The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-23

face of life and nerer once to sound its
depths?
The mystics leave such questions
unanswered. Indeed. they never state
them in words. They only suggest
them.
In The Marble Faun" one follows
the characters through the crumbling
arches of the Coliseum; through the
Boghese Gardens, in cathedrals and
art galleries. and 1t is understood,
always. that Miriam is more guilty
than Donatello. She instigated the
crime. He was tool in her hands.
But when the story is ended, Donatel-
10 is described rs IanguishIng in dung
con while Miriam is free. Hawthore
never says whether Donatcllo is
executed or not. The poet novelist is
true to his mysticism. We close the
book. and feel as if life's easements
had been thrown wide open and we
had looked into the vast, solemn star
lit eternity.
OF Edgar 9oe's works 'Ulalume
Is the most mystical.
A path leads through forest. Gray
mists of autumn rest upon the trees.
Dead leaves are trampled into the wet
earth. The poet wanders through this
misty. mind region of weir,' and
"h;s heart it is ashen and sober as
the leaves that are crisped and sere.
As the leaves that are whitening and
sere" He comes to the end of a vista
and stops at the door of a tomb, at the
door of legended tomb. IT'S the
tomb of bis last "Ulalume." From the
stone vault nebulous lustre is born.
1t assumes the form of a star and rolls
through an either of signs.
Many critics say there is no meaning
to this poem, that it is nothing but
words, words. words, that it is rhyme
without reason. However it bears
Interpretation as well as does the
"Raven.n The dim haunted woodland of
Weir lis the shadowy land of memory.
The poets soul wanders down this mis-
ty mind region of Weir until it comes
to the door of tomb that contains the
body of his wife. Then it shoulders,
and leaves the past to hasten back to
the present. The star that is brighter
than Dian is the spirit of ''Ulalume. :"
Father 2yan's mysticism explains
itself He is a poet and a priest.
His mind is coIored by his vocation.
In his verses ring sweet toned vesper
bells and CLEAN soft alter lights. His
Song of the Mystic" is but the long
ing of the human for the divine that all
of us feel at times.
Il walk down the Valley of Silence,
Down the dim y0iceess valley alone,
And hear not the fall of f0otstep
Around me, save Gods and nv own,
And the hush of my heart is as holy.
AS hoyers where angels have flown.
Long ago was 1 weary of voices.
Whose music my heart could not wiD;
Long ago was 1 weary of places,
That tretted my soul with their dim.
Long ago was i weary ofnoises,
Where | met Lut the human-and sin.
And toiled on. heart tired of the human,
And moaned mid the mazes OF men,
Till kueit, long. ago at an alter,
And heard voice call me-since then
| walk down the Valley of Silence.
That lies beyond mortal ken.
Do you ask what found in the Valley.
IT'S my Trusting place with the Divine.
And fell at the feet of the Holys
And above me. IA voice said "Be mine.'
And there arose from the depths of my
spirit,
An echo-..My heart shall be thine"
1t is twilight. The blue lake is
charmed into stiffness. A bar OF GRIM
son sunset forms back ground To the
forest trees. The holy evening star
trembles alone in the heaven, and a
soft and silve haze covers the face of
nature like filmy bridal vail.