St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-11-13
Written for the FARMEn-
TWO AMERICAN POETS.
BRYANT AND LoNGFELLow.

BRYANT AND LoNGFELLow.
Among the many poets of Amer
lea who have made q felicitous use
of native materials. and one OF the
most eminent and thoroughly
is
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT,
whose poems, the fruit OF medita-
ton, rather than of passion or
Imagination, are remarkable for
their descriptive powers, their Sc
rene and elevated philosophy, and
noble simplicity Of language.
William Cullen Br, ant Was born
at Cummington, Mass. Nov. Sd,
1874. There are few instances Of
precocity more remarkable than
that of Bryant. He wrote lines be-
fore he was ten years Of ago. aud
in his eighteenth year he wrote his
most famous poem, "Thanatopsis. +"
which has been called zone of the
most precious gems of didactic po-
etry."
It was while wandering through
the primeval forests of Cumming
ton, over the floor of which were
scattered gigantic trunks of fallen
trees. Wondering for long years.
and auQyestinv an infinitely re-
mote antiquity. that "Thanatopsis'
was written. In it the young poet
sought to bring under one broad
and comprehensive view the des-
TIMES of the human race in the
present life, and the perpetual rising
Of generations who are nourished
by the fruits of the soil, aud finally
find resting place in its bosom.
"Tbanatopsis" was followed by
the yellow Violet" aud the ex-
quisite lines ITO Q Waterfowl
which concluding stanzas sink
deeply into the heart needing its
pious lesson:
He who from zone to some
Gnides through the boundless sky thy
certain flight.
In the long way which I must tread alone
Will lead my steps Alright"
In 1921 Mr.. Bryant wrote hi.
first poem Of any length, "The
Ages = poem. grave, stately
thoughtful. presenting in animated
picturesque stanzas compact sum
mary Of the history of mankind.
Later on he published "a Winter
Piece" u gallery Of woodland pic
lures, and his Hymn to Death"
If read carefully, Mr.. Bryant
poems will show a wide range y
sympathy, a perfec. acquaintance
with many measures, aud y clear
capacious and ever growing intel
lect.
after q Tempest" 10. FAIRIES
Of Rural Maids" and many others
not mentioned here, are among Iii
most exquisite poems. They ar
all distinctive Of the genius OF thei
author. The poems that Mr.. Dry
ant wrote during the fret sever
years of his residence in New Yorl
some forty in number-exLibi
the numerous qualities which dis
tinguished his genius from the be
ginning. aad are marked by charac
teristics which were rather acquil
ed than inherited.
The "Hellen,c" element 10 visibl
in the Greek Boy" and Gree
Partisan. Ardent love OF Datur
find expressive utterance in "Line
Upon Revisiting the Country.
"The Gladness of Nature" and til
Evening Wind" The death {
Flowers" il at once . pastoral {
autumn and . monoly over I'll
death of o beloved sister.
A new element ufpearsin 9Th
Summer Wind, the association {
humanity and nature-a calm bu
sympathetic recognition Of the way
of man and his presence upon til
earth.
"The Prairies" present then
selves as a series Of pictures in
gallery-pictures in which breadt
aud vigor of treatment. and exqui.
lite delicacy of detail, are every
where harmoniously blended, an
the unity of art is attained.
In 1876 Mr.. Bryant published
complete edition of his poetic'
works. To the honor which thef
volumes brought him. he adde
fresh laurels by the publication {
his translation of the "Illiad" m
Odyssey" . translation high
praised at home and abroad.
There comes day in the int
lectusl lives OF most poets whs
their powers cease to be productiv
or are productive only in the forn
to which they have accustomt
themselves, and which have becon
msnnerisms. It was not 90 wit
Mr.. Bryant. He enjoyed the III
tinction Of proving himself q gre
poet at Al early age; he enjoy'
that distinction to the last. for Il
; sixty years which elapsed betwe,
! the writing of ''Thanatopsis" al
the writing Of "Ths Flood
Years" witnessed no decay of b
poetic capacities. but rather q
growth aud development Of thong
. and forms of verse of which the
were no evidence in his early wi
iugs.