Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-03-31
wrI,.en for ,he oxforl pemocra..


lonk believed; but who has girded up
theIloins Of courage to champion the
cauke of the comparatively obscure and
unknown! Such "spirits in prison"
mi.iht be found In the farm houses all
oyet the hills and valleys Of New Eng
Lamb, and their soul-pinions have long
beeb bruised by beating against the un-
Welding bars Of their environment. Such
per hons have been conscious OF possess
ing the power to formulate, through
the medium of writing, something
worthy of perusal, but they we're held in
restraint by their own high ideals or an
extteme modesty, and what they have
wrtten has either been consigned to the
narhes or relocated to some obscure
corher of their cabinet.
Shine of these individuals enjoyed the
advantages OF an academic education
anG have cultivated taste for reading
from the best authors ever since they
weIe children. There were times during
their school-days when the spirit OF
ge lius inspired them with longings Tor
the liberty Of leisure when they might
givt literary expression In some per-
mabent form, to the thought-fancies
thai broOded over their fertile brains.
But environment and the almost con-
stabt pressure OF domestic duties have
beeb an embargo upon their spirits, and
| II there were moments of surcease from
| toll they were too weary TO guide the
ped. Some we have known who retired,
betImes, 10 the quietude OF their cham
berl, or To the more inspiring shadows
of lome forest tree, and there, with the
peJcil, relieved the congestion OF thought
thu crowded about their mental gateway
clahOring for expression. But these
children of the brain are usually strangled
a Don as placed in their paper swaddling
clothes, and their cries are never heard
by thc nearest neighbors.
| Those who have never known the forces
thJt uprise within the soul of such So are
mo ned by the impulses OF genius can
nod understand, or apprehend, what a
Struggle there Is for room, for liberty,
10 hnburien the loaded mind; and for
something TO evoke sympathy and APP
probation from others OF congcnial
taskes. Readers Of the biographies OF
authors are aware that some OF the most
DO kerful productions in the world Of
po1try; such "a have touched most
deiply the human heart and are classed
AMONGST the permanent gems OF liter
atdre, were composed at the factory
lotm under the inspiration OF the moment
or by some unknown devotee OF genius,
as meteor blazing across the sombre
he iyens at night.
1nly few years back woman OF re-
ma tkable poetic talent died. She was
deI cended from an intellectual family.
Ht education was limited 10 the town
district school. Early she became the
vile OF an ambitious farmer. She was
delo ed TO her husband and faithfully
as1sted In all conducive 10 his interests.
In the neighborhood where her circum-
sctbcd life was passed she was only
knbwn "a a woman OF great sympathy
ard superior intellect. For her moral
virtues she was beloved. Her husband,
colhparatiyely illiterate, knew Eih,
wax an excellent wife, but was not pos
se.led OF any taste for such refined en-
plclyment. "a were as ssvory meat such
"a her soul loved. There were no children
TO Remand her care, aud she found time
to Neal away and write down some OF
thd beautiful thoughts that had birth In
Ind secret places Of her fruitful mind,
Nobe Of these poems ever appeared 10
print while Eliza lived. She felt salts
ts1Ion In removing such poetic she
brfkd" from the tables in her soul tenn
plelthAt new loaves might appear there
on. but was aware that her isolation
FRI IN any who could appreciate what she
had written prohibited their exposure
and a. the years sped past, she laid
the .e sheets away In her bureau, where
thdy remained in darkness.
While In the apparent enjoyment oil
he|lth she reclined upon the sofa To rest
and opened her eyes no more in this
world. When her husband and relatives
we H. making an inventory of her effects
,hdY found her box OF poems tied ny
whEre IL had been kept. From an eX-
animation Of the dates under each piece
IL Twas found that these productions
colered the whole period of her married
it'd The manuscripts were placed In
. thd hands OF some confidential friends
whbse Judgment was depended upon,
and some Of the selections have since APP
pe.| red In the literary newspapers. In this
collection were poems OF classic beauty,
cor| aiming sublime thought, whi,h
, weIe worthy a place beside those OF our
mokt celebrated poets.
1iyen surroundings congenial; given
an association with sympathizing hearts
and the encouragement necessary To
oy,|rcome natural modesty, this woman
wob bid have taken her place In the front
rank OF literary characters. But like a
Thousand Others she was fettered all her
davis, and communed In silence with her
own enslaved spirit. For the finer light
thak shone In her soul she was never APP
pre- iated. and died Il poetess unknown
Not many months ago there died 10
midland town of Maine a wife and
mother whose gifts were remarkable In
DO, bic expression, and yet she had but
lock appreciation. Her sou, now
rising young lawyer in Boston who in
hertted her poetic talent, caused Few
OF her poems TO be printed privately
butt she was never known 10 the wider
cirdle who could have discovered the
besuty of her writings.
we have In our collection OF fugitive
podms some verses written by an invalid
teather, young lady OF almost phe-
norbensl intellect, written In her sick room
for diversion, which are OF the highest
character; |. e., there are many lines In
them that are not excelled in the classics.
Hell bodily infirmity sometimes inter
fer,Id with the current Of her fancy, and
son e of her more extended poems were
not sustained from beginning TO close.
| There is something pathetic in the fact
thai the world is deprived OF so much
mir|d food and heart sustenance II so
muth needs, amid the sorrows and
shadows that press upon US, when God
haslso richly endowed such choice spirits
as lcould produce just that which IL
waited. Three-tenths OF the talent pos
sessed by our fellow creatures has no
othtr beneficial influence In the world
thai what Is enjoyed by the soul con-
cioJs OF It's existence.
vie could wish there were mediums
opehed through which these obscure but
healing poetic themes might flow OFT
10 reach such other souls as could be
strengthened and comforted Herewith.
Butt until such can push To the front
something that will be placarded a
"mJsterpiece, they must be contented
TO rkmain 10 obscuriry. Should one out
of al Thousand be so fortunate as to strike
the popular current with something Of
greJt excellence, then whatever bears
theit trademark will press muster, even
tho, |gh commonplace and tame.
| G. L. RIDLON, SIR.