New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15
SOME REFLECTIVE POETS.

The transition from picturesque storytelling
to equable meditation Is appropriately made
through 1.-The Legend Of Aulus" william Doxey)'
a book in which Miss Flora Shearer presents IN
versned form old tale Of early Rome ana.
with this dramatic attempt few ballades and
sonnets The first is nerveless production IN
slow pedestrian style But in her bsllades Miss
Shearer can trip airier measure, ana her
other verses, If nconsequential. at least
smoothly written with certain amount OF poetic
feeling behind them The poetic impetus which
has sent forth I'm Unknown Seas Cambridge;
The University Press). a little book of verses by
Mr. George Horton was derived in all probability
from some classical reading and taste for SEN
suous beauty. There are suggestions Of both In
this thin volume and they are not lacking IN
charm Mr.. Horton plainly has discretion. de-
spite his plastic conception Of the characters he
invokes and the images he sings are refined IN
their loneliness sensuousy but delicately pre-
scented. There Is hint Of the artist In Mr.. Hor-
toms work. not so much on the side OF technique
as on the side Of observation. He has an artists
way Of looking at his theme and his book gains
therefrom an attraction, as OF material beauty
which is not often encountered in minor verse
There are echoes of classical sympathies in the
"Folia Dispersa" CThe Corell Press. Of Mr.. Will
lam Cranston Lawton. and they inspire respect
for their own sake. but they are not accompanied
by any lyric qualities and the book has a flavor
Of literary sophstca.ion which deprives II OF
poetic value. The Rev. +. w. Gunsaulus pro-
vokes the same criticism In his Songs OF Night
and Day" CA c. McCurg e. Coz. book which
shows much fine devotional feeling, reverence for
great men, and enthusiasm for men less great
but conspicuous on the writer's bookish horizon
If DR.. Gunsaulus had some warrant for singing
and "a I'm DhilOSOphv
love for books and authors pictures and painters.
he might be admired as poet. AS II is, his rhyme
Is manufactured and the various tributes
which appear In this volume. with the accom-
panying essays on less concrete subjects. belong
in the driest category OF occasional verse.
Mr.. William Wells Newelrs book of Words for
Music" cambridge Charles w. Severn. Is hap
ply named These unpretendng rhymes. with
their pretty sentiments, would probably make
good songs If set by some clever musician. But
while they are waiting for their music the reader
can hardly be blamed who finds them somewhat
uninterestinR 1t Is with the same passive feel
ing that Miss Grace DEMO Litchheld's new book
OF verse is relinqushed "Mimosa Leaves" &C. p
Putnam's Sons) the work being Of Indifferent
character neither good nor bad and 1t Is SINH
larly colorless collection which Mr.. James b.
Kenyon offers in IAN Oaten Pipe" %. SelWin
TAFT &: Sons) which Miss Mary Berri Chapman
brings forward in her Lyrics Of Love and Nat
urc" OFrederick A. Stokes Company. These are
the productions of writer's who have nothing in
particular to say and special faculty for say
ing anything in metrical language. They are
best forgotten. Pebbles and Shells" picturesque
| Publishing Company. volume by Clarence
Hawkes. who is commonly known az the Blind
Poet Of w-Engand.' may not be remembered
for the illustration Of any extraordinary poetic
gifts, yet it is not easily forgotten either, the
achievements Of Its author being peculiarly
noticeable in view OF his difficult burden. Nature
Is neither dumb to him nor invisible, and the
strange insight which he possesses. handicapped
as he is. commends his book.