Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-21
The Tenth Muse.
For the Dispatch.

OF Tue IlrIhA'h'I
he doccnmal issue OF the New York
lord under IT. Pulitzer regime contains
amongst its hundred pages several special
contributions IN honor of the occasion.
One OF these l. a poem by Sir Edwin Al
aold. entitled Tho Tenth Muse III
uehtcen peculiar stanzas.
lie begins by telling how the utterers OF
glowing thoughts had invoked and OBJ
talncl the inspiration % the tabled nine.
Then he calls them up, each by her classic
name with her province and attributes. and
urc,s them 20 receive with becoming cor
dialtv and favor the new sister. whom he
introduces to them as the tenth muse -
the modern Press.
"Thon listen and with sister-arms en-ring
bcr whom We bring
Up he steep slope of your celestial mountain"
Tnis candidate for admission to their
ranks
"Born. albeit. of mon,
the, by her high cmVrtse, - Goddess still
Tho Tenth Muse treads to-day
This lofty way,
Not less than 20 Of lioaven-diyine not less"
The poet then adiures the sacred nine,
each aGaln by name aud attribute. 10 vel
come the IA ldlt!on 10 their number. be
cause abe really represents and combines
what they collectively patronize ana tos-
ter She
~ greater purpose holds,
\ larger deed unf0ids.
a mshiicr mandate hath from VII OF Jove.'
"1he wide worlds friend Ia she,
With eyes which SEQ
Whate'cr anywhere befalls; with ears
opened by night, 10y day,
To all men DO or say,
AZ the far echoes ~ all months and years.
Aud what she learns alone
swiftly she makes IL known
With voice majestic, world-eXtending, high,
- that tho rolling sca
Hath not tongue more free,
Nor moro Rllc0verlng the arrhlug sky."
She hath ~ fiery brand to strike oppres-
SION down. nor any material engines with
which 10 punish crime and wrong. But,
oMusesi this plumed quill which she doth bear
IL seeuer IN the strife,
strikes closer TO the life
Than sword Of dread AstrDa, or hthsne's
spear
"Of this the subtle point
Piercoth each armor joint
in rich tOgucs' pride and evil mems coniriving
There stands no shame 80 strong,
II shall for long
Make head against our Ladys ceaseiess STRIVING,
FOR. clad IN living light,
Win darkuoss doth she night;
And g.rt with knowledge. Ignorance she chases
High Muses.! welcome her
Our Worlds Interpreter
Glad and caressing 10 your heavenly places.
his tenth muse NC ciNltS fDueulcfu
and her vOtaries-" pressmen. slaves OF
the lamp, servants of the hight"
Though the poet has gwen us very
strong, lust. and original tribute 10 the
power of the modern press, yet 1t Is hardly
proper for him to entitle that press an adj
d!tional muse. as be does. Ii might have
u sort of multiple or composite goddess
presiding over IT. and such would have &c
Ice her character or nature. but the press
itself would not be its own cherishing and
guardian deity. History and poetry have
their muses., but are not muses. them.
telVeS
10 Is true that he at last calls his tenth
muse Ephemera. but this does not entire
" obyiate the above criticism, for he has
been singing the praises of that wondrous
"sii, OF tongues" aud not OF any one pre-
tldlug over II.
The title Ephcmera might be allowed TO
pass, as honor was intended for the daily
Word but any title for the muse OF the
modern press would be very inadequate
tnd unexpressive that should be confined
OF even chiefly applicable 20 the daily
newspaper iho weeklies. monthlies.
yuArierlies. aud other publications would
nave 10 eutreat .Polyhymnia 20 give them
muse or enlarge her sphere and take
'A.n uuder her wing.
MAY AZ, lsJ9 r. r. M