New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MINOR POETRY.

r~op or POEMS. BY John W Chadwick 1smo,
DID. ESQ Boston: Roberts Bfo'hers.
THE SHIL1SENiie m S%u pp Ias casseil 6 Co.
rur GRIP OF YOUTH, and Other Poems. by $.
Weir Mitchell. NJ. d. svo, PIP. 49, Houshton
IN THE NAME OF THE KING. BY George KlinGle
e4mo PIP. 11s. i. A. Stokes Brother
DEATHS DISCUSSES, and Other sonneis by FRANK san
IT. Marzals 16mo, PIP. 90. London; waiter
Scott.
THE WITCH IN THE GLASS, etc; BY Sarah NJ. B.
Piatt. 1smo, PIP. 102. lioughton d Miffiin.
THE MERRY MUSE. Edited by Ernest de Lsncey
Person New and Enlarged Edition. 12mo, PIP
oo7. Bedford. Clarke & Co.
IN yINCUIIs. BY wlfrid Scawen Blunt 1smo
DID g. scribncr & Wexford.
A REVERE and Other Poems. BY Robert A. Cheese
brough lSmo. Pr. 50. Ncw-York.
POEMS. BY Richard Edwin Day, cassel a Co.
LEAVES OF LIFE BY F. Nesbit 16mo, PIP lsS.
Lonemans, Green & Co.
CHANGING MOODS. By W Hunter Brckhead. 1emo'
PIP. 246. Boston: Cupples d Hurd.
The poem which gives the title to Mr. HIdfeths
collection protest against the barbarous
,stentatIon of funeral obsevances. 1t is also one Oh
the least poetic compositions in the volume producing
rather the effect of rhymed editorial article Mt
Hidreth writes musical and graceful verses on many
subjects. His muse is not soaring, however ana
pretty lines upon the regulation subjects, however
smoothly turned are apt TO become cloying "haI
strikes us most here in the greater part Of modern
minor poetry the absence Of inspiration and sponta
nety, and the too apparent indications Of labor yet
these poems are above the average in polish ana
melody.
An eighth edition Of Mr. Chadwicks poems seems
to argue an established popularity which It would DC
useless 10 question. Additions have been made 10 the
collection which embraces number of dramatic ana
emotional of the kind that appeal to the common
heart
Mr.. Charles NJ. Dickinson made a reputation oy MS
poem "The Children which Is in this volume rghuS
placed first. The other poems do not equal II In eh
ffv inf That has the prime merit
Of naturaness. and It voices ideas which are the
common property of the race. a strain OF uhaHecVeu
reverence characterlzes this writer's verse but he
decidedly uneven, and sometimes his poetry hal's
dcporably.
DR. Weir Mitchell has of late years sought fame in
20 many fields that the wonder IS, not TO see him 1a
short of excellence. but to find how much real merit
therc IS in his literary productions The Cup OF
Youth" IS rymed drama, the subject of which IS IN
dictated clearly enough by the title. There Is decided
dramatic force and certain impressive vigor III ts
composition but the characters are not clearly con-
ceived and that of Galosa is somewhat obscure be-
sides being wanting in attractiveneSs. There Is an
other dramatic poem. entitled The Violin' which IS
better planned and executed. OF the shorter poems
several distinctly good especially MY Cha'edus III
SPAIN and Forget Me Nots" There IS concrete thought
In all Dr. Mitchell writes but deficiency Of technical
skill and also of that senstiveness which Is so en-
phacaly poetic gift, conditions and limits his work
in this field.
1t is bad enough when the spirit moves those who
are without ideas make verses but it IS something
when 10 the deaIfh of thought IS added ignor
ance of the laws OF poetical composition, and daring
originality which confolnds all measures and laughs
scanslon TO scOrn Such verse-maker IS Mr. George
Klincle of whom little be said other than that his
intention is good, his mood pl5us and humble his
verses wildly irregular, and his reflections tame ana
pladtudnOus. Nevertheless we are disposed 10 give
him due credit for the smalness of his volume. He
en- eiIv have ma hiorpr and of
his tribe do run TO quantity, that he IS entitled to rec
ignition for this evidence of consideration and self
astFust
The sonnets of Mr. Frank T. Marzals possess sterling
merit They are marked by strong Imagination, stately
and graceful dctiOn, and beauty Of thought The nine
sonnets under the head Deaths Disguises," par
tcularlv beautiful. Those entitled a" Hints from
Pictures are perhaps less satisfactory because their
significance Is dependent upon the readers familiarity
with the paintings upon which they based; but they
are suggestive and picturesque. OF the miscellaneous
sonnes we may "Tbe Last Meamorphosis of
Mephistophees" 3Izpah," the three sonnets on The
sou' and "Orpheus and Eurydice as especially
good. If. in so difficult measure, Mr.. Marzials has
accomplished much high expectations should be
entertained Of his work under favorable CON
dtlons; yet If he be the author OF The Gallery OF
Pigeons etc. it would almost seem that restraint OF
the most rigid character necessary TO the develop
ment of his highest capacity.
In "The witch in the Glass, etc." Mrs. Piat has
given us pretty little volume of the charming,
tender song which flows naturally from her pen
Melody the voices and innocent questOnings of chill
dren all the tragedy and comedy Of everyday He
touched 10 nober key by the poets fancy character
ize these pleasant wholesome verses. They are
also distinguished by a refreshing simplicity, made the
more precious by the ahectation and ecceh'rcV
q, 60 manv modern verslfers Mrs Platt's poetry is
as spontaneous as the song of bird, and sometimes
Is as sweet and thrilling Her chldpoems especially
arc delightful and no poet deeper into the child
nature or expresses what she faithfully and
aelcately.
Mr. DE Lancey PiersOn has issued under the title
EThe Merry Muse" new and enlarged edition OIL 'he
collection which originally appeared as Sociev
Verse. by American Writer'S The additions are
considerable and in present form the volume Illus
.rate very fairly the talent for Writing society verse
which has been extending rapidly Of late so nigh
the average of these verses indeed, that 1t IS clear
the European professors will have to look to their
laurels.
In vnculis, records the impressions made upon
the fiery spirit Of Mr.. wnfd Scawen Blunt by term
Of imprisonment in Galway and Kilmanham iails.
These impressions cast in the form o. sonnets,
which the author-whose portrait, looking fierce,
adorns the volume-dedicates 10 " the priests and
peasantry of Ireland' The first lines of the open
Ing sonnet are calculated to suggest a somewhat
daring, not TO say injurious comparison. Says MIR.
Rlunt:
From Caiaphas TO Plate sent
Who judged with unwashed hands a crime TO me-
Next the sentence, and the soldely
Claimed me their prey
This is decidedly strong but Mr. Blunt deals only
in large expressions and figures. There are sixteen
OF these gloomy sonnets. and in the last of them Mr..
Blunt informs the world that he has made up his
mind to " smile more" 1t IS 10 be hoped that
he has reconsidered that fell resolve. Besides the
sonnets there some political ballads, all strongly
emotional "The Canon of Aughrim," the longest
poem I'm the volume, IS spirited.
Mr. Chesebrough states in preface that these
verses nearly all written when he was quite a
young man. and were not intended for publication.
They are Notwithstanding well deserving Of the brief