New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-21

kind of machine verse which is turned out yearly
by the ream among English lads who have gone
through college life. The metres are correct there
is smooth swing to the lines, and the subjects are
legendary, with q strong tendency toward iheu'o''
action and scenery. 1t is not OFFENSIVE IL - NV
! stupid, but it is not poetry.
Mr.. John Mcdowell Leavitt has wr'ff""
thin volume entitled "Fath' ihe ie''"' ~
ofhor poemsr In the first of these poems
there is good deal of spirit the VERSE Is ".''
monous. and the sentiment elevated ana wno'c-
so,re II ia somewhat more pompons than the pres
emf mercurlal and irreverent age Is apt 10 lci'"'
and tho other poems err In respect OF artlncla'F.
There is indeed n pedagogic flavor aoou' so'"o VI
them but the author has true ear anu pun
Muse and if he will strive after naturaness he may
do much better hereafter.
The author Of "Plantaton Lays and Other
Poems appears to unite in his person some 'hco"-
pruous qualities Judging from the blographicai IL"
PRODUCTION which accompanies ms DOCK. io 10
lawyer in large practice in South 'aroiih'' '""
strange to saw is looked upon as the very 'nca'"
tion of the practical and man OF WORK ana VIM :
his poetical procivities having. 1t Is said' peoh
carefully concealed Hest they should njurc MS prac
ticel from all but few select lrlehhs LOT many
years. We are informed further that " MS 1udg'
ment on matters of real estate ana colateral mere
looked upon as information that one may 'lo W ,
and his poitics are those of Puck and The Ndhon'
Some peoplc might think IT matter OF course ttat
Gu sound a nudge of collaterals and so devoted
foIlovcr of s. mupwump' politics should write good
poetrv: but notwithstanding all his educational
advantaoes We are constrained to say that the
noatrr of Mr. Relton O'Neal Townsend. A. Is. ana
Attorney nj Law, is very bad indeed In fact ms
LEGAL training and his political experience are
serious obstacles TO him. for they cause him 10 use
such expressions as
Onr story takes recess
OF six OF seven years
While bs dealings In collaterals npel him TO utter
this warming
oh Northern people, watch itl
The coming Southern race,
IN atts mud money inahihn,,
Arc going tp give YOU chaH"l
fhia. no doubt. IN encouraging but " u hhfu'y
poetry, II Ia el'e clear That u poet VINO ae's o"'
with Al,
III not invoke the Muses.
int with hheflitz sale,
very h0mely matter,
You may think, VIII start my thlo,
is probably a much better lawyer than verslher,
and that it hardly necessary for hun to conceal
his " poeto pIochvities" from his clients since 1t
would take great deal of such verso to shake Their
faith in his Judgment on cOlaterals and matters OF
troduced his pIoclivity to a murder trial, actually
reading n copy of verses entitled A Plea for jim
to the Jury ompanelled to inquire whether jim
oucht or ought not to be hanged These remark
able verses consist mainly OF observations calcu-
lated to show that il would be extremely unpleas-
ant for Jim if he was executed. 1t is stated In
footnote that Jim was acquitted in spite OF the
verses" and this circumstance appears to speak
volumes for the progress in civilization of the South
Carolina jury. 1t is to be noted that MIR. Bolton
ONeall Townsend, like some other great men, has
recorded a prophecy of his own future fame. lie
says: m
Yes Won spurn me. am willing!
Yet swear some ;uture day
Shoud nalight keep me from fulfilling
All the tasks would essay
That I'll make you rue II deeply,
Deeply rue the evil hour.
When Won chose to rate so chcaply
One whom Fames gifts Will shower.
After this the critics would do well to consider their
WAYS. But we must leave Plantation Lays and
their author with an expression of regret that after
so many years of iudcous reticcnce he should have
yielded ut last to the temptation to publish.
sEuphrasia and Alberta" called poetic ro-
mances by their author, Mr. John Ap Thomas
Zones. The former is written in Spenserian stanzas.
and is somewhat ambtiou, but not particularly
striking or powerful poem. based on German
tradition Dramatic effect is aimed at but scarcely
attained Alberta" is but poetic dream Ii
is tale of love and chvalry of the old-fashiOncd
kind and neither in conception nor execution does
il deserve much comment or Communications " The
Morning Bieath of June is anonymous. 1t Is dcdi-
Gated 70 those whose contributions have enabled
the poor of the city u breathe the summer air OF
forest. field and sea" The poem IS an culogium
mon the bamy June morning air. The theme is
pursued with considerable ingenuity and versa