New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-08

whose numbers have been increasing these many
vcars Among all our women singers there is none
with n swcctcr note Her lyrics are spirited,
picturcsouc and effective Her songs Of sentiment
are never artificial or affected. but mirror the
dccper feelings which visit all unspoilcd hearts
There is n sustained completeness in her verses
which speaks of n high ideal, and n spontnnclty III
her expression which proves the genuincness OF her
gift Too many female poets seem to versily III
the mechanical fashion which is one OF the make
shifts of dccadcnt imagination seeking rather mel
ody than meaning and spreading meagrc thoughts
so widely that they lose all Significance Mrs.
Cooke does not always compose with power; per
hans not often: but she does always seek TO en-
noble her best art by the fncness of the idea en-
bodied in her verse and she never squanderS words
upon half-forned thoughts or feeble platitudcs'
Sometimes her short poems are so fencitous' COM
pact and full Of grace and delicate spirit as TO De
serve TO re called exquisite.
Mr. John James Patt's Idyls ard Lyrics of the
Ohio Valley are too well known TO require any IN
PRODUCTION No one has entered more sympa-
thctcally or fully into the feeling Of the Western
pioneer or has succeeded in giving its true value to
that peculiar sub-mclancholy which is associated
with our great prairics and spacious valleys, as
with the vast plains and Steppes Of Russia ms
paintivc music-koy sounds t0uchinGly IN Mr..
Piatt's book, and lends peculiar charm to verse
which is in other respects original and strong.
Perhaps The Mower in Ohio is the poem In TINS
volume which has most struck the general fancy.
The picture of the sturdy old farmer whose SONS
have gone to the war, and who leans on his scythe
as the sun goes down and muses. on the past and
the present is one which appeals To the narroweSt
imagination. There arc several other poems quite
I, Ill nil nf
Of local color A Dream Of Church Windows,
etc" is n revised edition OF the same authors
Poems Of House and Home These poems are more
catholic in their treatment. The love Of children
is prominent among the motives. and the plainive
tone which is not sadness hut Stimulates II, Is IRE
oucnt Mr. patt has fcndneSS Tor
dreamy meditation and retrospective de-
scription There is nothing morbid
in his sentiment. 1t is the poetic temperament
which exhibits its tendency TO challenge the
esotcrc meanings Of all things.
Mrs. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop's little volume
contains miscellaneous collection Of poems;
song and ballad and sonnet and airy society
verse Th,rc are sparkle and sW!sh'llncss II
the last and in the lyrical pieces no little imae!-
nation. vicor and ry,hmical swing tendency
10 plav with the modern aesthetic technology.
however. i not one 10 hr encouraged. /; ne-
ions, TO machine poetry aud i hopclcs>y az odds
with spoutnc.ty ana natural foyc,. DISPOSE
tion 10 cNTrcS> thoughts which arc beyond utter
ancc- j. ycrhap, not altogether safe one. or
to be cultivated. and yielding to ii might develop
a habit Of trying 10 pat wordS to songs without
words m experiment always 10 be deprecated.
Nrs. iathrop las the root Of tn. matter. and
with her vivid iuia -iuation. creative power and
sens, OF melody. shouid produce poetry Of much
ln-her order and value presently