The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-30

the belief that the world Of letters, as micro
scopically ensphered in the worlds metrop-
oils, has become revealed TO US. when sud-
denly aname unknown to most Of US flashes
upon a startled ignOrance-our provincial
ism. Such name was Theodore Martins
to me-
When the telegraph announced that the
laureateshp might be rendered to him first
combining as he does ali the requirements
for the lofty position, which, IL not with
glory, he viii a. least I'LL with honor, he
being not only hODOTed at court but also
respected by the active men Of Parliament
esteemed and valued by every one in
Engiand's highes. literary and social cir
eies, a personal friend of Gladstone and Of
the late laureate, TennysOn-then it vas l
found myself asking, And who is Iheo-
dOre Martin? ?"
The encyclopedias could not answer me.
My compilation Of British poets could not
tell me-. William Cullen Bryants Library
Of Song" including hundreds Of names,
many Of whom he himself would question as
true Noets, the poets OF the nineteenth cen
tury. Including Swim burne and William
Morris, Arnold and Buchanan. had no men
ton OF him. So that for the moment l
hattered my ignorance by concluding that
an unknown man had been selected.
But with the books before NE, having
been disappointed IN not finding any selec-
ton by Theodore Martin, s0ughtto recon-
pense myself for my labor by enjoying
some poems by him, whose rare union Of
sweetness and VlgOr, patriotism and uni
versatility had suggested himself TO me 10 be
the man most fitted TO be called England's
poet Alfred Austin. But in these books,
as in a long list Of Ms. there was no Mar
tin, so in an almost equal list, OF as there
was 10 Austin.
Theodore Martins life is Its own expla-
nation. Instead Of being an unknown man,
one no sooner makes proper effort than he
realizes the truth Of that adage, Zone Is
never so lost as when In crowd" Theo-
dOre Martin is an active man in the very
center of L0ndOn's activity. a man Of so
many parts and ali so delicately balanced,
so mOdestly maintained, that 20 classical
ton has as yet distinguished him; but to q
large class Of his very large circle OF friends
he is a man Of affairs, while TO another he
isaman Of letters. The British Museum
found difficulty in classifying him, but all
at once seemed 10 have found in him another
being. and after it had been satisfied with
cataoguing him for many years as Theodore
Martin, Solicitor" With a sudden dawn
ing upon Its intelligence it realized him in
his true light, and with its creative pen
drew an eTasive line, so that hencefoTth he
stands, Theodore Martin, poet"
As a man Of affairs Nr. Martin followed
In the steps Of his father, becoming as a
solicitor and then as parliamentary agent
so eminent LndE ELNerc IS no one ID W est
minister whose character ranks higher or
whose professional opinion is more valued F"
In 1876, hen committee Of both houses Of
Parliament was appointed 10 inquire as TO
the best means Of placing the profession Of
parliamentary agency under proper regula-
tiOns, his brethren selected him to represent
them before the committee, who In their re-
port substantially adopted his suggestions,
thus making another practical refutation Of
the ola fallacy that success. in literature is
not compatible with capacity for business.
AS a man of letters Sir Theodore Martin.
knigbted because of his literary achieve
meDts, stands in EGgland's foremost rank.
There is no department. whether Of music
or art, Of economics or poetry which his
refined and gifted nina has not adorned.
In taking rank among contemporary poets
nc holds his position, not from a creative
power in its iuspirational spOntaneity, but
as an appreciatYe translator Of pOetical
masterpieces he shines by a reflected light.
Our own gifted poet Aldricb becomes hii
champion, saying IN bis
APPRECIATION.
You DO poets and their song
A grieyUu5 wrong
If 10 their high imagining,
You bring not as much beauty as they sing.
Martins translation Of hiller's poems
is preferred by many to BuIwer LyttOD'st
his metrical rendering of GOethe's Faust