The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-08
OBITUARY.
Death of Panl Hamilton Hayne, the widely
| Known Southern Poet
| AUGUSTA Ga, July Paul II. Hayne, the

AUGUSTA, Tia, july l-Paul ii. Hayne, Inc
poet, is dead.
Paul Hamilton Hayne was born on the LIST of
January $780, in Charleston, S. G. He sprung
from an ancient an honorable family distin-
guished alike in war and in peace, on the battle
field and in legislative halls Like Pope, young
Hayne almost lsp'd in numbers for we learn
that ne wrote verse when he was scarcely nine
years old AT the same early age. his celebrated
uncle. Gen. Robert Y Hayne, taught him how
to ride and shoot, and told his mother that he
never saw Drawer little boy with gun or
horsen
Mr. Hayne was educated in his native city.
and carried off many prizes, both at school and
college. Soon after leaving college, he became
the the center of group of ardent and brilliant
youths who longed to win glory in the path of
literature William Gilmore Sinms was the
mentor of those gifted young men, whom he
loved to gather around him, and whose enthusi-
asm he fred by his own example The first reg
uar literary position held by Mr.. Hayne was
that of editor of the Southern Literary Gazette,
a weekly paper published in Charleston, in 1852
The Gazette was merged into the Weekly News
in 1853, Mr.. Hayne occupying the editorial chair
of the new paper. The next year, the News
failed, and its editor became contributor to the
Southern Literary MESSENGER, and a regular
writer on the daily papers of Charleston.
When RusselIs Magazine was started in
Charleston. in 1857, Paul Fl. Hayne was APP
pointed its editor, and continued with it for two
years, 1t soon became leading exponent of
Southern literature. Previous to assuming
charge of this magazine, Mr. Hayne published
through Ticknor e. Fields, in 1855 his first vol
n IF a "a
ume was mere collection of fugitive pieces.
The most brilliant of these exceptions was the
Temptation of Venus" poem which was very
generally admired. 1t is rich and warm in col
oring, but strictly moral; thus offering pleasing
contrast to the poem of Swinburne upon the same
subject. Mr.. E. p Whipple pronounced Mr.
Haynes first volume one of great promise. as
we'll as fine performance. de gave him credit
for possessing artistic taste and skill equal to
his fertility and strength of emotion, adding:
There is nothing fiery in the thought, nothing
puerile in the feeling, nothing concerted in the
expression"
In 1857. Mr.. Haynes second volume of poems
was published by Charleston house. and had
an extensive sale. Several of the pieces went
the rounds OF the press, and have taken their
place in the popular poetry Of the country. One,
especially The Ode to Sleep"-was widely read,
both here and in England. Bryant Longfellow,
Willis and other American poets spoke highly OF
the verses of the young Southern poet. In 1859,
Mr.. HAYNES third volume of poems was pub
ished by Ticknor Sc Fields TIE Atlantic
Monthly said of this work: sMr. Haynes vol
ume shows culture. thoughtfulness sensibility
to natural beauty and great refinement of feel
ing. In many of his sonnets the poet shows
genuine vigcc Of expression and maturity of
purpose"
In the spring of 1861, Mr.. Hayne was drawn
from poetica dreams to practical things, and
was called upon to see 'grim-visaged war" in all
its misery. His homo in Charleston was burned
by the bursting of some shells, accidentally fred
as the Northern forces were entering the city.
After the war, in 1860, he became one of the
editors of The Constitutionalist of Augusta, Ga;
but his health failing him, after six months he
retired, and settled at Copse Hill, cottage stu
ated on the Georgia railroad, about sixteen miles
from Augusta Eighteen acres of uncultivated land
surround his little house, which is built on the
top of hill, at the foot of which lies the rail-
road track. One who is familiar with the spot
says the place lookes inviting only in the spring
and early summer. when the front garden is full
of flowers, the back garden of vegetables, and
the porches are covered with vines of jasmine
and woodbine
In 1861 FL. Rives Pollard, editor of the
Southern Opinion, literary and political weekly
paper, published in Richmond, Va, offered a
prize OF 500 for the best poem connected with
the late war. Mr. Haynes poem-"The Con.
federates in the Fied"-won the prize. Mr.
Pollard then asked him to become the literary
editor of Southern Opinion He accepted the
offer, and for two years wrote al the criticisms
of books and the war "reminiscences" that ap-
peared in the paper. About the same time
that is. in 1867 8-AIr. Hayne contributed fire.
quently to Southern Society, weekly literary
journal OF high character commenced in Balt
more in October, 1867 In this paper first APP
peared his Fire Pictures which was repub-
lished after the great Chicago fire. In 1863
also, he contributed frequently to the Banner of
the South, literary paper publshedin Augusta
Ga, under the editorial management of Father
Ryan.
During the last sixteen years Mr.. Hayne has
done an immense amount of literary work.
book.reviewlng, etc, for half dozen different
journals, besides contributing poems to the
Southern Magazine. the Atlantic Monthly, Har-
per's Magazine, Scribner's Monthly. Lippincotts
Magazine. the Galaxy, etc., and writing stories,
essays and sketches for Appleton's Journal and
other periodicals.