New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOME CURRENT VERSE.

CHRISTMAS CARIbI0Ns. and otner feems' ps
Annie Chambers-ketchum- equare iS"S' "a.
eos ID. Appleton a Co.
soNGs OF THE CELT. By Charles Oeshel Con
molly 12mo. PIP ale. Baltimore: John Murphy
SONG OF THE PALM. and Other Poems. By Tracy
Robinson. 1emo, PIP 1o7 Brentanos -
OLD AND NEW WORLD LYRICS BY Clinton sceF
lard. 3smo. PIP. 1o4. F. A. Stokes Brother.
WOOD BLOOMS BY John Vance Cheney. S2mo,
PIP. 22S F. A. Stokes g. Brother
SONGS or TOLL BY Carmen sylvia, Queen Of ha'
mania Translated by John Eliot Bowen With
an Introductory sketch. s2mo. pp- l4a' b. A.
stokes Brother
J. Hereford. 16mo, PIP. rs. G. p Putnsms
Sons
rAECREDs DAUGHTER, and Other Poems ems. BY
COMFORT BY Mrs. Herrck Johnson. New and
Enlarged Edition 16mo. pp ls5 a. d. r.
SONGS FROM BERANeER. Translated by Craven
Lanestroth Belts. 32mo, pp. 264. F. A. Stokes
a Brother
The larger part of Mr.. Hins verses are OF
commonplace character. There are some rather
curious metrtea experiments, the effect Of which is
NOT wholly unpleasant. Some alleged translaions are
really paraphrases.
Caroline May is doubtless good soul, fun 81
ps,tv and uistaking devoutness for the spirit OF
poetry Hence tho volume which bears her name,
and which contains sufficiently modest coiiecuon
Of those smooth simple, decorous, reverentia veres
whose flow is limpid and free as that OF DrooA
In level landscape, and whose flavor is as nat
such poetry nevertheless, forms the minds OF many
people who would never attain comprehension OIL
arher order and who are least scothed and gently
stimulated by these unambtous rhymes.
A number of Christmas poems and hymns, OF which
~evsral have been published before, are gathered
znto handsome volume, with Illustrations, by Annie
Chambers -Ketchum. Her poems OF the season Deiohs
no familiar class in which the possibility OF ong
nj
nv some Vitality of fancy and facility Of compoSuon'
and the more prctentous pieces in blank verse; for
the most part on scripural subjects are dishgufea
by few hating verses
Mr. Connoliy's Songs Of the Celt' are distinguished
hy fine carelessness of artistic conventions meouy'
rhythm rhyme scansion, every rule OF arr III snefs
Is nv turns dehed and sometimes all are oeneu
s....r This poet makes "ellfeS rhyme with
q rrst.s and pressed with "waste." stu 10 can
rot be denied that there Is certain attraction IN
such lawlsss verse One follows the Caring au'noi'
vondering what extravaganza he VIII commit next
This occupation Is mildly exciting put no s.@uol
Is looking for poetry we can hardly recommeiu nun VI
her 10 try Mr. Connolly's alleged verse
Mr.. Rohinson's Song of the Palm" published come
..r. .so An a magazine attracted attention by the
fronssaI warmth and color OF its imagery The spirit
nanifested In this poem also characterizes many OF
thu shorter pieces in the present little volume tnD
author who has lived long in the tropics mas ios
poes appreciation of their beauty and languor ana mas
isapnsd tn reproduce their charms in verse, which,
-, ons.dcuops for the weight its subjects, is fun
81 Injurious ease and drowsy melody Here is a DIT
Of the palm,s full Of the feeling Of the South:
when the wild North-wind by the sun enchanted
Seeks the fair South; as lover peanT . "a Shr'i''
1t bears the moaning OF the sorrO"nSu"'eu'
Gloomy, storn-oeaten pine
rhe waves OF ocean catch the mserere,
Far waited seaward from the w a65 IMAM MAN
With infinite refrain,
Until on coral shores where endless summer .ho,o
Waves golden banners round hsr aSeSe 'nO'
The palm enfolds the weary sPile IosA''
with low responsive moan.
uae seaerape hears 1t, and the lush banana
In the sweet inaoience Of tssT su Ispose
Tho passion-hower. and rose;
and ne sse tiger in ss f sss 5olT
AN Dep sSp R n1G 1m mbsbltans Of earth and air,
And Of the sleeping sea-
Ii throws spell of silence 80 enthrsllmg'
SO SseahssS s9S G s ap When stars are falling
Can iii the soul so full
We are Glad to note that Mr. Clinton Scotland Is
improving His last volume shows decided ADVANCE
tn technique and growth in facility OF expression IN
description he Is clearer and more restrained ana iath
fuI TO nature. He has here some narrative pieces
which. though they TOO plainly remind Us Of other
poets yet mark distinct progress Praeuce is
making perfect here and elsewhere, but IL has 10 De
said that when the spirit OF Mr.. Scolard's poetry is
original thought or direction. Imitation, however
flsvsr ts after all not worth the while Of any but
fhrdrate intelligences II Mr. Scotland is 70 rise out
of tho ranks of the minor poets ne must prove that
ne can create BE has not done this yet put ne mas
not stood STILL and that is encouraging fact We
hope. as the best possible SYMPTOM that he is very
far from being satisfied with the position ne mas
reached.
Mr. ch.nev,s sWood Blooms contains number
M eraeef,l lyrics and some dainty reflections from
nature This poet is at his best IN the latter form Oh
verSe His semi Humorous. sarcastic and dialect
usos lack sharpness and c.earness and at times he
leaves go much TO imagination Of the reader that
he NAV be charged with obscurty. An example Of
this is THE Jockey" which is scarcely intelligbie
NJ, pov.n,s translations of the Queen Of Rurna-
MAS Gsongs OF Toro are easily tested, for no has
pnbIIshed the originals alternate pages The
songs are simple and marked by strong sympathy ana
lively fancy. The spirit of Carmen sylvia" is as
tncty democratic, and, II she ideaizes tho working
peope considerably It is not because she falls TO com
nrebend them A vein of sadness runs through many
f these unpretentous songs of the handicrafts and
the translator has caught the spirit of them closely
An Introductory sketch adds considerably 10 the value
OF the Httlo volume which has been daintly dressed
by the publisher
aRebel Rhymcs, belong to the untutored lays with
which the poets corners OF many Southern journals
we're filed quarter of century ago. IL seems
rather late 10 be printing laments over Stonewan
Jackson and rhymes directed TO the address OF
the Confederate Army, and 1t does not appear the
more seasonable because these verses are common
place. few nfrequent felcities OF expression ana
rather strong feeling for nature, with some Sense
Of color and warmth, constitute the merits OF poems
which, on the other hand, are marred by too many
grammatical errors not TO BIO distinctly painful read
ing to cultivated ears
The author OF Ianored's Daughter, and Other
poenss modestly, though cannot in conscience say
untruthfully, ilkens his verses TO bubbles upon
river which shall q a moment gleam" The principal
poem Is upon an old theme. The most noteworthy
feature OF this poem is the surprising character OF the
metaphors employed. Thus gold figures not only