The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-03

founded. and he SIN adheres TO the faith
and is called the Quaker Poet" I'll
youth he was rather delicate, but the
open cir life Of q farmers boy gave
strength. and temperance, with an even
mind. hns secured length Of life. lie
was Of a poctical turn in boyhood.
and his ambition TO write was
frst excited by reading Burns works.
The native purity Of his mind was such
mat nothing Of the seusuous in Burns
was absorbed, but the boy Whittier was
deeply affected by the Scotch poets simple
ANA living p%Ortr1yais OF the scenery and
moods Of nature ia his northern land
The boy often sighed a regret that be
could not visit such inspiring scenes.
Hut one DAY this idea suddenly flashed
upon him. why have | not equally good
material ia the common life and poetical
scenes "a our fair New Englandy' At
once he began 10 write OH what was be
.oIe his eyes. and soon proved that the
luctiCal environment was equal TO that OF
ANY region in the world. His first pro-
ductlou. The Deity was published in
Tie NeWburypOrt Free Press, when he
was but II years old. MIR. Whittier
always spoke ia a hall apologize tone Of
this poem, as a mere bOyish breathing Of
uudcNclOped sentiments. After a course
of Two years at the local acadcmy-he
never obtained a classical e~ducation-the
poet went in 1929 To Boston and became
editor ot The American Manufacturer, a
protcctionist Journal The next year he
began TO edit The New England Review,
az Hartford. Conn unc while there some
Of his best known poems were written
The wrong of the Indians excited much
Of ms attention about this time, and there
after he became noted rs an advocate Of
emancipation. la 1886 he represented
his native township in the legislature, be
came a secretary OF The American Anti
slavery society. and later edited The
PENNSYLVANIA Freeman in Philadelphia.
Ills experiences iu that city gave mate
rials for his poem, Pennsylvania Pill
gtims."
About this time the slavery question
became paramount over all others, anti
slavery opinion became very violent in
some parts Of the north, giving forth
fierce demunciations of all slave holders,
aud as "A natural consequence the Emanci-
patton party, which had grown rapidly In
the INllCI NltNc elttt't HcO4 Ai'I Ouh
In Virginia. North Carolina and Tennes'
see the Emaucipationists had at one time
lacked but three or four votes of n ma
j0rity in the legislature, and free colored
men voted in North Carolina; but in ten
years of furious agitation this was COM
pletoly reversed Mr.. Whittier grieyed
deeply. both at the violent language and
rs results. II differed greatly from
Friend Garrison, " he says; Il recognized
that the constitution legalized slavery,
and my efforts were directed against its
extontion TO the territories and in behalf
Of gradual and peaceful emancipation in
the south" Then anne the annexation
II Texas and the Mexican war. and Whit
tiers appeals FOR peace and freedom rose
10 q sublimity like that of the Hebrew
prophets, yet always without bitterness
THE Angels of Buena VISTA is as affect
ing a description Of the horrors of the
battlefield as ever appeared in any Ian
guage. soon after came the compromise
measures Of 1850, and his once much
quoted 'Ichabod' expressed bis tender
sadness oven the attitude of Daniel Web
stcr and other New England statesmen
The Voices Of Freedom" and Songs OF
Labor are products of this period. Next
came the struggle in Kansas.