The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18

OF Richard a.. Dana, author OF Tho Bucca-
neers," who became an intimate friend Of
Bryant, and was himself a poet, though never of
great popularity. Mr.. Mitchell gives a sample.
"as one might take down for show an old bit Of
pottery Of a style Como by. but very graceful
and exquisitely worked" He thinks the quality
Of tho verses quoted-they are about a lit
tie beach-bird-w explain the intimacy of
Its author with the writer of the Than
atopsis" and with tho writer Of Lines
to a Water Fowl" r. Il. Dana, as we
know. lived to a great age, dying in 1879, being
then 81 years old; Mr.. Mitchell says that he had
a venerable aspect and the tremors OF age before
he was 60. The author OF this book cannot
understand how this singularly philosophic
mind. with its subtle reaches into the realms OF
poesy. should be almost out Of sight now; Ger.
tainly, his verse or prose are far less known than
those vivid, Defoe-like sketches of Two Years
Before the Mast which subsequently Rave
reputation to his SON."
Fitz-Greene Halleck is depicted as q genial
and sunny-faced poet, who, although born in
1890, used not many years since to stroll up and
down the streets of Guilford, Conn, Carrying
with a blithe step tho gayeties Of youth undor
the weight OF fourscore years. A clerk in a
country store. he supplemented his common.
school education with the reading Of poetry, es-
pecially that OF Campbell. Eventually he be-
~NaaS "a oaSpt ~ Al ElGhIh lang udRt, anu
learned to pay q gracious compliment with an
easy courtesy moro Gallo than American.
When. deserving his Connecticut village,
he invaded New York, he continued, we are
told, for a time to fire OF his little squibs anon
ymously In corners of newspapers; but not
until he had formed q sort Of literary copartner-
ship with Drake, tho author Of that exquisite
bit OF fancy work. The Culprit Fay did Hal
leck make himself popularity known. These two,
under the title OF Croaker. Croaker, Jr, or
Croaker & Co., contributed certain satirical
verses to tho old Erenino Post. which were
Of a wholly new quality and were immensely ad-
mired- They were talked of by politicians no
less than by society people, and. when the secret
Of authorship. for some time carefully concealed,
was traced, Drake was famous and Halleck was
famous" We are reminded that, in these
Croaker papers. first appeared that flaming apos-
trophe to the American flag:
When Freedom from her mountain heiEhs
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe OF Night
And set the stars OF glory there.
Mr.. Mitchell thinks that for Halleck's work
"ebullient' is the word. "It bubbles from him;
there's no air of strain, hardly any traces Of re-
vision or labor. The knowledge he had-and
it was not small either in classic reading or in
poetry-he caught on the wing. as we catch but
t~erfies. and with the same airy grace, / doubt
not, with which no whips it into SER
vice" Our author recalls from personal ex-
perienoe that his conversation was of the same
quality. Words OF the aptest significance and of
most musical balance slipped from his lips as a
brook flows; sparkling with bright epithets,
tingling with gay mockery. Old Mr.. Aston. for
whom he was for very many years confidential
clerk. and who left him from his vast fortune q
beggarly annuity of 5000. was delighted to have
him at hta tahla. az indaad ~na M o1,o
who loved bright, CHEEKY. witty talk" It seems
that years after no had grown weary OF social
fattery and of social conquests. he might have
been found Of an afternoon in a corner OF a little
French cafe in Warren street. New York. do
lighting those fortunate enough to have his
companionship. He never overwrote; the little
no did he did wondrously we'll. 1t is only a
small book We have from him. but its ring is
its own. and its echoes will last"