The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-08

the other hand, the London Academy mas
no praise for anything except some au-
mirable little dialect poems and one otnel.
And n periodical which, by general con-
sent. ranks among the highest in author
ity among Gotham's critical pupncations
says. eve like best the humorous piece en-.
titled etc. etc. While on this point let
me saw that every one of the twenty-odd
poems has been selected by one or more
reviewers or correspondents as plainly tne
best in the book, or, at least. as a favorite.
MANY COMPARISONS.
The poems remind various readers of Sir
Philip Sidney, Andrew Marvel, Herrick,
Heine. Goethe, Halleck. and N. p. Willis.
These names I find in the American re-
views. We have been reminded already
by the Pail Mall Gazette of the clear imi-
tations Of "a. H. Clough'' and Alfred Ten
nyson. From the private letters I might
come near to doubling the list. No fewer
thar fifteen poets of greater or less emf
nence have been cited as the masters on
whom my poetical style was modelled.
Whether the different readers would cias-
sify my verses as set limitations, after the
manner of the Pail Mall Gazette / canno
say 1t would be unpleasant for me TO
think so, in the absence of a fixed class
i1cation by my readers.
The characteristic on which all unite, so
far as they express themselves. is a certain
''daintinesS" or "delicacy," although one
critic finds the poems characterized by
much sincere Or1g1naI, profound ana at
times striking thought expressed in a man.
Eer at once robust and delicate" / like that
robust" The same critic finds the usual
emotional topics of poetry here handled
with a most unusual dignity and rever-
ence-" And he adds. The authors deep
probing down into the fundamental causes
of action and emotion tendsto stimulate the
readers own reflection in an extraordinary
degree" The elimination of praise in the
language of this friendly critic is reached
when he says: Mr.. Thalbode also displays
xn,,oI rsosno lttxv IN, Tho lines IF nhra can1-
ogy. versification. rhythm and rhyme as
well as in thought. but it is in respect to
the latter quality that the poems are most
remarkable" 1t is only fair to reproduce
the foregoing commentator and those
which follow as an offset to the unfavor-
able judgments reprinted in a preceding
paragraph. A Chicago critic overl1owS with
praise on the CLEARLY good quality of the
book. never ovarstrained, always pure, and
at times passionate" Another voice from
Chicago says the title poem Is "a sustained
effort of strength and poetry. a charm
ing creation and a pleasant introduction to
the ones that follow. 49, They display
| erudition. care in versifcation. but they 60
beyond these things and touch the emo
tons"
1t is a Washington paper that thinks tho
their author to the title of poet and it is
another reviewer from the capital city VINO
should have been classified with the frst
from whom 1ueted. as t tsrn, o wItb
His comment Is: "a dainty little volume
| of very pleasant facts God save the mark.l
and fancies, clothed in harmonious and
Rhythmic attire, pleasing alike the eye and
the ear"
Out of the entire medley of good words
and bad / will select but one more, ana
that from the former classification. L could
wish nothing better than that my work
should deserve it. Here it is: w could
had we space, quote many a good thine
from Mr.. Thalbode's pages 10 show that his
gold of fancy is true metal and that his
art is deliberately and daintily suited to
his imagination" / prize commentator
like that, and the eulogy, however scant
! the reproach. however severe. OF the Other
few fine critics whose comments nave ths
true ring of knowledge and sincerity.