New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-03

selections, whether he has in some unaccowt
able fashion remained in ignorance Of certain
poets or has allowed himself to be antagonise
toward them by private considerations. all tnes
hypothesis are open to the critic OF them al
we incline to that one which wears perhaps
an ungracious atmosphere, but which is, afts
ALL most plausible. Years have dimmed Phi!
graves critical faculty. Retiring. not u
naturally, to those fields Of poesy with which
re has had lifelong familiarity, ne has for.
gotten that there is a glory OF the stars a. vel
as Of the sun. Tennyson has comforted him "
long that he does not see the necessity for turn,
ing also to other poets. And. firm in his attitud.
Of defiance toward Landor he prints now only
THE Maids Lament" noble lyric. but surely
insufiiciently representative Of the author Of
"Dirce." Rose Aylmer." "Pyrrha' and Z
dozen other immortal songs. But this Is only
the beginning Of Palgraves curious errors He
finds room for dozen dialect poems by William
Barnes, a man who could most righteOusly have
been confined to three or four examples At
most, and he does not print a line by Thomas
Lowell Beddoes To omit Dream Pedary" and
to publish the verses Of Principal SHARP
George Romanes and Gerald MASSEY IS to per-
caprice has been launched.
The editor observes that the selection has
been brought. near as can venture. 70 ou
own day" The venture can only be charactr
lied as quaint. 1t admits Sr Lewis Norris
one example Of no obvious Charm. and Il *.
cludes William Morris altogether; II is con-
PLEASANT toward Mr.. Johnson-Cory. and Is -
courteous toward Frederick Tennyson. who. VIII
all his merits. Is not among the elect II Z
adamant toward Mr. Bourdillon. whose ors
exquisite song long since secured him lasfif
position: II will have nothing to do with M
Lang; it shuts out the late Frederick Lccke.
We get ten specimens Of Coventry Patmors. ou.
not line from Mr.. Robert Bridges l. a poem
by the Duke Of Argyll compensation for the
loss Of any Of the poets we have men Oned'
The editor regrets that he gives nothing by Mr.
Swinburne. but he does not tell us Why he
could not print him. Was II a question 4 copy
right or question Of taste? The sad truth Is
that in this second series Mr.. Palgraye's once
impeccable taste seems 10 have deserted him.
Even among those whom he has earned to
like his do!ngs are innocent OF the tact which
was once SO helpful to him. Both Of Sir
Francis Doyle's famous poems OF the East he
prints. but for some occult reason S.r Alfred
Lyalrs logical companion piece to these is Tor.
gotten. Dante Rossett and his sister are both
copioasy represented. but the balla l. Of the
former, his best work. are persistently ignored
and the selection from his sonnets is q appoint
ing in the last degree. We have pointed out
enough discrepancies. however omiss ms which
have no justification in the persona, s.emsnt,"
defects which are incxcusable In any ,Gtor al.
tempting to draw up a balance sheet. : 10 say
for the poetry Of the nineteenth century It's
a hopelessly imperfect anthology. So r,ckless in
its incusions and exclusions as to sem quite
frantic In comparison with its companion. At
the same time il has certain Interest IS con.