Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-11-24
,1nhi.nn Cn,yeIn,s Poetry.


poets.-Poe. Emerson, Longfellow, Lowell,
in the first rank, Halleck, Percival, Aid
rich and Mrs. Mouton in the second rank,
has been very barren in the last half
century. She has borne many singer in
this period, but only one or two who have
sung with that divine impulse which marks
the deathless; her finest products have
been such as George Edward Woodberry,
(who may be placed in the second rank,
and few others whose names would not
be recognized if printed, so little have they
sung in public
Therefore those Of New Engand's sons
who we're not born with the singers gift,
equally with those lovers of poetry in all
parts of America, hail every new conner
who shows that he belongs to either OF
these ranks; and therefore | am glad to
greet the few who have appeared in recent
wears from the middle, western and south
ern states, singing their deathless songs.
II is now about six years since songs be
gan to appear in the press signed Madison
Julius Cawein. Since that time four vol
umes of Cawein's songs have been pub
lshed by G.. p. Putnam's Sons, who APP
pear to have been the final choice OF the
poet for his publishers.
Cawein is poet Of thought, passion and
idealism. think lac is native of Ken
tucky. But whether of Kentucky or some
other part of the southern division of the
country. he possesses much sensuousness,
under the curb Of moral principle and
culture. and a love of color which gives
distinction to the majority of his poems
by the almost tropical richness OF his de-
| scription of women and scenery. In his
four volumes there is probably but one
volumes bulk of verse which would be
passed by any company of good critics as
worth preserving; so difficult IS 1t Tor
young poet, even after the closest personal
discrimination, to select the best of his own
work. But in that volume one would find
some of the most original, most poetic and
most artistic verse which has been pro-
duced since the death of Poe, and the
promise Of one of the foremost poets OF
America in the next quarter OF century.
The theme Of Cawen's verse-which Is
chiefly in lyrical and lOng-rhymed verse
forms, only now and then having the
form of a sonnet or quatrain-is usually
love: his measure is variable, showing
growing freedom in harmony with the
poets growth of though and of poetic
power. will name five of his productions
which should not be overlooked by read
er OF Cawein's books. The heron illus
trates the authors peculiar power in de-
scribing a scene of loneliness: one sees the
most impressive hues Of the last seconds OF
a summer sunset in such pictures as this.
l. iH.a
senorita,' describes a phase OF passion
with warmth and tenderness. In The
spirit of the van" the author. with a myth
illogical text for a beginning sets forth the
operation of love in certain type of mind,
with grasp and good degree of magma
ton. John Davis, boucanier,' which
reaches into the past, illustrates the free
spirit OF the poet. with a ruggedness which
suggests joaquin Miller's freest passages.
1.-The legacy of death reads like a per
sonal experience extended or amplihed;
it is we'll sustained throughout. There are
three or four others which should also not
be overlooked. but | leave the reader to
find them. All these are to be found in
Days and dreams, Red leaves and
roses, Moods and memories and
Poems of nature and love"
One bit of Cawein's verse, which gives
the key to his idealism is as follows; it
occurs in a dialogue in which "She
speaks
"All We hath emauationS-an ideal
Beats beats within all beauty. was moved
No more when dreamed, my spiritual dream rose
real
Than by what virtue God OWNED l loved
Those who look for great poems, or for
anything more than present excellence on
minor lines and promise of broader and
greater achievement hereafter, will be dis
appointed in Cawein; but they who seek
fresh inspirations in unconventional forms.
spiritual elevation, and artistic expression
of thought will find in him what is rarely
found in the writing of moderns. That
the scenes described are largely foreign
either to New England or the country
may be matter of some regret but any
location, under the circumstances, should
ne acceptance. +, r. c.