The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-07-13
PENCIL MARGINAI.IA.



Satins and Jewels grand
are all at my command.
And am happy now.
And my lord he loves me we'll:
But, WHEN FIRST HE BREATHFD HIS VOW,
j FELT MY BOSOM SWELI-
For THE WORDS RANG As KNELL,
ANp THf VOICE SEEMED HIS WHO FELL
In the battle down the dell,
And who IS happy now.
But he spoke to reassure me-
And he kissed my palld brow,
W HILE \ REVERE CAME o FIR Nj.
AND TO THE CHURCH-YARD BORE Me.
MD SIGHED TO HIN BEFORE Me,
THINKING HIM DEAD d. EIORMIE.
"Oh am happy now.''
And thus the words were spoken.
And this the plighted vow,
And. though my faith be broken.
And, though my heart be broken.
Behold the golden token
That PROVES me happy now.
Would God could awaken,
For l dream know not how,
AND MY SOUL Is SURELY SHAKEN
List AN EVIL STEP BE TAKEN
LEST THE DEAD WHO Is FORSAKFN
DAY NOT SE HAPPY Now.
| have put some of these lines in italics
to indicate more prominently the remark
able similarity of the feelings above eN-
pressed W those which find such passion
ate utterance in 1.-The Quick or the Dead!"
of Miss AMELlE RIvEs | mean no dispar-
agement to the gifted authoress in sug-
gesting that this characteristic product of
the weird genius OF Poe may have been
her source of inspiration. Greater writers
than our bright cOuntrywOman-eVen the
author of HAMLET-have not scrupled to
appropriate the works of other men and
times. Miss Rives, If | am correctly in
formed, spent much of her time in Rich
Il
tances and friends, an sure she did
The spirit of Americas greatest poet still
pre>ides. as it should, over the birthplace
OF his awakening pow ers. That he should
have found a worthy disciple in this bril-
liant Young Virginia girl is natural, and,
by no means, 10 her discredit The ''Bri
dal Ballad is but one of Poe's creations
which seems to have infused her mind.
Who does not recall that wild, fearful
story Of The Lady Ligeia"3 THERE DEAD
love arose to supplant and destroy living
one. All, those poisonous ruby drops in
the cup of the Lady Rowena, Miss Rives
Il style her of her past. for know not
what may come from the rich Chanolers
shop is a Young woman of rare, bold and
original qualities. should scarcely hest
tate to say that she is woman of genius.
This Quick or Dead is soul-stirrng in
parts, but alas it is also rather too BLOOD
stirring for we youths,H bringing about
that summer in our veins which wine and
Ends plump little hand sent through the
tlngllng arteries of Prince Geraint. ''Quick
or Dead abounds IN descriptive passages
of great originality and power. If un
common words are employed, they are
invariably expressive, and her terminOlogy
o. nature seems to have been taught her
by the words and winds aud streams them
selves. Like Walter of THE Talking
Oak" however, she disdains the rapid,
vegetable loves" of the forest as compared
with human attachments. Here she al
lows her fancy luAurlant If EOt WantOn-
play. Sure | am that no dispraise of mine
could in the slightest degree attaint this
royal duwress Of ''the hate of hate. the
scorn of scOru, the love d. love. > and as I.
Southernei, proud of her tran. eendent
gifts. | would aid to establish her III her
high estate; yet | can but lament that a
genius so fertile should not lead its ad
mirers to healthier fields and purer waters
than such AS made the landscape of poor
Barbara la conclusion, | feel N CON
SCIEN T OtrND to say this: that if ] were
the father of a pure, warm hearted but
impressionable daughter, or OF a bright
enthusiastic boy, on the borderland of
THAT new world which is the DID," of
romance, would not like one or the other
of them to read this Quick or Dead. y
Not only is the abandonment of passion
beyond all propriety, but the whole con
ception is hysterical and abnormal 1t
only finds its counterpart in those stories
Of distr.. ..cted passion wrou ht by those
poor desolate heart hungry daughters of
genius, Charlotte and Emily Bronte amid
the barren walls of their lonely, ghost evok-
ing home Whitening Heights, with its
fierce and ghoul-like Hathchif longing TO
supplant Cathy's husband in the grave
and freeze his face 10 hers in DEATH the
fierce love of Rochester for Jane Eyre are
OF a piece with Barbara Pomfrets ehostly
and unreal life. / venture to say this,
more IN sorrow than III anger. The versa
tile pen Of Miss RIVF> the most gifted.
believe. Of al! our S. uthern writer's male
or females capable of higher and better
efforts. ''OUiDA'-FA lie PRINCES in all
that lends to romance writing eloquenee,
passion, descriptive power, character
lneation, wit aud pathoS, has written
soma of the most hIrtful books known 10
literature. But the great ''pUDIA for
she is tranScendently greats learning to
scorn the prostitution Of her powers, and
| her WANDA is one of the purest and no
blest, and well as ;,bsorbngly interestin.
books | have ever read. Please or dis
please whom it may, ii is true that Miss
! Rves writes like Il Younger sister OF
| "0uinA Why, then, shonld not all OF
OrmA'% better parts be crowned III thi,
regal daughter of the South.
Il. N. Wynne for Sheriff.
Special Cor STATE CHRONICLE.
| Now that the State and Congressional
! Conventions have met aud done their
work. the people are naturally looking
| round for men wto are suitable for legis
! lators and county officers. AS these pub
| lie officers come nearer TO the great bod,
| of the people, theru IS CREATE interest anc
/ Importance attaching 10 them. IN the
approaching copte4t in Wake county it j
Of the utmost Importance that the neiao
cratic party put forNaid. for these posi-
! tons 1t public tru.t her very hest men
men whose integrity Of character and ca
pacity are above criticism. such men vii
command the gespsc: ana euthus ,a.t !;
support of tbs party ~ this county.
desire TO mentian Mr.. Il. n. Wynne
Of Panther Branch township, as especial.
/ ,raII ,1alitia6 tn fill tho o(fico Of Nharf #