The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-05

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IN Nr. Louis NJ hlshemuS, whose naIlVe Noou
notes Wild. sounded in the two volumes entitled
respectively LADY We're" and "Mammou-A
Spirit Song" Eastman Lewisl have much Of
the artlessness and unfsttered originality that
have made tho Southern singer famous. We
miss. perhaps. the infinite variety and range OF
vision that distinguish the inimitable Coogisr,
for the muse Of Mr.. Elshemus inspires him al
most exclusively TO thoughts OF love; his song In
one long passionate plea for freedom from the
trammeis and conventionalities OF these love
less modern days of ours-a protest against the
hckleness and me-cenary spirit Of the women Of
our time:
Al cruel woman heartiess-fun Of EuiisI
Must we snbmitt 20 all thy caprice low2
We men who love7
at least it shall not be In silence that We sub
NIT. while there are those among Us who can
voice their protest. Hero is . type Of woman
that invites our poets scorn:
Aias her tongue.
So thick and long. proclaimed her fsmfntnsL
30 charm Of girls she had. Oh Why had fsse
Shaped her . girl. for all her character showed
Hsr tho true boy.
She were fun better dressed In pants and coat
Than don fair silks, with lace and skirt and bcdisst
Or Be admired by those who sttll have hoarta
File I, says the post, upon all such poor mis-
uAOA ueu4N "AS 49,
nestle Joys.
. For why was woman cnllsd
From chaos 10 the wales OF earth. where man alone
waikod God-iksa All TO be tho object sweet
Of mans BODYBUILDING love ~
What boots Il. though. to sing Of soul-eubbffng
love In these degenerate days, when
m this stale and puny nineteenth century
Custom prohibits love 20 burst. or kntghthood
To show raro valor.
We might perchanco be moved to meditate
upon the awful consequences that would posi-
bly, follow In any age in which custom did not
prohibits love to burst;' but rather let US
hearken, a. he sings the Joys Of rustic courtshtp:
He kissed heri Oh. city ltrsi Eot caring
For staid department.. nor for straitlncsd ruisI
You Let YOUTHS Joy leap forth when lowers young
Meet In the daylight. and you say no word
When lip meets lip In broad sunshine, In view
OF all your trees. your sky. your flowers and lawus.
And all your people. old or youngI But how
Would city houses CITY out at such dsmsnnorI
OIL
The simple tale from which these last lines arc
extracted ID full Of sadness. The fair Delorme.
. village belle. Is pledged to wed n worthy young
clerk Of Utica, n. Y:
His heart
was good. and loyal was his mind: he tnoughn
Girls % be constant, never dckie-nay-
90! youthful heart. so every youth doth think.
But All! too soon years show the sad mistake)
The tickle maid forEets her promise, and WEEDS
q swain OF riper years.
Strange feeling rose
Within her bosom. The fascination felt
For straiIson was unusual. sns thought how fair
'rwould be secure TO ress within his arms.
She thought he being near to forty years.
When with him marriage Joys would swsetsr be.
Stuce ha had Iarva arparJap,N oF tha -orld
Then placed she Fred NJ a comparison
Alonsaids IN her mind, and how his youth
senteied him' what could he know OF II all!
But all these modest maiden hopes are doomed
TO disappointment, and her mature and much
experienced swain proves sadly uncongeuiaL.
pelorm,
Bore much: vh,ls Edward. altar see,pu well
How bis young wife was han kertnE sitter youth,
Tried all 60 feel and act a man or thirty
Though hard 1t VIVA.
And 40 the sad sonr ends with these few vords
10 point the moral and adorn the tals.
A., ,,-,, ~. .- =, rn,. m- 80. Ta,.
with tines, last words. OF .,ri ts.. mr., IN Iowa
Lavish thy ardor on som. blooming man.
ForscsE 60 sin by courrtnx aUed men.
For thsu dost need youths eountarnrs Out age
Hath none); 50 witt thou live with love and passion.
For they ara pleasing to tho laws Of narurs.
From these few extracts the reader win OBJ.
serve that the poetry Of Mr. Elshenus In marked
less by its musical quality than by tts sxrrsme
lucidiry; that. in fact. 1t often appears To cousisr
of ordinary prose. sawn into lengths and Stacked
Hike 80 much ordwood This method Of verse;
building Ia a simple one. and. thourh the result
may sometimes lack spontaneity. IL insur.s a
conferences and continuity Of Thought not alvnvs
found In the work Of more impasEtoned hards.
NJ uora,a Marr.-. vho ,.IIa th. aeo-v - H.