The Advocate and news., 1898-01-12
THE ERA OF NATIONAL EXPAN-
SION.
A GROUP OF MINOR WRITER'S.

Every 8LaT OI Lu6 HTSJ Inh6ulJuuO IL
but brilliant setting round which the
lesser ones cluster, and, In following this
train of thought, we find that nature
has observed this law In all her under
takings In every decade we find the
law established in the heavens, likewise
reflected upon the struggling humanity
Of the earth.
Every genius Of the first magnitude Is
attended by the less brilliant, or possibly
less fortunate ones.
Sometimes, 1t is true, there is diff
Guilty in ascribing to each his particular
scope and Genius plays at hide and seek
with her more dignifed sister, Nature.
Connected with Washington Irving
were a number of writer's known as
Knickerbocker writers. One OF these,
James Paulding, a vOluminOus author,
who Is now almost forgotten, wrote the
"Diverting History Of John Bull and
Brother Jonathan" and the Dutch
mans Fireside." Another of the group
was Joseph Rodman Drake, young
poet of promise, who died ait the age Of
25. His lyric, the American Flag" was
superior in merit to any of our national
anthems; beginning in this strain:
"When Freedom, from her mountain height,
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robes Of night,
And set the stars Of glory there"
His poem, the "Culprit Fay" was a
fairy story-a dainty little bit Of fancy,
having for its setting the shores Of the
Hudson. A fay committed the crime Of
falling in love with a mortal maiden.
He was tried and sentenced by the other
fairies. Part Of his punishment was that
he must light his lamp by the last
CLEANS of falling star. Though a
very pretty conception 1t shows that
the author had become acquainted with
the English poets (Coleridge) Christa-
bel. "Culprit Fay" runs in this wise:
"The winds are whist and the owl is still,
The bat in the shelvy rock is hid,
And naught is heard on the lonely hill
But the cricket's chirp and the answer
Shrill of the gauze-winged katydid
And the plant of the waiting whip-poor-
WILL" etc.
brakes memory has been kept fresh
by his friend Halleck, who wrote these
verses regarding him:
Green be the turf above thee,
Friend of my better days.
Nor named thee but to praise"
Halleck was associated with Drake in
writing the bright society sQuibs called
the "Croaker Papers" in 1914, for the
Evening Post
When our school masters were wont
to give especial drills in the reading
class, how we'll do we remember those
oft repeated lines from Halleck's Marco
Bozzaris," especially on the herO's cheer
to his band:
Strike! till the last armed foe expires;
Strike! for your affairs and your fires;
Strike for the green graves of your sires,
God, and your native land!'
"Alnwick CASTLE" by Halleck, is
half-serious half-playful monody, talk
ing UP the contrasts between feudal as
sociations and modern life. Halleck has
also written a poem on Red Jacket,
and one on Burns.
A statue of Halleck stands in Central
Park, New York. When 1t was un-
veiled, Whittier reclted a poem telling
how
"In common ways with common men
He served his race and time," etc.
Another pair of friends, says Watkins,
were Samuel Woodwork and George p.
Morris, each known now by one song,
"The Old Oaken Bucket" and wood
man, Spare that Tree"
LESSON QUESTIONS.
l. Who were the Knickerbocker writ
ers?
2. Who was the first American novel |
ist who won distinction?
8. To what opera did Home, Sweet |
Home" belong?
4. What was the peculiar significance |
attached to John Quincy Adams Wants |
Of MAN.?
5. Who was the author of the peter
Farley Stories?
g. Why does Webster occupy place |
in our literature SURPRISING that of Cal
houn, Burke and Clay?c