New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
POEMS OF SIDNEY LANIER.
AN INTERPRETATION OF HIS WORK
GIVEN AT THE HOME OF MRS.
F. w WHITRIDGE.

TRIBUTES PAID THE POET BY DR. EDWARD EG-
eLEsToN HAMILTON MABIE. CHARLES DUD-
LEY WARNER AND DUDLEY BUCK.
The first Of two afternoons arranged for the inter-
probation Of the work Of Sidney Lanier was given
yesterday NJ the home Of Mrs. Frederick W. Whit
ridge No. ls East Eleventh-st, and the audience
was as large as parors would hold. The following
programme was carried Tributes 20 the poet
from Dr. Edward Eggleston Hamilton ". Mabie,
Charles Dudley Warner and Dudley Buck SOLO,
Centennial Cantata" words by Sidney Lanier,
music by Dudley Buck. David Bispham. accom-
panied by the composer. Readings by Mrs. Lanier
and Richard Watson Glider Song. May, the
Maiden. Violet Laden" words by Sidney Lanier
music by De Koven). Mile. Camille Seygard ac-
companied by the composer.
Dr. Eggleston presided. and before introducing
the other speakers made short speech. in which
he gave his own personal impressions of the poet.
His genius" he said. was not OF that kind thai
IS thought by the doctors be allied to insanity
Nature did not endow him with tremendous
faculty at the expense Of the remaining ones. but
showered upon him all his best gifts He was
great man more than great poet
Speaking of his personality. DR.. Eggeston said
that all through his poems ran the loneliness or
genius the longing for fellowship that could not
be found
Mr. Mabie spoke Of the narrowness Of Laniers
life and compared the silent heroism with which
he accepted his fate-even when his own lie began
10 fail just as cup of life was held TO his lips
with the cutlery made by smaller men over lesser
suNerings.
OF Laner's poetic power Mr. Maoie expressed the
highest admiration
There has been vast amount OF twitferlng In
the trees" he said. but rarely the note of mag
nation in Lanier. He saw the heart OF Things
and made it artculate.'
Charles Dudley Warner began his remarks with
the statement:
We are all here to-day by the mercy Of God. and
not by that Of the cable companies. We live In
an atmosphere Of clamor and noise. and though we
know about the peace and quiet OF the country the
Inspiring Of leaves the melody Of streams, etc, yet
something more is wanting in our lives-a deeper
INTERPRETATION Of human life which do not al
ways have amid this jungle. but which we recos-
ME when we hear H. Sidney Lenier is an inter-
prefer Of this sort.
American literature is name that We please
ourselves with" he continued particularly on the
Fourth OF July and February 90 but there is no
american literature that is the literature OF the
world and nothing attain to this rank unless
II has a quality that we recognize well enough wnen
We see Il in French German No one can con-
tribute 10 the literature OF the world unless ne ADDS
note OF dlstinctiveness and this Lanier has done
He was not popular in his time. and doubt II he
Will ever be popular: but he will be preserved by
those who love the genuine expression Of human
thought and feeling"
Mr. Buck told how he wrote the music for the
Centennial Cantata" and he also paid tribute 10
Lanier's musical powers.
Mr. Glider read several of Lanier's unpublished
poems and Mrs Lanier. the poets widow. read
poems and extracts from letters the last of which
excited naturally. most interest. They were play
fu serious by turns. and beautifully expressed
In one he describes the life Of the men OF great
iron factory and asks Must one hundred men die
In soul and body that man may live merely in
body?' In another he refers TO the centennial
Cantata" which he expects 10 be buried" for
the next seven days. and says that II he does not
write home IL will be because he is underground.
forging gems"
The solos beautiful interpretations of beau
fful words. and II seemed difficult for the audi
ence 10 understand that encores could not on
forever. The music for May, the Maiden Violet
Laden" was composed for the occasion. and made
an exqusitely dainty accompaniment to these
words while the sympathetic voice OF Mile. Sey-
gard added the only touch necessary make {.
perfect whole.
The objec, OF these afternoons IS extend the
knowledge and appreciat ton of Laniers poetry.
only account OF its beauty but because its spirit
Is particularly needed In these times. They
arranged by Mrs. Ben Ali Haggin
The next reading Will be given January H. at
the home Of Mrs. Reginald de Koven and tickets
may be obtained at the Afternoon Tea Rooms No.
vi Fifth-ave