Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-12-24

he never allowed II TO govern his life.
which was an aseetic one, nor eorrunt
his mind, which was steadfast ia It's de-
votion to truth.
The life Of Whittier, which has ex-
eeeded that OF most poets. contains
little in the shape Of personal advent
nre that is likely TO interest the future
biographer. Beginning with journalism
IN political and moral lines, 1t con-
tinued In the same lines, which broad-
ened at last in the direction of litera-
ture. For after he returned from
Philadelphia, in his 33d year, and
settled at Amesbury, whittier the fam
ny had moved from Hayerhill, though
he stinted not in his contributions 10
antisiayery journals, he may be said
70 have become a man of let
tiers. Reading his works In the
order In which they were written.
starting, say, with his lcgands Of New
England, "MOll Pitcher" and ,.Mopg
Megone,' and following with his
poems chiefly relating - slavery, aud
his ballads, both OF which were pub
iished in 1888, his mind had widened
as the wears went ON, thl his artistic
touch had grown finer as well as firmer,
and that the divine quality which we
feel 10 be- poetry was manifested more
and more. lie had not vet ceased TO
be moralist, but he had invested him
self IN the singing robes OF the poet.
Before he accepted the editorial chair
gaHN H..
begun 10 write for the Democratic Re.
View. and during his occupancy Of that
thorny seat he sent 70 II number of
his finest poems. Tho characteristics
OF Whitsier's poetry were as marked in
this volume, which WAS published IN
his 3Gth year, as In All that he wrote in
the long and prolific years that fol-
lowed. lie never surpassed It's ballad
~, Of which The Norseman," Gas.
sandra Southwicls," and .st. John"
were good examples, though some Of
his later ballads, rs Barclay
~ Try" and the angels
~ Buena Vista tsi7), .'Calef in
Boston" (lsfD), and "Mand Muller
us3tl, were more highly thought Of
Akin 20 these productions was a class Of
subjects which depended for their sue
cess upon the elements that underlie
historic and dramatic writing. They
were historic IN that they dealt
with pcrsonnges who have left name
upon the records ~ past times, and dr1l.
matte Ia that they sought to revive
their personality, rs II lightened or
darkrned through their actions or sep
nFated them from their race, ~ whom
they were bcneiactoss or Hcourges BE.
longing - this class are
"Mirium The Vision Of Echayd. .
and The Kings MisSiyc," and
such representative poems as
Randolph ~ Roanoke, Elliot, z
"lchabod," ''Iauler." BURNS" and
Summer" The art Of Whittier IN
these Illustrations 81 poetic portrait.
urc - the art ~ Reynolds or vclasquez.
The poems ia which the homely power
Of his genius Is most strongly marked
are his songs of Labor, and the
poem upon which his reputation mos,
surely rests " Snow bound" II Is
NJ once photographic and national
nutobiographic in that Il is faithful
dclincation % himself and the diiferen,
mcmbers Of his family. and national
In that II is vivid picture Of winter
life IN the New England Of oldcn times
n there Is anything In British song
with which II can be compared, II Is
'.Thc Cottcrs Saturday Night, which
Is perfect Of It's kind. though devoid Of
the poetic grace which Is the charm o.
this sweetest of all American idyls.