Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-08
HONOR TO A SOUTHERN POET.

An Alabama lady decided recently that she would take upa certain course of study. As the course she selected was some- what outside the customary lines, she was unable to procure the necessary books of the home dealers; wherefore sfe concluded to write to a prominent publishing house in Boston for aid and information.
 These publishers responded promptly and courteously to her letter of request.
 They were unable, as they stated, them selves to give even the names of such books as would be useful to her in con- nection with her line of study; but her re- referred to the librarian of the public libra " of Boston, and he had furnished the list which they enclosed.
 These books, they further added, were all English publications, and were not to be found in this country. However, they said, they would gladly undertake to im- port the books if the lady should decide that she desired them.
 Among the books thus suggested was one called tElfin Music.'
 It proved to be a modest little volume of selections from the poems of English wri- ters of all ages, on the subject of fairies and fairyland and of all things airy and eerie.
 There was, however, in this simple little book something that filled th(s southern woman with delight and caused her loyal heart to beat high with pride-national pride, southern pride, pride for Alabama.
 In the s'contents" of this English pub lication slowed away cozily, and consort- ing on terms of equality with tue awe-i in . spiring titles of Shakespeare, of Chancer and Spenser, of Ben Jonson and Herrick and host of other literary lights of greater or less magnitude, she found the name of an Ala bama poet, Samuel Minturn Peck.
 There it stood, in all the dstinctness of perfect type, looking every whit the peer of those around it. Wasn't it surprise? Not that the name was thought unworthy such post, but that it was not known that our slow English neighbors had as yet "caught on' to the charm of our southern songster.
 But these British brothers know a good thing when they find 1t, and when they specially need a fancy light as air, and as fresh, as pure and as sweet, they leave the musty times of their own singers and seek it in the notes of this delightsome song bird of our own cherished southland.
 The poem of Mr. Peck's selected is his Charming verses, ''The Pixies" Like all of his poems, this one is a gem. To char ing. To say that it is naive falls below the mark; to say it is chic is better; but, hay ing borrowed of the unsatisfying French , having despaired of the unwieldy German , having wanted of the canny Scotch, we re- turn to our all sufficient English and say there is charm in it. A charm, yes, a spell. It pleasss, it delights, it ecstacies and you know not why.
 ''rhe pixies are abroadl' Yes, that's 1t; there's witchcraIt in it. The poet be- witche with his musical rythm, his dainty Sfances, his purity, and, above all, with his ardent love for his art. Surely, with such philter as his gift of song at his command, he is the superior even of the "prince''sof his own poem, for, with the aid of so potent an ally,
 Unaided by fairy's might,
 he would sue, aud never "vainly,n for the hand of nnV DrinceSS of any realm.
 But perhaps the fairies are in it after all- there is a charm in his poems. ''The pixies are abroad," no doubt.
 ANON.