The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-03-19
The Nature Of Longfellow's
Poetry.
Prom susauehapna JovRSaL.

1t is the power OF expressing
thought in language that raises man
above the brute creation. 1t is
thought, colored by imagination, fit
tingly clothed, and sent forth
freightcl with emotion, that has
power among men and elevates its
author to plane nearer the Master
Mind which created both. This
form of expression is termed poetry !;
and in it is reflected, to Il large cX-
tent, the character of individuals
and the glory oi nations.
Among the ancicnts, the gift of
poesy was considered as almost di-
vine and the highest honors are still
accorded TO poetic genius. When
the poets Of Greece and Rome sang,
in lofty and majcctic strains, they
rivctcd the attention of the world
upon them, and Grccian and Italian
glory exists chiefly in the produc-
tions of their writers.
While England claims that in her
matchlcss Milton j. combined the
strength ofall his predecessors, Am
erica, with pride, places the ivy
crown upon the classic brow OF
Henry Wadsworlh Longicllow In
native ability, in shcight and depth
Of thought, and in majesty of style,
Longtcllow does not equal or even
compare with the greatest poets OF
other nations but no poetry is more
truly national than the product of
his pen, and dear to American hearts
is ANYTHING that is American.
His verses are picturesque, musi-
cal, and through them all runs a
spirit of devotion and Il lofty sense
OF honor, which adds force tobcauty.
They do not partnkc of the rugged
grandeur of towering mountains,nor
come with the force of mighty
cataract, but are rather like the quiet
lovclincss of the valley, where green
fields, stretching away in the dis
tancc as far as the eve can reach and
a billowy sea of golden grain, and
the dreamy song of the murmuring
streams. stir the soul To its depths.
Profound in simplicity, musical
in rythm, and forciblc in theme, his
poetry is the heritage of every
American, learned or untaught.
Poets are influenced in their
writings, by the vicissitudcs of ma
tional lie and religious belief. Gre
clan and Italian writers sang of the
clashing ofarms, the horrors OF war,
and the wrath or pleasure Of the
Gods. Longiellow wrote when the
hV( 81 Apericn" Gho"i,' '',ae 4o,'s'
ing into fiifi ploom, and freedom to
worship God in his own way was
the right Of man. With the per-
fumc of this national flower pervad-
ing every avenue OF life, what Won
der Is it that the effect of poetry was
to please. What an instrinsic value
is placed upon time and deeds in the
poem of "I'hc Builders" and,-I
'H4ilc is real, lite iscarncst, And the
grave is not its goal, Says his'psalm
OF Life" These two have become
household trcasurers, the delight OF
young and old.
When slavery, like noxious in-l
sect, threatened to destroy the fruit
of national prosperity, his soul in
verse cried ont against the curse.
And 50 throughout his productions
is good exalted and evil dccricd.
The stories OF "Evangclinc," and
her lost lover, and "lIiawatha," the
ideal Indian, are touching in pathos
and grandly poetic in recital, and
until cclipsed by something more
mcritorious will be the national
cpic~. Ills true that Alpine grand
eur snrpasscs the beauty of the plain,
but few are permitted to ascend the
heights Of IIomcric thought while
multitudcs rcvcl in the simple beau
ty Of lesser elevations. As yet
Longiellow is the brightest lumi-
mary in Americas literary sky, and
as such we honor him. II. NJ. G.