Pretension is use
less. 1t never wrote an 'Iliad,n il
never gave birth to nor developed q
Christianity, and it never abolished
slavery. Exclusion is deadly. The
exclusionist in religion does not see
that he shuts the door to himself in
trying to shut out others. Compensa.
ton finally is the great law of life. II
is everywhere, it is sure. and there il
no escape from it. More practica
positiveness is what we want. Emer
sons optimism and his defiance o
favorable relations have in them thai
whlch Is dangerous. Emerson's points
a are true ana fruitful if they are under
$1,000 IN the right sense. From thei,
own MI On points of view they are Ger
tainiy true. The secret of his effect /,
IN his temper-his hopeful and soror,
temper. Never had any man such ,
sense OF the observation-disclosures ot n o,nr,
and Of hope as did Emerson. His ahid
ing word for all his readers is that tb
qualities which benefit them is chez,
fulness, courage and the endeavor /
realize their aspirations. One ca
hardly overrate the Importance an
the value of holding on to hope ar
cheerfulness. This teaching alone Civ
to Emerson's work an estimable virtu
The scope and upshot of Emerson
teaching is truth. The guiding gent
Is his moral sense. 1t has been sa
that Emerson in his writings is +
sanguine; that the present generals
Is not going to turn out as well as
hoped. 1t is very likely that he W
too sanguine rs to the near futul
Possibly the next few generations nj
prove to DO unworthy Of his high hop,
But time will demonstrate the trut
fulncss Of his gentle theories. BY I
rauvicfinn that In tho 1ifa and houa