The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-08

quiet village near his birth place. and there
with the exception of six moaths spent AZ
Lowell a. editor of the Hidfesex stdnddrD in
the simple dignity of frugal isdependence,
the fruit OF his own literary labors, he passed
the remainder OF his life. From ls45 to 1853 he
eontilou.sa edito.ialy 70 the NeslonGl Era an
ton City. in which "Uneis Toms Cabin" vas
Ia his seclusion Whittier was never idle. nor
did he neglect his duties a. a citizen while con-
hrming bis quality rs a poet ahenever oc-
CASTOR offered, some burning lyris OF his hew
across the country, ike the fiery cross, to warn
ana rally. Never mingling III setive politics
tuniess fliing the office OF presdsatiai eiscsor
may be called SOY he probably DID more than
anybody any 10 preparing the material out OF which
the Republican party was made when the
elvii war was impending ne would nave evadeo
IT II possible by any concession snort OF sur
render. as his "Word for the Homr' January,
ls6D shows While the war continued he
wrote little with direct references to II, and
never ANYTHING that showed asy bitterness
toward the authors Of it After il was over he
would have made the terms OF settlement
liberAi and conciliatory. He was TOO wise and
too humane to stir the still livisg embefs OF
passion and resentment for any political end
however dear to him.
Of all American poets, with the single excep-
ton of Longfeliow. Whittier has been the most
popular, and in his case more tran in that OF
any other the popularity has hsen warmed
through with affection. This has been due In
part to the nobly simple character OF the man,
Transparent through his verse. IL part to the
with the obvious aspects OF life and specula-
ton, has kept close TO the high est tevels of the
average thought and sentiment. His themes
have been mainly chosen from his own time and
country-from his own neghborhood even Tho
deals with simple motives and witSs experiences
common TO all, and accordingly his scenery
(whether OF the outward or inwasd eye) Is do
niestically welcome TO all his coun4rymen. He
is never complex in thought or OBSCURE in ex-
preston, and If sometimes isis dietion
might gain in quality by lssore delibsr
ate choice yet the peilucid simplicity
OF bis phrase and the instant aptness
OF his epithct as often secure mfsre winning
the vernacular. His provincialisris of word or
accent have an endearing property 20 the native
ear, though even that will consent 20 a lew OF
his more iicentious ryhmes. One feels that 1t is
Q neighbor who il speaking Non should the
genial piety OF his habituai thought and the
faith that seeks no securar foothesi than the
Rocks OF Ages, on which the fathers stood SO
firmly, be overlooked among the Qualities that
give him privilege of familiar ezsrance TO a
multitude OF hearts and minds which would be
barred against many higher, thou&n not more
genuine forms Of poetry. His religion has the
sincerity OF Cowper's without those insane ter
fors that made its very sincerity TEXTURE: There
between an the English .na sSs American
poet, especially in their unmetaphysicizad
love of outward nature. thefr. ansterty
tempered with playful humor, ana in that hu-
mainly of tone which establishes tie of affec-
uonate c0mpanionship between thsln and their
readers. Whittier has done as mach Tor the
scenery of New England as Scots for that of
Scotland. Many of his poems (suen, iOr exam
pie, as Telling the Bees') in WHICH description
and sentiment naturally inspire each other are
as fine any in the language.
Whittier, as many Of his poems efow. and as,
indeed would be inevitable, has had his mo-
men,s of doubt and distrust. but s.ever OF de-
spair. He has encountered everywhere the
moral of his inscription on a sun dial, convinced
that "theres light above me by che shadow
below" He, like others, has found it hard to
reconcile the creed held by inheritsace with the
subtle logic Of more modern modes of thought
As he himself has said:
He reconciled, as best he could,
Old faith and lancies new.
But his days have been 'bound each to each
with natural piety' He has cIang fast to