New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17
hooks which is all the publishers nave 10 EMO"
for minor England at this time.
AMERICAN LYRISTS.

AMERICAN LYRISTs.
Tho newest and most original book OF poetry
In the list Of American publications Is more IN
teresting than poetic. In his STOPS OF various
Ouills" Harper & Brothers., the pensive ana
svmpathetic spirit OF Mr.. Howells seems to have
been touched by almost every hand In Ire save
that of the joyous muse. His verses DO not s''s'
they walk with sedateness among prosaic sceheS
and figures looking for their reward. not IN tehc-
,v 81 diction in sweetness OF melody. but In the
conviction viii n they may carry to the every
dav heart of the everyday man. Because they
do this with peculiar .orce and dircctness, win
oeculiar sincerity, and with keeness OF VISION
that Is not granted to every watcher OF our COM
mon life they should be greeted with respect
But they want grace beauty, charm; ana iailihs
these things they do not take the rank when
their substance might seem to claim. The DOCK
is brilliantly illustrated with pen drawings and
2 few wash designs by Mr. Howard Pyle.
The new book issued by Mr. Aldrich under the
title OF Later Lyrics (Houghton. Mifllin Coz
contains no verses, but the selection IL
gives from three or four of his other pubca-
tons comprehends few poems which 1t is not
Measure to see again The first thing in the
book. Sweetheart. Sigh No More Is one OF
the most delightful songs Mir Adrich has writ
from "Wyndham Towers'-a work which has
not on the whole. maintained its own. In the
collection under notice there reappear the pretty
"Fcho-Song," the dainty stanza TO Memory,
the curious and skifully turned Insomnia" the
happy lines on THE Sailing Of the Autocrat'
and twice the number of other excellent per-
formances there are fifty poems In all, including
the little verse prefixed to the collection. There
are few which need to be subracted In order to
make this a thoroughly representative little an
thology Of the author. But few should GER
tainly GO The poem to Shakespeare is hope
essiy inadequate, a plattude II ever there was
one; and the poem at page 76, which opens thus:
vex me not with brooding on the years
That were ere drew breath:
does not arrive anywhere or please In it's
method of not arriving For once Mr. Aldrich
amazes by being obscure and only partially the
workman that he is at his best
similar little shock Of surprise is given by
the opening pages of the thin volume of Last
Poems OF James Russell Lowell CHoughton, Milf
fin e. Coz which Mr.. Norton has passed through
the press. The long poem there printed. THE
Oracle of the Goldfshes" has more than the
usual allowance OF Lowells quaintness of phrase
and not half his usual ucidity. The shorter
pieces in the collection of ten poems by far
the best In AN April Birthday-At Sea" there
is all OF Lowells graceful galantry, and through
The NOber Lover" his elevated spirit shines at
its purest There is humor in the Verses in
tended to go with posset dish 10 my dear
little goddaughter, 1882: and, indeed though
this volume does nothing TO increase the authors
fame with posthumous discoveries OF new powers,
II is colored by his Temperament his style. ana
will gladly be given place beside the sub
.rhI I'm hf NJ
poetry of his lifetime.
Among the ten or twelve books which remain
to be credited to American authors there are two
three which give an excellent account OF
themselves I'm the Young World" (HOughton,
Miflin & Coz. by Miss Edith NJ. Thomas, does
not show very profound insight into nature.
but the sensitiveness of this writer to flowers
and young gentle things is quick and true. She
writes verses which are fresh In feeling. refined
in fibre and neatly turned. The Conversation
which fills a score of her pages Is long drawn
out but the best parts Of it and practically all Of
her briefer poems make an agreeable accompani-
ment to half hours idleness.
The verse of Mrs. James 7. Fields in The
Singing Shepherd and Other Poems Houghton,
Mfn & Coz has some sincere feeling, but the
expression of it has no1e Of the marks of spon-
lacking in a certain quiet philosophy. in certain
attractive pictures-but fl plainly written,
not sung. SO. also. The Tower, with Lee
gends and Lyrics" Woughton, Miiilin Coz
a book in which Miss Emma II. Mason proves
that she has a little fancy and facile pen, but
no particular warrant for using either In the
production Of poetry. If to her facility Miss Ina
Coolbrth the author of Songs from the Golden
Gate" QIoughton. Mifiiin Coz, could add
rhythmic point and picturesqueness OF diction
she would be given cordial greeting. She has
something to tell us of Western landscape that
might prove itself to be worth the telling AS it
is. her verses do not come from poetic depths
and therefore lack poetic character. The Haw-
thorn Tree and Other Poems" ct. Y. Crowell &
Coz offers some work by Mr.. Nathan Haskell
Dole who Is chiefly known as translator we
advise him to stick to translation.