New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-21
POETRY AND VERSE.

pp I96. Tcknor Co. sov II. II,
soNNETs AND Lyrics ,. by Hyro HxIss 'A'N'0''
NJ, IN IN rAIrBAN With other Poeme BY CHRIS
TornsR PKAEss csASca lsmo' PIP W. -'
ton s Mp'I poETlcAL WORKS OF BENJAMIN F.
TAYLOR ia~0, Pr. <, 800. chi'as0' o y '''sS'
,,xrs .Sp rSrERLrNEs. BY JulIA p. BorNToS.
i6luo, PIP. vii, l03. g. p. Pntnams sons 49,
THE POETS PRAISE By mks lun. HAMILTON i0"''
ruE INITATORs A Poem of Boston Life. 16mo' Up.
1873. Cupples, tpham q TO-
The happy. tr,,stful spirit OF Nora Perrys poetry
Is felt even in her slighter pieces-sonss Oh u'o
months the seasons, and tho howers' ana sinpie
expressions OF moral sentiment and pure ahec.ion
She is not concerned with complex emotions or
phenomenal experiences: her charm Is lhaI Sic
gives such musical and sympathetic voice 10
familiar feelings and that although she is no
STRANGER to the note of rathos, she is never DC
traved into dark ana disordered moods. She
loves sunshine and hopefulness. A bright humor
sparxles even III the short, tripping, nielouious
measures in which she prefers to emoody her
thoughts Most Of her ballads turn upon chseriu
incidents and IL she docs not always tell stofv
with the force terscness and plainness OF the True
baladist she at least does not miss The vlNaclous
manner AMI direct action required by this form oil
composition. The Christmas Gale Is one oil her
best pieces in the narrative kind. and an excellent
example of some of her finest general Q"ahueS.
In our day of trivial art and faint feeling inc
poetry of Mrs jackson Is refreshment She
cared little for polishing verses as an elesanC
accomplishment, or trying her skill In u1e oe-
scription of scenery and flowers she wrote almost
always under the impulse OF a defnite sentiment
et times perhaps somewhat obscureg expressed,
though clear to herself-and the sentiment was
wholesome and generous. For this reason hcr
poetry not infrequently touches lis with a thru
ole ff,lS rtlIzI
count II is not in the least sentimental and yet
il is tender and emotional 1t is natural in tone.
but fine fancy rer, AIDES it. and even when least
suggestive it is never duh. The spirit of the lit
lie book in which are brought together the last
of her hitherto unconected pieces Is sngulaN
gentle and winning. and it will strengthen the
affection in which the memory of III. H." Is
cherished by many hearts.
Mr. Cranch offers us q volume upon which rig
prous judgment would be misapplied The ven
cradle poet and artist sings his evening sons in
placid and cheerful mood for those who are capa
bic of listening in the same serene temper Ills
savorite themes are friendship affection. content
and trust The problem Of the future life recuIS
TO him again and again, and he treats 1t with com
posture though not with assurance. IL remains
for him an insoluble mystery. In series oil
eight sonncts On Life and Death nc seems TO
be approaching the desired answer but lac does
MT reach il. The piece from which the book
takes its title is founded upon the concet that
Ariel and Caliban. growing lonely and discon-
tented after prospcros departure from the en-
chanted isle sail away in company to seek
larger life am H. the haunts of man. both having
developcd new wants and capacities fron hIman
comnanionshp But Mr. Cranch does not pursue
the psychologist subtleties which this subject
starts.
The poetry Of Mr. BENJAMIN +. TAYLOR is dis
tinsuished by affluence and animation Ills
verses have a sonorous and often musical ring
ais manner is rapid even when his progress Is
slow; he has large command OF language; he Is
fond Of fgurative speech, and his store OF II
seems to be incXhaustible. On the other hand he
wants artistic restraint, neatness, sense Of pro
portion simplicity. He is at his best in the de
sciption Of farm life and other homely scenes for
which he has q genuine feeling. But all these
pictures are overpanted. Iropes and metaphors
tumble into the barn-yard treading upon one an
others heels, until we lose the sense of the very
objects the author is trying TO set before us
Sometimes MIR Taylor is forced to economy, or at
least moderation. of language by the restrictions
u of short metre and then he Is much more effect
I've. 1.-The Palm Book In the Garrett is a good
example Of this hal py influence Of stanza OF
small carrying capacity. But he does not often
permit himself to be thus hampered His " Poems
of Ieroismr are all injured by excess of rhetoric
The author Of " Lines and lnterlines is mis-
tress OF serious and slow-moving music suggest
iva NJ deem hut not un.epial reflection. Like
nearly all American verse-writers she is strongly
attracted by the fair aspects Of physical nature
and she shows a quick perception of many OF its
elusive beauties. Her choice however. is rather
for the examination OF the human heart. She
expresses states Of feeling with force terseness
and often with unusual poetic insight. Her man
ner is grave and restrained, and her graceful
verse and rich diction generally well frelghted
with sober thought.
Mr. Hamilton is too bad Some time ago he
published q volume of prosaic verses TO which he
gaze the title America" and we supposed that
after that venture he would be heard of no more
lie returns. however, with another collection OF
metrical commonplace, disposed in the form of
one hun red and forty three rieces all included
under the general title OF "The Poets Praise
His object, SO far as can discern it in those
portions Of the work which we have felt it neces~
sary to read is to maintain that the Poet is the
chief of all Gods interpreters and that
whatsoever wise would he and know
That Truth ami B 'auty han 10 hspi both 60,
Must to his guidancs yield mt he his frlen1
Who more than sages all bost help can lend'
II the Poet cannot write better poetry than that
we distinctly refuse TO have anything TO do with
him. We have not found an idea in Mr.. Ilamil
tons lines which rises much above chatter and
there are long passages which are strings OF down
right platitudes. His language is not choice he
has no imagination, and his Of the melody OF
verse may be judged by this couplct
The sulreme faith of Abraham is vocal in King Davids
psalms:
Sincere religion breathes In Dantes song and intens
passion calms.
Which we leave to be scanned by him who may
feel equal to the exercise. Mr. Hamilton truly
remarks In the folty-hfth division Of his work
that s1he world is full of things no human soul
can love" and he begs us to "be tolerant Of the
absurd" Well. we will try but The Poets
Praise presses us hard.