The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-01
THE SPRING.

The only element of consolation in the ex-
cessiye humidity which so far has distin-
guished the present season throughout the
whole Of the eastern section Of the United
States is the very dscouraging influence which
it seems TO have exercised upon the fancy OF
the Spring poets. There has been notable
falling off in the amount Of the high-fown
sentimental verse which usually appears IN
the first months Of Spring in all Of our lead
ing journals and periodicals in earnest lauda-
ton Of sky and earth when touched 10y the
reviyifying beams of warmer and moro
genial sun. The very Spring poets, who are
so often the helpless though unconscious VIC
tins of their Imagination. have been shamed
into silence by the continuous bad weather. or
if they have dared to pen line IT has been
in a spirit Of mockery rather than of praise.
When the ardor Of this class is repressed ex-
cellent reasons exist for thinking that the sea-
son is very backward and very perverse.
There is considerable room for Specializing
as 10 how far the ideas which our Ameri-
can poets have of Spring have been affected
by the famous English poetry which relates
to this subject The English Spring Is more
attractive than the same season in the middle
and northern ATTITUDES of the United States.
Around it the glowing fancy Of English bards
has thrown thousand beautiful images
which, although our climate is different, have
become the common property Of every Ameri-
can poetic scrbbler who tunes his small and
unharmonious Tyre to celebrate tho charms of
the vernal season under the roof Of our West
ern skies.
The Virginia Spring in its highest express
sion is a season Of supreme loneliness, but 1t
is loneliness that is ftful and broken. In
the minds Of a majority Of people. IL is proba-
bly, more associated with heavy rains and
darkened atmosphere than with the songs Of
birds. the bursting Of buds. the unfolding of
flowers and an indescribable light on hill and
plain. Ii is the season, according to English
habit and tradition. for walks in the green
fields and by the side of blooming hedges,
but with us n very large proportion of it IS
spent indoors, but without the cheerfulness
that is Characteristic Of winter.
The dance around the village pole on the
first Of May which appears so often in Eng
lish song and story would never have grown
into national custom IN our climate. Not
until the Spring has nearly passed, do We OBJ
serve the kind Of weather which is associated
with it in popular verse. Ii is only as it
withdraws from the scene that il condescends
to smile and then over its shoulder and for a
very brief time
When the great school Of Virginian poets
shall arise who are 10 celebrate tho charms
which nature has lnvished upon our Com
monwealth. we are inclined to think that they
VIII be disposed to uphold the superiority Of
our Autumns over all other seasons. The air,
then, is bracing and the skies are clear. while
an invisible spirit, suggestive both Of happi-
ness and melancholy walks over the russell
hills and haunts forest and plain. Our Springs
nave days Of brilliant and intoxicating sun
shine, but they are changeable and capricious.
Our Autumns are equable, and while not as
inspiring as our Springs at their best yet are
remarkable for q more continuous and uni
form maintenance Of a charm almost as high.