The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-11-15
"Ihe Lovers Dream"

10 me edlt0r OF IHE COMET 1t
may be ol interest TO the public-es
pecially to those who have taste for
poery-to know that there is now in
s;ore4or them one of the richest lite.
rary feasts ever spread. 1t is the latest
poeticsl production of that rare med,
ern singer Henry Hampton Hyder
popularity known as "the poet of the
Watauga." The poem is characterizsd
as can Allegory" and entitled "Tae
Lovers Dream, or, Love Seeking Vir-
tue" 1t is published by j. A. Denton,
johnson City, Tenn, price 20 cents.
The frontispiece Of the small volume
is finely executed portrait of the
poet in negligee attire, as is his wont
disclosing trait of character com.
mon to Alfred Tennyson, Joaquin
| Miller, Walt Whitman and many
other distinguished men. The public
Is assured on the title-page that the
production is Perfectly original
an announcements entirely superAuous,
since the stamp of the poets unique
genius can never fail to identity his
work even without his sign manual.
The titlo page is followed by one bear
ing a fac Simiie Of Mr. Hyders re-
markable chirography which reminds
the inexpert eye Of a series of hen.
scratches struck by chain lightning.
This indicates that rspidity of mental
action which distinguished the writing
of the lamented Horace Greeley whom
our p ct strongly resembles--in point
OF ilIegibility. But he possesses one
decided advantage over the great edi.
tor and philosopher in this, that we
are told in the Introductory to the
poem that "his writing is only legible
to himself-a point in which Mr..
Greeley was fatally at iault. 1t is fur
ther asserted in the Introductory that
the poets education "does not exceed
that of a modern school-boy; that he
knows nothing Of grammar has a
very incorrect knowledge OF orthog.
raphy; and as for rhetoric, he is a
stranger" To commanding genius,
such as our poet possesses, mere edu.
cation would be an actual impedi.
ment; and as for the trifling matters
OF grammar, and spelling and rhetoric,
they would be the worst OF handicaps.
The poem is beautifully illustrated, in
part, by plates from the back numbers
OF Munseys Magazine. The "key
note" or argument of this rare allie
gorieal poem seems to be, that "True-
love" having eaten of the forbidden
fruit OF sensual propensities," has
forfeited the companionship of his
Veetheart "Purevirtue" who suddenly
takes her flight to parts unknow
The discovery of the elopement sud-
denly dawns ON "Truelove," who, un.
wiling to part with his darling, starts
out in hot pursuit of the precious run
away. The poet himself seems to
assume the role OF the sorrowing
"Truelove" while "Puieviltue" is pre-
sented under the guise of some at
tractive woman with whom he is
doubtless in love. If 80, what de.
lightful excuse he thus ingeniously
makes for his poetic wooing.
The poem opens thus:
"a lovely dame my window passed in January.
When broken was my heart overwhelmed and
weary;
When my hear was pierced to its very center
core
1t seems that have seen that lovely face bo
fore"
What deep, painful warnings fill q
broken, weary male heart (the poet
is an eligible widower) when he sees
'lovely dame" pass his window in