The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-09-26

Wildwood Chimes" is the attrac
tive and appropriate title of a first
collection of poems by Miss Emma
Withers, of Chenille The book in.
cludes some forty poems, illustrating
several forms of verse and treating
most exquisitely truly poetic topics.
Many of the pieces such as "The
Lady Slipper" "At Swithins Run
THE Broken Alphabet" "In the Fire
light "As Memory Tells it Ger
and ''In Camden Wood" have an au-
photographed color and evidently
reflect much of the personal exper-
fence of the gifted author and
thoughts suggested by her locality
and environment.
They abound in terse and melodi-
Gus description of the flowers and
fields, the forests and streams of cen
trail West Virginia. Even the casual
reader will note that Miss Withers
has been loving student of Tenny-
son, Spenser and especially Bryant
while occasional phrases will recall
the verses of Poe. In Bryant and
his nature worship as expressed in
the "Thanatopsis" she has found the
most congenial reflection of her own
spirit, and it is not strange that she
has deliberately chosen blank verse,
as the appropriate form for so much
of her own early work.
The only marvel is, that she has
succeeded in using this most difficult
Of meters so we'll.
We do not believe that any writer
of verse in West Virginia has writ
ten fifty lines in blank verse, that is
at all comparable to Miss Withers'
"Resurgam." This poem now finds
its appropriate place in this collec-
tion but was first published some ten
years ago, in the journal of Educa-
ton" edited by Rev. j. r. Thompson,
then President of the University,
and issued from the Office of the New
DOMINION.
OF the pieces in rhyme "Comrade
Wind and "In the Twilight" show
delicate fancy, happy expression and
perfect rythm while To-Day" is one
Of the noblest in sentiment.
The Rondeaus on mature" Christ
mas Bells" and "Poesy" are noble in
sentiment and artistically perfect.
There are many lines in these
poems that illustrate the life, opin
ions, cares and work of our common
people and appeal with special force
to their affection for home and native
State.
A selection from Gas Memory Tells
it O'er' in blank verse will bear wit
ness of this quality.
go West Virginia? On thy Oak-clad
How fair the summer sunlight falls, how
swift
And clear the many streams whose mu-
sic dwells
Within thy narrow Wales, where calm
content
Sits brooding DER the humble joys of
home;
Thy boast is not thy gracious heritage
OF Old Dominion pride and chivalry-
Though these are much but in the hardy
hands
And lion hearts that won with blood and
The freedom of this mountain land be-
loved,
And to their children gave strong frames,
strong minds,
Srong hearts, strong faith and reveren-
tial souls.
lie well w., may may pause who from thy peace
His footsteps turn. Where shall the wan
derer seek
Skies in their changeful beauty fair as
Where shall he find more tender hearts
or true,
More helpful hands, or rest his weary
form
Beside such hospitable warmth as lights
Thy humblest hearth? o, heavily will
rest,
The mold of other cline upon his grave !!
My native hills, from childhood's ear
lest years
Thy many charms within my heart have
fed
The fervent fires of deep ,!abiding love.
Rough are thy nursing arms, yet strong
and true.
Harsh are thy cradle songs, yet he-who
hears,
To natures harmonies attunes his soul,
10 the full stature grows, and unto him
Shall come the heritage of truth, of hope,
Ot patience, and the scorn of meaner
things.
Passages like the following show
Miss Withers' grace and power of
expression.
Along deep hollows fled the haunted
Pursued by its wild longing for the sea-"
"She heard the captive winds
In somber hemlocks family moan, and
felt
Their od'rous fingers stir her loosened
hair
!" We turned to watch the water wheel
Forever like giant reel
Winding the silvery water bright
In tangled skeins Of broken light
And does it matter that no crumbling
stone
Remains your brief memorial to bear I?
The earth lies in the hollow of His hand
The humblest dust its bosom cannot
hide
From quickening light of Resurrection
morn"
Or this description of the school
girl:
when called to stand upon the floor;
The laughing-stock of all at once,
A yellow-headed little Ounce,
Trembling with envious Distress
Or this description of the ferns:
$50 frail and yet so strong they grow
Beneath the beds of drifted snow,
And in the riffs of barren rock
Beyond the shepherds questing flock !;
They cluster in the darkest dell,
Climb down into the gray-walled well.
And the smooth water bending DER
Narcissus-like, themselves adore"
The book is handsomely DO und in
cloth, with portrait of the author
and published by Robert Clarke &
Co, of Cincinnati. The price is 81 %.
Readers of this paper and all West
Virginians who feel just pride in
the work of our West Virginia writ
ers and poets should procure this
hook. 1t is a notable contribution TO
the future liteary heritage of our own