Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-07-21
DRIFT.

size OF the book. First, because IL 10
home production in every respect; the au.
thor is townsman OF ours, aud the print
Ing, binding, 90, were done here, by the
"lnquirer Printing Company" Secondly,
because In 1t are rendered into English, for
the first time, some Of those gems OF the
minor German poets which have peculiar
charm, and oven importance. to all Of Ger
man descent, such ~ perhaps tho more
ambitious and better known verso OF the
great poets OF Germany DO not possess In
the same degroa Thirdly, because among
Its "Home Ballads" are given us, In
pleasing and enduring form, number OF
those legends snd traditions Will, which
our country abounds, with which the
memory OF our older citizens Of German
descent fairly teens, which are OF surpsss.
ing interest to tho student Of our folk lore,
but which, unfortunately, have never be.
fore been put into such literary shape 30 to
Insure their preservation. and finally,
because OF the genuine poetic worth OF the
contents Of the volume.
Home Batldds and Metrical Versions Ii
the work OF Joseph Henry Dubbs, d. ID.
The volume ID not surprise TO those of us
who are intimately acquainted with the
doctor. His friends have long known that
his special field OF historical study, his rich
Accumulations Of Legendary lore, his pro-
dcioncy a. O student Of German and Eng
lish literature, his critical taste and grace.
full literary style In short, his whole range
OF scholarly attain pments, were not ex-
hausted In bringing forth such solid fruits
As hts we'll known and standard " Historic
Manual Of the Reformed Church, his Va.
rious historical monographs, and papers
contributed TO the magazines aud reviews,
to say nothing OF the steady labor OF bis pen
In the arduous sphere Of editorial
work. We knew that on the same
stem with these abundant fruits,
and side by eide with them. there
graceful lowers OF poetry, fragrant with
the perfume distilled from the historic and
literary soil he 30 diligently a ID habitu.
ally cultivated.
Some OF these lighter flowers OF
his labors, booming along the waysids
OF his professional studies, have been
gathered into tho graceful cluster OF
Home Ballads and Musical Versions.
addition TO DIR. Dubbs' reputation as Q cul-
tured scholar, but also add another claim
for the recognition of the intellectus, and
literary progress OF Lancaster. Very grad
usiIy our intellectual possibilities are being
actualized. Very slowly in the mids. Of
Jul huu uuututlhl pfOS-
perity, perhaps In spite Of them, the spirit
ual and mental life OF our city IL asserting
itself. We have a national reputation for
the richness OF our agricultural products
We contribute our full share to the hnan-
c,al revenue OF the state and the patton.
Our markets are famous The comfort OF
| our homes Is tbe envy of other cities and
| towns. The well TO do, solid, easy-gong
| character Of our community Ia known far
| and wide. 1t certainly IL high time that
| we show the world that wi Q ahead OF
most others In our markets, tobacco. banks
| and buildings, we are not behind them In
those intellectual accomplishments which
by the world everywhere are counted as OF
| at least equal value and Importance, and OF
| which artistic and literary productions are
the most convincing proofs and eloquent
| Witnesses.
| i! Is for this reason, moro than for any
other, that we ought to hall and honor
every such local production "a DR.. Dubbs
volume. 1t Is another proof given to the
world thAt Lancaster not only cultivate,
fine corn and tobacco, but also fine senti-
ments and deep thoughts; that 1t Is no
only good county tOr horses and cattle
but also for Apollo and the MUSES. that the
culture OF the arts, sciences, and literature
Is here esteemed ard furthered at leas
/ equally with that OF the material products
OF the soil. l; the entire community 10 In
terested In the erection of new hLe build
Ing In its midst should 1t not have an equal
interest In the production of q new good
book by one OF its membersH The latter II
every whit ~ important to It as the former
| Perhaps more 80. There are little town,
and cities In this country whose name ever
| would not be known outside of their coun
ties II 1t were not that In them lives som,
artist, some poet, or some thinker, whos'
| intellectual work has made the towl
"a Al
ored than sll its material wealth and all IL
architectural splendor could ever hav,
| done.
But ses that have boon led away from
my immediate subject, which In DR.. Dubbs
volume Of poetry, about which started (,
tell you. 1t Is divided into two parts
| " Home Ballads" containing fourteen
poems, OF which hve are on historical ant
legendary subjects OF special interest to thi
part OF the state. Each Of these very wisel,
Is accompanied by note giving the historl
| cal facts, or the foundation and substance o
the tradition. Tho smooth versihcation
easy rhythm, and simple ballad form int
which these bits OF folk. lore have been Gas
are specially notable, aud sufficient proc
OF the authors library skill The ballad O
"Conrsd Bucher tells how from csp,a,l
In German regiment fighting under Bou
quet against the Indians, Bucher wa
| a nTeschsr of Godrs Wort how 'As'
" Ma cast his ianrsIs aowr
| And took up tn > GROSS 10 win the or,wn -
Bloodcurdlng II the ballad OF ''Tsm boul
fokel," who met mysterious horrible fate
In an old grsveya ard in Lebinh county
| whittier with drum KEN sacriIiai ious temeriiy
he had gone one nil htto3hsll ps to the II n,
| an old enemy of his long sieeninv henasth \
the hsllowed sod. The tradition dates from
the lsst century. IA Legend OF Ephrats"
| best, technically considered, OF the HHOme