The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-09

| he spoke of il to q tall Greek VINO stood
next him, but he received no response.
| A squirrel sat upon a cannon and crack
| ed cannon balls with saucy chickering's.
unspeilable. Red and brown and green
| ants hurried this way and that as l:
| seeming the coming danger. The Greek
| youth remembered his mother. She would
be making doughnuts full OF grease about
| this time and he cried silently. A shcIt
Greek by his side looked blue for
minute, and then at a remark from tho
youth he changed color. The fog as IL
rejoiced at baking the efforts OF Davis
and Kipling wallowed at intervals OF
five minutes. Then there was L Turkish
crash, cream color with selvedge Of red
and the ants and the youth and the
squirrel were gone and the Turks had
won the battle OF Matt"
There is also vigorous sonnet on the
situation in the Orient, "Hellas for the
Right" and long review. by specially
competent hand. OF a new book called
THE Outgoing Turk"
VI
MRS. MARGARET NJ PRESTON.
Glowing eulogy of her character ana ia
lent.
The Critic in a recent issue contains
character and poercal talent by MIR.
James A. Harrison, Of the University
OF Virginia.
The recent death of Mrs. Margare, j.
Preston has removed q woman whose
power for thirty years past has been
felt, not only in Virginia, but oil over
the South. only those who know Mrs.
Preston in the intimacy of her beautiful
home at Lexington-as II was my priv
lege TO know her for nearly a genera
tion-can appreciate to its full extent the
greatness of this loss She was. indeed.
the Poet-Laureate of Virginia A fail.
delicate little woman, lovely both In per-
son and character. with refined, irttgu-
lar features overshadowed by wealth
of curling auburn hair, a chronic invalid
whose indomitable cheerfulness shone Ike
sunlight behind the almost translucent
screen of the ailing flesh, she Reproduced
In her powerful personality and radiant
optimism, for Virginia. what We read
that Elizabeth Barrett Browning was Tor
our kin across the sea. No one could
come in contact with this bright, .piri-
tual creature without feeling a benign
influence streaming out OF her brilliant
talk. coruscating as II did WITH hulnor
aod pleasant Jest and witty anetd0le.
Slightly deaf as she appeared to be In
her latter years. she heard ever timing
that was essential; her intuition was per-
feet and her tact most delica.e. i.ichly
stored as her mind was with every sort
OF reading familiar as it was with many
European literatures, she never allowed
these learned incrustations 10 overlay the
sprightliness Of her vivacious intellect and
make a precieuse or a pedant of her.
She lived In a sunny world which failing
eyesight and defective sense-organs
could not eclipse or dim or dull. In
sphere attuned TO an exquisite rhythm
which she often re-incarnated in her
dainty verse.
Everything about this rare woman ac-
centuated the fastidiousness OF her ma
ture. She wrote the most beautiful
handwriting, and her letters were delight
full to read for their fluency and grace.
no less than for this external charm. Her
home was full of books and pictures and
souvenirs II travel she corresponded
with many OF her celebrated contempor-
aries: one saw letters and photographs
from Browning and Tennyson and Long
fellow and Christina Rossetti lying On
her table. Piles of new books and re-
views (The Critic was one of her favor
ltes) revealed her alert interest in all
literary matters. But her kindliest eff
fort was always in behalf Of the timid
young writer just emerging into the
daz.ienent OF his first printed proof; 10
him or to her she was inexhaussible in
her kindness, and her very caustic-for
she could indulge in delicate raille-y-
was wrapped in honey. She could be the
NEST helpful OF critics. and she was one
Of tfo most graceful The other day
picked up almost by chance one oe the
lit volumes which she always sent me
as soon as they came out; it was eL-
titled: For Loves Sake" and pinled to
the fly-leaf was a note from her express
ing In most graceful terms ner faDc'ed
obligations Tor little review which.
though anonymous. she had recognized
as mine.
This particular volume-"For Loves
Sake"-brings out, in my opinion, the
salient excellence OF this gifted author.
namely, her gifts as a writer OF religious
verse. In this sphere lies her peculiar
genius, for her heart thrilled with reli-
gious emotion and she had the power OF
immediate translation Of this feeling into
lines tender and strong, musical and Inn
FASHIONED, the technique of her verse
being wonderfully varied and skilful.
There Is much In the Cartoons" in the
Songs Old and New" in the Sonrets and
in the "Beechenbrook" that is remark
imagery pervade her Greek and Italian
poems; but this is a small matter, In COM
parlson with her ScrIptural poems. These
have given comfort 10 thousands they
preach with passionate eloquence the
beautiful theme of Immortality. Their
faith in God is everywhere TRANSPORTED
by an iIlumined intelligence; complete
submission and unressting resignation
clad in melodious poetic form are the
keynote OF life and work; and for Se
gracious words her hundreds of uni Pwn
admirers must rise up and call her bless
ed. Her last poem, "Euthanasia." de-
serves 10 be reprinted here:-
with the faces the dearest in sight,
With kiss on the lips love best,
To whisper a tender Good Night,
And pass to my pillow of rest.
To kneel, all my service complete.
All duties accomplishment then
To finish my prisons sweet
With a trustful and joyous Amen
And softly, when slumber was deep.
Unwarned by a shadow before.
On a halcyon billow of sleep
To float to the Thitherward shore.
without farewell or tear,
A sob or a flutter OF breath;
Unframed by the phantom OF Fear.
To glide through the darkness Of death!
Just so would I choose to depart.
Just so let the summons be given:
A quiver-a pause Of the heart
A vision OF angels-then Heaven"
University Of Virginia.