The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-01
ELIZABETH B. BROWNING.
ADlSCUSSlON OF HER MERITS As
AN AUTHOR.

| NJ frEh1. iIoh tbn f'b OF gentleman
W-li.Known In Professional Circles o
oar city, Read Not Long since At Meet.
Ing of tho Riehmoud Lit.rsry club;
From those who quicken in the lives o.
men lofty ideals, and who themselves pre-
sent the best types Of faith and purity. from
such n source OF influence and inspiration
we might well expect poets and teachers {,
lead the minds and mould the sentiment.
OF the people.
That the number Of those whose pen.
have stimulated TO high thought and touch
ed with gentle sentiments the lives Of men
has not been larger is a circumstance
which, while true, we need not bause 70
uselessly deplOre. We know, however, that
in these latter DAYS has come this sweet
woman teacher this hraye-hearted pOetess.
this gentle spirit, herself the fairest product
Of her time. That Mrs. Browning was a
strong. helpful personality, singularly free
from the combinations Of earth. yet kernly
approaching it, manifold trials and tempta-
tons, and endowed with a high order oil
poetic genius, can Lo safely affirmed.
Among the galaxy Of female poets she
stands without peer.
u Will be unnecessary 10 compare her
with "A Dante. Milton. or Shakespeare.
As well compare the limpid notes OF Virgil
with llOmers majestic strain Of Epic song.
As we'll compare the violet whose frag-
rance alone disclOses lis presence with
some tall queen flhe garden. q : TO compare
her with these sturdy masters OF poetic
power suffice II 90 say. that as divers
chords combine 10 form the perfect melody.
30 she IN tue realm Of poetry had her allOt-
ted part. and with all the freedom and iaith
born OF iDn0cency and love, she sang on and
on, while men stood enhanced with the
purity and wltchery OF her song. Herself
she calls, "a poor tired. wandering singer
singing through the dark" but we knew
that by the magic Of her song and the purity
Of her sentiment, she made that darkness
light.
There is no need 10 pause to discuss the
merits or dement's Of her style. She seems
10 have caught the "way Of speaking
gently" the poetic gilt Of making truth
more beautiful. But II Is Of the personality
with which she impressed her work, the
sentiments brcathed into poems, that should
be referred 10. What are some Of the ela-
meats of her power, some of the attributes
of mind and heart which stamp her message
10 The world: First and foremost, her faith.
Her faith IN God; her unlatering confidence
in the wisdom and tenderness Of the Most
High
Because OF her unquestiOning faith AID
its adoption 10 all the minut affairs OF life
she has been reg rded by some a lacking
in breadth OF conception and Independence
of mind: and while we ourselves may won
der at her trust. while our ialtering faith
may pause. while hers moves still upward
on uniiring wing, yet we can bat appreci-
ate the potential influence OF this faith upon
ner life, and in making that life source Of
heln and inspiration 90 others. To human
iiy. doubling and weary. she brings a conf
deuce serene and beautiful. With supreme
faith, and from the very depths, she could
eXclam:
Grief may be JOY misunderstood,
Ouly he good deserve the good.
trust Thee while my days 90 on
In that great poem from which this senti-
ment is taken. she has with a master hand
pictured how. amid the trials Of life, this
supreme trust, like q great rock in weary
land, rose up for her succOr. That poem
contains the canons and tenets OF her theOl-
0gy and delineate5 faith mighty 10 save
All through her works thcN may Doe
traced, like golden thread, the joyous
# this sentiment, and while IL
has she more beautifully expressed the idea
than when. in the closing lines OF the
Rhyme ~ the Duchess May she says:
and smiled 10 think how Gods greatness
Flowed around our incO pleteness-
hound our rrstlessnrss-f rest
With her faith in God was linked a still
further conception Of his direct iDterposi-
tion IN all tine concerns Of mortal life. Only
withdraw the veil which shuts the finite
from the infinite. aud view the happenings !
OF the present by the results which shall ul- !
tlmately crown them. and she knows that
al is well. With tins sentiment firmly |
fixed, she accepts with hopeful resignation |
the apparent defeat OF cherished plans, and |
with joyous heart sings on
$50 OF the doing OF Gods viii
cur foolish wills uudOeth.
Ana yet what dc dreams break ILL.,
Which NOR ing light subducth9
And who would murmur OF misdOubt
When Gods great sunrise finds him QUE"
perusal of that beautiful Little poem. |
IAN lsland,' from which this quotation is
taken. Will show that her love for the Crea-
tor extended dOwnwards 10 the creation.
and that, like so many others Of similar
she, too, TUNED with supreme
satisfaction 10 nature, that great source OF
inspiration for poet. orator, philosopher and |
Gods sunshine; from The beauties Of smiling
landscape and darkng wood; from the
granduers OF mountains and sea, and stars
and sky, we may we'll imagine how she
yearucd 10 slip away from the pent-up
lIunts Of men and hold communion with
nature.
In the little poem alluded TO, she has pie.
.ured ali the varying beauties OF sea and
sky. and hill and dale, and there amid
these scenes she would find a home for her.
self and her muse.
And near me two OF three might dwell
whom dream FAINT site please rs well.
SAID that Two OF thee might choose
lher dwelling near NY own:
nose who would change mans voice snd
Use
For natures way aud tone
Ian s NetIing nealt and careless eyes
TOR natures sicaGlasi syinpaihies.H
There, with nature i'm all it, varying
moods we mas We'll picture her amid sur
cummings most cOngeniL Nov watching
With intense rapture the storm cloud rolling
W ~ peerless majesty, or ocean dashed
win ITS stirring c01c0urse Of winds and
waves now 100 dreamy thought looking out =
pom the slnl.t sea, luAed by the music Of I,
Is myriad voices, or Gazing upward 10 the ,
ulet stars revolving on in all their stead ,
lst beauty, there would come 10 her "A
snse OF exquisite peace, only touched per. :
nance by vague feeling Of longing winch
the heart-cry OF the human for commu.
ION with the Great spirit whose handi-
0rk they are. f
Here and there throughout her poems We il
nd her love for nature boiled forth and e
cognition Of It's pure and helpful influence. 1
ith exquisite touch in her little poem the u
Deserted Garden she turns her thoughts q
tck TO the skies, as she SAYS, q
And / have learnt TO ! Il my face. ~
Reminded thar earth = greenest place "
RE color draws l. Om Heaven y
But while faith in divinity AMI love for g.
Is creation were foremost sources Of her Al
splratlon and pOte itial elements in vital. y
Ing her message 10 the world, vet all this ri
as still furtherhy profound conception NJ
her responsibility 10 use her poetic power i
f the glory Of the Great Giyer and the n,
sslng of mankind. 10 was because OF IN
ase characteristics # mind and heart. n,
d because these were the controlling ener- "a
= OF her lite, that We tud in her the ex- M
isite combination Of humility linked with nl
mus; OF present trial turned 20 future tri- trl
lph; Of songs and sentiments poured from lin
irong heart into the ear OF doubling and Ell
terlng humanity, red0.ent with faith and 3r
PEE. ~.
\ L. -.