The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-26
ARNOLD ON EMERSON.
New \ orh Ilnhts

There aie :ex passages of Emerson of winch i can oe said that they stand even pleasantly IT. the memories .sf his English readers In truth. Emerson is not, in my judgment, t legitimate poet. His po- e..y !s interesting. Il makes one think. bu, !, is not the poetry of great poet. l say this with regret. for admire En- erson. but l say It as a matter of justice nol only ,o truth but to his own great soul and mind
 hl!l,on says that poetry should be sim pie. seuous, and impassioned. Emer- son ; poetry seldom contains any one of these ieal!.'es. Ills poetry l. ks feeling oleAiness and energy. There are some passages, to he sure. which in beauty ana staee tie worthy ot G.ra.. but Gray he'd his place as poet by the power and skill with which his esalniions were conducted. Emerson's " Mayday" has no evolution at all. In general his DO, etry has no evoluiions. In his |" Tit mouse the reader Is never able to ob- tam a clear idea of wha, his iiimouse did The author IS not concrete enough not poet enough to tell us. Ills readers are lief, ! guess for themselves. l do not place Emerson among the grea, poets or the great men of letters. Who are the erea; men of letter, Such men as Cicero. Plato Bacon, Swii, and Noltaire. They were writers of grace and style. Emerson style was not only uncertain bu; often very weak. Some of his Eng lIsh critics had ven,ured to call him too green. Emerson has written passages of noble and pathetic eloquence and shrewd and pointed wit, besides some of the mos, exquisite episrams. He has not the style of great writer. however do not even consider ulyle grca, writer. Emerson promised Carlyle m mortality for his histories. They will not have II.
 Emerson has been called the founder ot philosophy Speaking carefully. Aristotle. Plato. and Kant cannot be called great writers. le' they build up philosphies Emerson cannot be called great philosophical writer because he could not build. His philosophical al "ofks have no progress, no evolution He knew his own defects very well. and he formulated the defect of hts own style oi production when he spoke of his ten- dency to the lapidary style. Some who
 
 and his philosophy too vague declare that his best work was his English Traits" l am free to adait ttat the ' English Traits have most excellent qualities, but they are not great It IS but simple justice to Emerson te measure him by the highest standard. The faults of his English Traits" are faults of ob- servation. Emerson's observations were oi systematic benevolenee. They will not stand the stern test of actual condl- tions. We should keep ou, literary con- sciences true, and judge every kind oi literary work by the conditions proper to II. Judged in that way English Traits ' Is certainly no, a work of perfection.
 We realize then that Emerson's rela- ton 70 mankind IS not that of a grea, poeI, d great writer, or great philosophy maker, bu, Il IS ei superior importance nevertheless. His relation Is more like that of the Emperor Marcus Aurcliu He .S the friend and alder of those who would live Tn the spirit. All of the points in thinking is necessary for purpose he takes, but he does not combine them into system of philosophy. Emerson pos sessed the talent necessary to give aid tc AhVSC WHo QCSuCd kO ttitIik anu 10 sec tne good and the pure in life. Character and earnestness were necessary qualifica. ,ions for such a task. and those he pos. sessed in large degree. The good is close to us. and the skeptieism of our age and of many of our eminent men should be resisted. Pretension is useless. Ii never wrote an Iliad," It never gave birth to nor developed a Christianity. and II never abolished slavery. Exclusion is deadly. The eNelusiopist in religion does not see that he shuts the door to himself in trying to shut out others. Compensation finally is the great law oi life. l, is everywhere, it is sure, and there IS no escape from it. More prac- tical positiyeness is what we want. Elm erson's 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 thelr own high points of view they are certainly true. The secret of his effect is in his temper-his hopeful and serene temper.