Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-27

should appear as an spoiogist for the lst,
unfortunate Gar and an admirer OF Rus
slan institutions. But 1t was IS reformsl
according to his lights and his abilities
that Miss Proctor admired and dedicated
Q new edition to him. But apart from
this tie "Russian Journey" is model Of
good taste, intelligent observation and
wildly picturesque description. The
power of making one feel as il one saw
what she described is q marvellous gift
and 1t belongs to Edna Dean Proctor.
Those who have never set foot in Russia
and are never likely to and have least
sympathy with its imperial splepdor and
social condition cannot start ont with
Miss Proctor in the first page and part
company with her until the Journey" is
ended.
by the critics for the simple elegance and
expressiveness of her style She uses
with mastery hand the reserved forces Of
her mother tongue. Great writer's are
often at q loss to find language adequate
to their ideas. But With her the picture
comes up to the idea OF the picture. she
has the eye Of a painter as well as the
Imagination OF poet. Genius, to which
no number OF mere talents are hn eqd.-
ton, plays and sparkles like half covered
light in her simplest narratives and de-
scriptions.
A nature so sympathetic and SOU -lov-
ing IS hers cannot fall to find reward and
happiness in the Just praises bestowed
upon her. Many silent tear of graft
tude has come TO her, as the past hiss told
her of some loBg-sufsIing and bereaved
spirit to whom her thoughts and words
have been as balm, freighted with the
resignation which is alight with hope.
A daughter of New England, Edna Dean
Proctor is & native OF the little village of
Henniker, H. The Proctor family were
originally from Essex county,
Massachusetts,, owning part of the
beautiful coast that Is now Manches-
ter-oy-the.Saa. She was thoroughly
educated and trained literary woman,
and started out in life equipped not only
with crest love Of learning, but with all
the accessories which made it possible
for her to follow the inclinations of her
mind.
The civil war aroused the patriotic ele-
ment within her, and her thrilling ma
iionel poems sounded like bugle from
the hill of Mars. The name of Edna Dean
Proctor became dear to the loyal soldiery,
and her appeals were read beside the camp
fires as they were repeated IN the New Eng
land homes and schools. Trust in God is
never SO powerful to move others to &C.
ton as when it is blended with the love
OF country. Emerson tells US that Ma
hommea went on conquering and to con-
quer because he WAS "horsed on sD idea"
1t WAS certainly so with the armies of
Cromwell. No battle songs did more to
sustain this sentiment of patriotism IN the
worn out soldiery than those Of Miss
Proctor, which are found in her volume
Of collected poems. "The Stripes and
Stars" written in April, 1861; sCompro-
mise" inscribed to Congress, July 4,
1861; "Who's Ready?" written in July,
1862, are really national anthems.
While the divine hand OF genius or in
SEPARATION is manifest in sll her thoughts,
the most casusl reader at once discovers
also the fl 1ished touch OF an unusual cul-
ture. Few women OF any time or country
have enjoyed larger opportunities for
by study and travel.
Her genius and noble womanhood, not
less than the 1ntscedents of her family
back to the old colonial days, procured
her ready entrance to the palace as to the
cottage. To her, woman representing
the humanity and intellect Of nation
universally respected throughout the
civilized world, might DE applied
the words of Scripture, once used
Of Mscaulay by the head of college,
IS he set forth on his career, "He shall
not stand before mean men; he shall
stand before kings" "Before kings"
who are more ready than snobs to nm
cover In the presence of genius, Edna
Dean Proctor has sstood" in the dignity
of nature that is squire womanly'' and
all pageantry at the heart Of things be-
meath.
The murdered Car Of all the Russians
wrote her an autograph letter, thanking
he. for the justice her pen at least had
done him while so many were unjust.
Men and women of rank In Europe as in
America have paid tribute to her genius
and great beauty OF character.
She is mistress ef pathos and her mouth
and pen have spoken out of the sbun-
dance OF her heart. An exquisite SYM
pathy with sorrow and suffering pervades
her, and one feels sense Of relief in
turning from intensely saddening poems,
IS sat Home" in which the death of
Charley, q wounded soldier boy, within
sight of his old home in New Ham pshire,
Is told with thrilling presentsbility, to
use q good old word, to those happier
songs in which with gentle hand she wiIes
sway the tears from OF al faces.
A recent poem, which attained imme-
date celebrity, WAS entitled 1.-THE Lady
Of the White House." and was dedicated
to Mrs. Cleveland. 1t is not too much to |
say of this poem that it had wider cir |
,uletion than any other published during |
The past year. The title was potent |
-ea son for it's national popularity, but its |
intrinsic beauty WAS such that 1t imme-
lately sang its way TO the hearts of the
Millions here, and was widely copied and |
in England and Scotland.
It is as diff cult to select from her many
poems any one for special attention, SIS IL
s to speak OF one of her characteristics
% the exclusion of sll others. She is g
writer OF exquisite verse, and is, happily,
| woman OF rare personality. Not tall
Tor quite small, she is of medium stat
Ire, deliberate andgraceiul in movement,
md possessed of much dignity. Her man
lers are those OF hIghbred lady, and
Ter voice, which is sweet and low, is her
,Ieat charm. She is fluent talker, but
lever CAV one. Her ways are gentle
md earnest, rather than. merry and