New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
JOHN HAYS POETS.
A FINAL COLLECTION.
POEMS nv John Hay. 12mo, PIP 212' boston ana
New York HonghtOn, Mifn CO.

noet His Pike County Ballads, which nave been
we'll and widely known for twenty years. captured
tho public at once. Their originality OF spirit,
their freedom Of manner, their eloquent sngees-
tivencss of a rudcly picturesque state OF semi
civilization their vivid portrayals OF unique
character and their felicity Of humorous express
sion are commanding merits, and these virtues
nromntlv ACCOMPLISHED and have sufiiced to main
tain the conquest of the public nina IN the
order of time John Hay was the first OF our writ
ORC N adventure in this peculiar field and his
Mystery Of GilgaI" Little Breeches, Jim
RIudso Banty jim. "" Golyer, and the Pledge
NJ Spunky Point although they have OCCASION
ally been rvalled, have not been cXceiled. Inc
persons who appear in those ballads might not he
agreeable to see and hear, but it is pleasant TO
read Of them. The manner in when they are
portrayed is marked by most acute PERCEPTION
Of comicaty, and by a rare and fine capacity Tor
conveying the sense OF humor to others IN imagery
and in phrase. The vigilant yet bland demeanor
of Colonel Blood, Of Pike, and the philosophical
gravity. ocular compaccncy and expeditions
nromptitude of " old ledge Phinn' arc revealed by
n few dextcrous touches OF perfect literary art !:
and thus transmitted, beings who in actual life
would he coarscy common or extensively eccen-
trio become in the realm OF fancy. the perpetual
cause of mirth There is sympathetic thrill of
genial humanity in these ballads likewise, and
they are not less happy in the exposition OF hero
ism than they fervent in the appreciation Of
it. Accordingly. IL was natural and inevitable
that they should instantly arrest attention and
speedily find permanent home in public favor
Yet It is not in his vcrsfcd sallies Of humor
that the finest attributes Of John Hays genius
are revealed. The aspiration Of the human race
toward liberty is an impulse that arousrs in him
a deep and fervid passion. For every brave deed
that is done in the NJ freedom his song thrills
and burns with proud. triumphant JOY. over
every failure Of imperial fraud and over every
doom Of retrhution upon tyranny his spirit sounds
an eager. cXultant trumpct-notc Of Cladncss. No
man believes more deeply than he does in the
essential goodness of human nature and in dcs-
tiny Of brotherhood and happiness for tho human
race Tho soul Of these poems is profoundly and
entirely sympathe-ic with man. and they arc full
Of strength, checrfulness and hope. mood of
high. calm. contcmplativc philosophy likewise APP
pears in thcm-as in such poems as Winter
Night" Mount Tabor and Isracl--hu this
mood is not pcrvasivc 81 the book, which is re-
markable rather for IFS impctuous lyric spirit than
for pcnsiyc brooding on the mysteries and solemn
ties Of Nature The sweet gravity Of thought
emplincd in Nor'hward" and be Icsc-Amour.4 and
these poems in particular are marked bv the deli
cious fexibil'y and charming melody Of his fluent
rhythmical STYLE Bn' tho moro prevalent and
predominant Characteristic Of his mind is poetic
enthusiasm This is uttered in ringing lyrics Of
love and bcautv-such as Words. Blondine.
Rcmorsc. -" Dreams and " How II Happened.
The poem called Words is an example Of perfect
81. tr,
ing into few lines. and it runs with tie ripple Of
the woodland brook. Through all the poems Of
passion the inspiration is that of chivalry. Many
Of them, furthermore reveal deep and synpa-
,hetic perception Of rho tragedy that is latent
under apparently the most placid aspects Of life.
Rcpardant,7 Una and "Lagrimas' are close
denotemen,s Of the most intense feeling that can
arlict the human heart-a feeling that is all the
deeper and all the more real and touching for the
extreme concentration Of style with which II Is
expressed.
There arc those VINO believe that poetic utter
ancc is stimulated and moulded hy the influence
Of the age in which il occurs The more rational
view considers il as a spontaneous impulse Of the
spirit and very oftcn-as experience has shown
IL has been compelled 70 struggle against every
unpropitious force that hard and cynical civiza-
ton can sway against il. IN American life the
prevalent forces all opposed 10 poetry, and. in
deed, our poetical literature has grown mp, not
in consequence OF ito surroundings. but in spite
of them. The aspirations Of the soul are indie
pendent Of utilitarian industries. The wonders
and rlories of nature calmly continue 10 awaken
the poetic heart and inspire tbr poetic imagina-
ton. Voice atIcr voice, as the building of the
great practical Republic Goe, on, the poets con
frive 70 make themselves heard and the reader
of the poems Of John Hay, as hc turns the leaves
of this ample and handsome book, fails not 10
perceive that neither political strife nor any
other disturbing influence of this stormy ngc has
prevailed 10 quell IN the heart Of this true poet,
that passionate impulse OF song which forever
must respond 10 every divine intimatlon Of nature
and every noble action Of man Sometimes il is
the splondor and the pathos OF ruined empire
that inspires him: sometimes the brlliancy OF
some deed of ~Valor or Of intrepid endurance
sometimes the old celestial patience and divine
abneqation of woman; sometimes-as in that fine
ballad called a Triumph of order'-the airy
gallantry and dauntess daring of childhood' al
ways something noble, or beautiful, or weird, oil
majestic or otherwise out of the common course
Of things There is meaning full Of cheer for
every true lover of literature in that an American
poet long identified with public affairs and resi-
dent almost continually amid the conflicts of pub
| lie life is, nevertheless, found respondent ever
To the romantic influences Of chivalry in the old
| medieval times and in such poem as Song OF
the Temple" can rise 10 this serene height oil
august emotion and Of perfect music
Mother Of God as evening falls
Upon the silent sea,
| And shadows veil the mountain walls.
We Mt our souls To thee
From lurking pers Of the night
The deserts hidden harms.
| From plaques that waste. from blasts that snite.
Protect thy men .atarmsi
| another Of God thy starry smile
still bless us from above
! Keep pure our souls from PASSIONS guil4
our hearts from earthly love!
| Still save each soul from guilt apart
As stainless each sword,
| And guard undmmed in every heart
| The image Of our Lord.
" In desert march battles fame.
nd Gc