The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-15
Lowell's Place In Literature.

Some years are likely to elapse before The
value Of the contributions made by JAMES
RUSSELL LOWELL to American literature
can be clearly defined. From this point Of
view he may be protitably compared with
JOHN LoTHRoP MOTLEY. Neither the ono
nor the other would have made very deep
impression on the English mind had he not
happened to have been appointed American
Minister to the Court OF st. James's. A fac
tltious Importance was conferred upon the
poet as we'll as the historian. by the tenure
Of high diplomatic post. The appearance
OF man OF letters in a distinguished Of
fetal station seems the more striking to Eng
lishmen, because there IL scarcely any
precedent for the phenomenon In their own
annals. For an analogue they must 90
back to the short experience Of MATTHEW
PRIOR at the court Of Versailles. The SUBJ
jects OF Queen VICTORIA are aware that the
place OF Minister to London is regarded as
the highest prize OF American diplomacy.
They expect to see 1t bestowed on Americas
greatest men, and when they see 1t given to
professor OF literature they are not un.
naturally disposed to exaggerate somewhat
the latter's eminence and popularity among
his own countrymen.
As a matter of fact it would be preposter-
GUS to rank JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL with
EMERSON. considered as a thinker. or with
LoNGFELLow. viewed as poet who could
touch and hold the heart of the people. His
prose essays in thought and criticism have
never been widely read, although they have
undoubtedly commanded eft audience
though few Much the same thing may be-
said OF his poetry, II we except the two
series Of "Biglow Papers," which had a
political and an opportunist success.
LoNaFEL1ow had o hundred readers
on this side OF the Atlantic where
LOWELL had one; and the dispropor-
ton was even more marked In Eng
land before Mr.. LOWELL presented his
credentials to the Court Of st. James's. and
thereby gave his writings species OF vogue
which they had previously failed to obtain
on their own merits. Nor have we far to
seek for the reason OF LOwELL's failure to
ment which LoNaFEILow shares with Ten
NYsoN, even in the latter's country. II. in
deed, he does not surpass him. The fount
Of LowELL's poetic utterance was rather
pumping than flowing we'll. His verse too
often smelled OF the lamp. It was studious
and elaborated. It pleased the critical
rather than the untutored ear. 1t amused
and interested. but 1t rarely thrilled.
Even where In the Commemoratlon Ode"
LOWELL had great occasion for emotional
fervor. he failed to draw tear. He was
nun fully alive to his own limitations, and
he would have been the first to own that he
lacked tho sacred fro. Nor would he have
been the last to acknowledge, with the kindly,
quizzlcal smilo characteristic of him. that the
place he temporarily occupied In London So
clety had much to do with the sensation
caused In England by his death. It is safe
TO assert that. had he been known simply by
his writings and had never been sent to Eng
land as American Minister. not single Lon
don newspaper would have felt itself called
upon to give more than few lines ia the
commemoration OF his decease. BY the
statement Of this fact we do not depreciate
LOWELL. and we clarity the comprehension
OF contemporary history.