The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-05-12
SELECTIONS FROM THE LITER
AIRY WAYSIDE OF THE SPRING
FIELD REPUBLICAN,.

Tennyson's new play, The Forest
ers, otherwise Robin Hood and Maid
Marian, does at least one thing takes
the reader of the volume or the beholder
of the acting cut of the workaday world
into the world of poesy, and gives us
Nature for the setting of such drama as
this is. 1t might as well be confessed at
the outset that in no respect does the
great poet add to his fame or to the treas
ures of modern literature by this recen-
sensIon of an old theme, but to decry it
as without merit, as many writer's have
done, is most unjust. After maa has
reached 50 years, is he to be forbidden to
write at all because he cannot equal the
product of his prime? That is most I'M
reasonable. II he bring forth pleasing
advertisement, 1t is enough, and that Ten.
nyson has done in his latest work. The
world ought to be grateful that so old a
man should yet care to give anything.
THE Foresters' should be described
as rustic play. It recalls the rustic
part of the Midsummer Nights Dream"
as well as the fairy part by the intro
ductlon of Titania and sundry fairies.
But it is delightful fact that there is
not IN all the play the least attempt to
copy the Elizabethan style. Taking the
folk legends that had gathered around
the rebel earl Of Huntingdon IN the an
archical days when John was regent and
all the English, whether Saxon or Nor
man, were longing for the return of
Richard Ceur de Lion, who was known
to have heart, the poet laureate has
attempted to reproduce in its simplicity
an age when the old native stock of
mobiles lived on familiar terms with their
retalners IL the way which was natural
TO them, and when there was certainly
less difference between those classes than
afterward became The rule. Robin Hood.
when he receives the decree of outlawry.
Is on such terms with his people that
they one and all welcome his leadership
to join the outlaws of Sherwood forest.
without thought that he demeans him
self at all. And in fact he does not de-
mean himself, but is a sort of king him.
self, and ulster one, not only than John.
but than Richard himself, or the rest. His
rude justice always appeals to the reader,
IN whatever guise the story of Robin
Hood is told. One must think of Ivan
hoe" of course, since King Richard in
disguise comes in; but more of the opera
of that name TO which Arthur Sullivan
wrote music than to SCOTS novel. Sui
Ivan also wrote music to the songs in this
greenwood play.
There is no lack of the greenwood feel
ing IN the play, and not a few passages
which are separately poetical enough for
the authors credit, such as this address
of Robin Hood to his mem
Friends.
am only merry for n hour or two
Upon birthday; If this life of ours
Be good, glad thing, why should we make US
merry
Because a year of II is gone: but Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year TO come,
Whispering 1T viii be happier and old faces
Press round Us, and warm hands close with warm
hands.
And through the blood the wine leaps to the brain,
Lake April sap to the topmost tree, that shoots
New buds to heaven. wherein the throstle rocked
Sings new song TO the new year,
After that they sing by Robins request
l.
when it appeared separately little while