New-York tribune., 1886-05-23
OLD AND NEW POEMS.
1ypICs OF TIE CIVIL WAR.

1
DOWLr w Vr,nr, ana ..,ihern Ellted nv FRANCIS F.
BLOWN 12mo. Pr. 3j5. White. Stokes n Alien
| SUMNER HAVEN SONGS By JAN:s hE.b''"i '"''''"'
16mo, pp. K. 26i G.. T. Putnans SIS
The editor of the Poems of the Civil war IS 10 pe
thanked not only for taste in collecting good
verses but for resolution in discarding bad ana
weak ones II has often been remarke1 thaI 'no
Rebellion inspired little or no great poetry pu. ~
gave occasion TO many spirited lyrics, adhliraoc
alike for high patriotic temper and FOR
vigorous expire ssion and we have here CORRECTION
which certainly represents the best achieNemeh's
of the warlike muse on both sides OF the iinc VI
fine merely sentimental verse, especially by women,
which flooded the newspapers and magazines ou'-
inc tbe struggle rs well as of that variety OF the
poetry of the affections which dwclt upon the pa
tbetic rather than the heroic aspects of the war.
if contains surprisingly little. The result of the
honpv exclusion IS to give an animating and lusty
torc To the youmc-a tone which the rather tanci-
ful title well EXPIRE. seq. 1t is probable
that most readers will find the gem
eral character of the pieces much
stronger than they expected. LowelPs noble
! Comnnemoration Ode" Ionrfellow's famous
story of "The Cumberland" Emerson's " Boston
Hymn" Buchanan Reads Shcridan's Ride" Whit
tiers Barbara Frctchie" and other conspicuous
selections beong to the standard literature of the
war. winch everybody looks for III such book.
Henry Howard Brownells remarkable " Bay
Fight" and River Fight" have splendid mar
tia ring tie force and majesty of baric song cele-
brating the deeds of heroes. Stcdman, from whom
the editor has borrowed the "Cavalry song"
" Gettysburg" "Kcarney at Seven Pines"
"Sumter,' and "Wanted-A Man." always
rises to the level of his high subject and his lines
are grave with earnest thought and glow with gem
crous feeling StoldaIi also Is poet whose
serious work Is worthy OF the occasion which IN
spires it, and the feryors and tragedies of Wartime
called forth some oi that fine, honest WORK by
which his name Will always he kent fresh. Bayard
1ayiOrS Scott and the Ncteran IS an a,llniIdoIot
ballad which faithfully rcHccls the popular spirit
OF the spring Of 1861. Walt Whitman war poetry
! is not only the most genuine and stirring part OF
his literary product. but It lnciuqrs sI,he 4n Ua
insupcraNle difficulty IN the way tlo,e VINO dehy
hnn the name of poet. Boxer, A,drici Fret iialtc'
/ l.aul II. Hayre. iienry lHntod John Il. hohpSon
| Dr. Holmes Bryant, ilowclis, L1nler, tian'ls -.
| l1cknor, Charles II. Webb are among The other
weknown writers who make notable e9n'tiDu-
! lions to the collection. William Winters Aiier
All" IS q beautiful hitic poem N the eleElac Nein
The principal war--oncs on 5oth Sides which nave
won general popularity rs s"f to music. are very
properly included. Federal and Confederate
stana side By side on equal terms, ne poems
beng arranged Is far a7 possible ih the cilVhopai
cal order Oi heir subjects without regard 10 th'r
origin. This i clearly the ught plan. Sometimes
IL forces upon us very sting 'o'npai >oh OF
cxam,lc. the second piece in the book Is ir.
I y
OF which reads Is follows:
Lay aSwn 'ae h, axe az dgs ! oy il the sD.a sp'ae
Tar rl.tc ana tIr lIvnlct-ligdo
For arms IKE your. We're litter now;
Ana ;ft l.' l LaqGs IS i" u = , t"~ ps" Y, ,,o,,
'1r hOrseu.n's crooked brand aud rein
I'm, charger on the bIttic-l it,
v,.,u..vt .e,a.. ION J., Henry fimrods a Cry to
hlIls.o aud tnc ~.l!n-.ii cai- % gas mus:
H.. wools,en.f tn. ,..orr. tin-'.le!
Iio dsci.,r- In tie wales
Ito. ye wro uy tnr chinn@ tide
Lave RON -i.enrl u il!" gurs.
I.,y ny the nooiic>s spade;
l' Gni afi Sar@ @ ysar S'i' 5aos ' s'a.' o 1alf =!
rore j. a simil.rit,o of thourht which wc are
iu.uicd in tain~ing moi - be accidental. es-
pccIaIy as It RUS LIoh-n oiher. sianH;is
the tT9 To rca e' Of i' ihon@f lDo is srin fho
contrast o. tone. ia" veteran pot OF the North
voices the " ,.Iim T.-plNr oi scloaS aud hlgh-
minded people 10 -H1ri So 81 !e 'alr aAd winch the
swords of old Won ful li-. mi to stand ",lcaIy
tpcolEs" urlii "AIeht api h-lt move hand III
hand d" over the whole broad tnon. Far d'ii'rcnt
i,on this Ic,oiuIc ana grave tenncr - tuc ii-
uatuoil> fury of I.r Southern MUSE who bchoids he
dc.nrf raVaeing the >acrci triIs. and calls upOl
chvalry 10 battle ior tho land and the adies.
/ iy comparing the fAci"lc of the t"y sections
/ p' rl.ps Ore might have fopi1ld which SIDE
must win III tie long Iun. No' oi the Southern
war-poctry too lurld; genuine rs an expression
! OF patriotism, but reckless, Oi art and IL l. no
tha, tbc nr,,nrtio of n IN MIR Brownies clion
/ is rot larger. one eX client hu'i no,e- accom-
pdny many Of the poems, and there Is an Iddex Of
/ authors a. we'll .. 20 taric GA contents. ne only
scTous mistake Sc have noticed ls the Inclusion,
among poems of tne tNIl War; Of ia we'll
known old piece. " q Is great Tor orr Country to
DIc" by j. G.. lcrciyaI WEo dIrd IN isj6.
/ The summer Haven songs of Mr.. Jaln's Her
! bert Morse belong 10 n class OF coMposlii0n IN
! winch the MINOR American poets have notorious
family. i m.ld love of uatuIe without eNccp-
/ tloual powers OI observation, and tendency
! toward gentle sentiments without either strong
passion or deep thought. are expressed IN verse
| whose form l. generally pretty though IT l. neither
built Of choice uaicrlai nor perfectly finished. one
hardly know. hos l. define Inc prJduct. II reads
! Ike poetry; and yer it neither api ais 70 the
Imagination. nor reveals amy secret oi the human
he IT. nor opens any new vision of The
outcr world l. look, IKE az : and ycf II Is GER
taIny not Tho h0ndlworS OF Il literary expert. No
master of the craft could Lave written tbs stanza
These gone, soit August saes
Ia Nici4y rD.y,
! Game Wray 'u- pti-iYc tales
10 peusNc tuues.
! in which the second line Is clumsy and m
grammatical ,urpu s1g'. Iunrs bong iuiruled nOn-
senscaliy Tor tAe sake 3D. tiic al }ur aud qualified
by adNeID instead % an adjective for Ill. sake
Of the mcue Nr. Nor-c divides his pieces Ato
| c1tru g,oups aId lII,is each glodp. but they
are all III the same tflic.
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IN ENGLISH OPINiON or DIR. HOLMES