New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15

nin a Co
LUCY LARCOM. Life. Letters and Diary. ~
Daniel Dulany Addison Houghton. Miihih w.
Mrs. Thaxter's letters. with the running com-
menary OF the two editors. form as much OF
biography OF this Puritan Miranda as we are likely
10 see Told In this way the story Is naturally
incomplete and d.sjointed Moreover. the EDITORS
in their affection for their departed friend indulge
overmuch In the sentimental strain Ii Is STRAIN
which bears witness to their devotion, and to Mrs.
Thaxters ability inspire 1t; 1t IL touching. but II
is biography Perhaps, however this Is all that
is required The book shows forth gl.mpses OF one
who not creature OF transcendent genius Dut
a thoughtful woman, OF a sensitive, imaginative
and beauty glowing spirit, of an anectonate anu II"
selfish heart-a woman who might we'll evoke such
personal tributes but who Is hardly, We 'h'"N'
shining mark in literature.
We have called this lady Miranda, and That she
was in very truth-a joyous girl growing TO woman
hood on a lonely island in the ocean; the one
daughter OF a solitary family. her playmates the
sea the flowers. the birds; her chief companion
her own Imagination. Her love for and under
standing OF nature frightened this strange child
hood and bore fruit in her later years In the grace
full studies which inseparably connect her name
with the Isles OF Shoals. What charming princess
OF poetry this Miranda might have become had
gallant young Ferdinand appeared to take her out
into the world cannot know for no Ferdinand
came. ARIEL had gone of the business of spirit
Ing gently or otherwise. Celia Leighton still
almost a child when she married an island mis-
sionary, shy and retlcent student, much oder
than herself; and a large part of her youth and
middle life thereafter filled with hard material
cares bravely endured 1t Is wonder that her
delicate literary gift should have survived these ex-
per.cnces: that IL did proves that 1t was real II
not important
We do not for Mrs Thaxters verse, which,
prettily musical and gently reflective as it is. is
phatically minor verse. Her best work is in her
prose. Her observations OF land and and sky,
OF mankind and OF birds. were close and accurate;
and she put them into words with a lucldity and
subtety OF Interpretation and description that
very winning Her style excellent and far
learn from this book II untaught,
unstudied. natural ease. polish and OF sym
metry directed her pen from the first. and gave
her pages distinction Her love for Nature sin
cere. and in this case apparently that Maynard
dame responded Even the flowers that boomed so
brilliantly for her the wild birds that adopted her.
seemed TO realize the impulses that moved in her
as in the fair Princess of "The Tempest" There
is pretty lttle picture OF her in one Of these
letters: yesterday | going down the long
piazza. Cedric called out in surprise az he came
toward me; a nuthatch sitting on my shoulder
as walked quite at his ease, and knew nothing
about IT."
The value OF Miss LArcom's poetical work has
been overestmated Only few Of her verses bid
fair to live through the next generation. Most Of
them correct In form. agreeable in musical
movement. and unimpeachabe In sentiment. But
many OF them also full OF echoes OF one kind or
another. and are as commonplace In dction I'm
subject. She heard and loved the inner harmoncs OF
nature. without doubt but she lacked the power 10
chord her Tyre to them. Mr. Addisons critical estl-
mate OF her abilities IL Of little weight He Is
without perspective regards his subject. and his
opinions In the matter OF poetry shallow. Mlss
Larcom's verses and especially those Of religious
tendency-havc a pace OF their own In many kind
and simple hearts, but they canot Justify the claims
he makes for them But one gathers from his book
a most pleasant impression Of "A good woman and
healthy naturc-one compared by Dr. Holmes 10
the New gland barberry with ''ts fair and
wholesome leaves"
Miss Larcom represented not uncommon type
OF New England woman OF the old English stock
homely In upbringing and In tastes, yet with "A
keen feeling for the poetic in life and nature alive
with Intellectual aspirations. and quick to seize
every opportunity for culture The list OF the books
which gave her childhood It's bent might be dupli-
Gated by many another OF her country women.
There was very little Of the cake and confectionery
style OF literature which is so abundant now" she
has said but We had the genuine thing-sod food
In small quantities" This solid food included the
'Pilgrims Progress" Paul and Virginia" GULL
yers Travels" Walter SCOTS novels and the poetry
OF Spenser Southey, Wordsworth and Coleridse
We fear these volumes rarely offered 10 the
little girls Of to-daymores the pity. for they mean
an early training of the judgment and taste that
all the Juveniles" Of this period cannot provide
Mr. Addison's description Of Miss Larcoms factory
life shows how strong was the influence OF these
books The little "bobbin-girl" pasted newspaper
clippings containing favorite poems on the window
sill and in the intervals OF her work committed
them 10 memory, and In secret she wrote small
verses of her and meditated on many large
subjects There little frivolity in her existence
then or after; but there always sturdy think
ing gentleness, singe-mindedness and truth. When
n Young woman at school she said TO some OF her
companions who talking about the Christian
life IL never knew there any other way 10
live" Whatever her later variations of creed, that
remain her simple rule of faith. 1t WAS hard
working lfe-onc which toward it, end proved the
truth OF Winters words that the hardest way
of earning bread and butter in this word Is to
coin ones brains author into cash or spin
them into greenbacks."
Miss Larcom has written much pleasant prose as
witness her New England Girlhood' and the let
tiers printed I'm this volume. The story Of her re-
liCious development told by herself is frank and
roverent and will be interesting to many readers,
even TO those who do not accept her beliefs.