The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-10-24

sand sweet and ripping MINOR gems OF
song and melody, and final conclu-
sion can be drawn now as well as when
the laureatc's noble head has had its
kingly crown Of earth replaced by the
immortal laurclS of Paradise. Tenny-
sons endeavors to represent his coun
try in the age of his Queen in the gal
axy Of poetry, have been more earnest,
industrious, sincere and successful than
critics have been willing to accord.
We cannot compare him with the
American poetic geuius simply because
of the incompatible nature Of the two
countries. His most sublime contcm-
porary here is, beyond doubt, Long
fellow, yet, we cannot believe that
l.ongtellow would have Jared any bet
ter in an attempt to write the history of
Arthur's Round Table than did John
Falstaff to appear an honest man; nor
that Tennyson would have succeeded
near SO well in thinning "Tales of
wayside Inn and "The Courtship of
| Miles Standish' as Rosalind in con-
cealing the identity Of her womanhood
from the eyes of Orlando. Yet both
were equally great in their different
haunts and subjects, and both magnii-
cent representatives of the traits and
natures of their countries. Tennyson
has succeeded in writing of men and
kings and angry times and wars in such
a way that his readers feel themselves
kingly and great and grand as they fol-
low page by page the actions of life
portrayed IN the lofty words and sent
ences of a soul that has drank at the
perfumed fountain of melody, elo-
quence, and poetic power. And Long
fellow has succeeded fully as we'll in
writing Of life and nature of mild do
nestle beauty in such way that the
troubled waters of the spirit are lulled
to quiet and soothed by the irresistible
mellow strain which steals through the
soul in soft and tremulous murmurs,
like the notes Of guitar drifting
through the liquid streets Of Venice. In
Tennyson is united all the hot mad
blood of English feudalism with all the
deep grand music of English philosophy
and sentiment. Ahuman life, be it of
King or Page, of Queen or waiting
maid, receives from him the touch of
genius, comes forth framed in the
MOSES of an old castle, heaths and
hollows stretching all about, the lordly
Thames and primeval forests forming a
back ground for the song and story of
a life and its love and death. The
power of Tennyson over the English
heart has been wonderful. His recog-
milton has been supremacy gratifying,
and all because he has spoken to that
heart with a voice like the echo of
bugle blast, has painted it pictures of
itself, and taught it its majesty and sub
Unity, its beautiful story and romance.
Tennyson cannot help being philoso
pher more than he can help being a
poet. Yet, he never fails to give phil
osophy its place and poetry its place,
dealing with them both with an instinc-
tive element of precaution alone &C
quired by master who has long dealt
laws and creeds to the masses. An
English triumph has ever found him
prompt with praise, an English failure
has always won his love and sympathy,
and his country has been as dear an
idol of his heart as his poetic art has
been a sublime adjunct of his soul. In
him the material and ideal are found
very closely related, yet to the poetic
principles of humanity and the Conduct
of our human hearts are united practi-
Calisms that have dubbed from the
wells of science and philosophy The
infinite beauty of our human lives, the
divinity of the human laws of fellow
ship have inspired his soul to songs
crowned with the penetrative power of
Shakespeare and armed with the sub
DUNG grace of Wordsworth. His vo-
calty has been alllterative to a very
great degree, but its natural outbursts
of song, in number of minor pieces
and several of the longer poems, seem
winged with purest melody. He uses
the poets art to its fullest, grandest, en-
tent. The meaning of the bard is held
in sacred reverence by him ; he honors
the deeds of men, he honors the &C
tons of the universe, he reveres the
grand sweet systems of the world, and
looks outward from his billy English
leas over the beautiful goodness of the
great System Maker, entoning in his
songs the gladness and truth of heart
and the depth and sincerity of soul
, that breathes diviner melodies than ever
dwelt in an atmosphere laden with the
essences of Chaucer, Milton, and the
female Browning.
TO \ FALLING STAR.
Whittier, whittier. falling star
From the regions nebular
Goest thou and what home
Seek you when you swiftly roam
, From thy haven in the sky
| In dark oblivion to die?
, oh, the mystery of thy being
Far beyond our mortal seeing,
SO we fall and so are lost
| Earthly glory, earthly dross.
Sometime, wandering with tired feet
On golden paved street,
l Through celestial thoroughtares,
+ We may happen unawares
On the heights you now are seeking
Dazed and longing without speaking,
|, 8 ~