New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE BIRD AND. THE BELL with Other Poems.
/ BY Christopher Pearse Cranch PIP. xii 327
aYRICs SELECTED FROM THE WORKS OF 4. mary
F. ROBINSON (dadame James Darmstetter). Fred
erick a. Stokes Company.
On THE MORNING. BY Willis Boyd Allen. A. ID. +.
Randolph d Co.
Cicero the guest at dinner one day. says Macro-
bius. of a wealthy but stingy man. The entertainer
observed that the crafty lawyer somewhat sh! VI
the wine. "why do you not drink - he asked ina.
wine is so-and-so many years Old" An inuee"'
said Cicero, how well IL bears It's age mat was as
tart as the wine must have But to use the same
phrase respecting verse conveys not censure' pu'
praise At any rate the allusion is snsgesNu W MI
Cranch. in the Introductory lines 10 uns OooA'
for he compares himself IN thus bringing OUT tne poems
written at different times in period oil many years "
one who has kept his wines long IN some oeHar CITY
and at last calls neighbors to share the hoardeo
vintages Of many year
Yet overvauing percbance
What seemed to keep for him flavor rare
Which love might prize when critics frown askance.
In the best sense these poems bear their age we'll
They are the work of to whom poetry is char
anterisc form of expression, TO whom poetic ioeas
come as readily-perhaps more readily-than 'nose
snted to prose; but who has also Just discrimination
as against mere empty rhythm, and patience 10 WORN
out his thought in simple FORM Ihere ls' lhueeu'
The note OF querulous philosophy, that SOUNDS
strangely in an age the most glaring II not the most
important mark of which Is agnostc indifference ana
speculative curiosity. But this note OF the past
leads the singer 10 themes that are everrecuent te
universal problems Of humanity. II he does not pen
citrate the mystery he at least questions In meodous
numbers But many moods reflected in this vol
Sme besides the Just limited at. The poet loves
glimpse Of nature the song of birds, the signing OF
pine woods, the scent Of fowers-indeed the word
aroma is almost too much Of favoTfte with him
the whirl OF snowHakes he loves, too, quiet
laugh occasionally. and sometimes grave satire
Through ALL the most notable thing about him is his
control over the various ons Of that he chooses.
whether classic elegiacs, tripping lyrics, the heroic
line and couplet the sonnet OF the last there are
some particularly good examples.
In the little collection OF Lyrics selected from the
works OF Madame Darmstetter one has pretty but
omewat eccentric looking book with that are
tender and delicate but monotonors in theme. dealing
much more with passing emotions than with ideas.
There are delightful glImpses of nature and there Is
thougM melodously uttered, but marred by melaD-
choly which sometimes artificial aud Is certainly
"a sign rather Of weakness than strength
Some minds act like the telescope reversed. They
make great things small There is no more impressive
incident in the Bible than that Of the prophet who
stands in the entrance OF his and witnesses fierce
,convusions of nature but finds God only in the STILL
small voice" ain the Morning." a small volume OF
poems by Willis Boyd Allen, contains paraphrase OF
tins idea In which the poet takes the place of the
prophet and unable TO write his though the
storm roars outside of the house. but receives quick in
SEPARATION from the timd voice of his cAd at the study
door.