Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04

'e'Noiutiohary fathers in lfi6 ana re
ADOPTED by The convention OF lS'9. an'
WIN shght amendment again readopt
ca py the convention OF 1879. But tho
statesmen or Virginia never contemplated
'ne adoption OF bill of rights as par
Oh constitution for the establishment
OF FORM Of government. Their idea
was that IL was the power of attorney
under which the trainers OF any consti
luuoh could act. and a Limitation OF
their powers and OF the provisions oil
any constitution that the people them
selves might adopt. The original Bin OF
Rights OF Virginia, written by that great
and wise statesman, George Mason, OF
Gunston Hall. was adopted June-12. 1Ts
snd the Constitution was not adopted
until June 18th thereafter The objection
TO the Underwood bill is not TO the en-
| actment OF the second and third section,
ordalning the permanency of the Union
and the subordination of the State TO
the Union. Such enactments may have
been logical consequences. of the over
| throw OF the Confederacy. but the abb
surdity Of embracing these enactments
| In bill Of rights, which asserts the
God-given right Of n people to establish
or change any form OF government never
occurred 10 the piebald convention OF
negroes, scallawags, and carpet-baggers,
which an evil fortune inflicted upon Vir-
sinia in her deep humiliation.
vONDEL'S LUCIFER. Translated from
the Dutch. BY Leonard Charles Won
Noppen. Illustrated by John Aarts.
MDCCCXCVIII. Continental Publish
ing Company. New York and London:
SmO. Pages, 43S. Price. g. Holland
Society Art Edition. Limited TO l.290
Numbered Copies.
This" says the translator in his pre-
face, "is the first English version Of that
unknown tiffany, Yondel. poet of whom
Southey's words on Bil6ordyk, another
Dutch bard. might have been spoken:
THE language of a State
Inferior in illustrioUs deeds to none,
But circumscribcd by narrow bounds,
Hath pent within its sphere a name
wherewth
Europe should else have rung from side
10 side"
II to the English or American reader
this may seem the language of eXtrava-
CANT eu!ogy. IL is abundantly justified by
the estimate IN which the great poet was
held by his contemporary countrymen and
their descendants ever since. We are told
y T.
Amstel'-"frOm the night of its first pre-
sentation 80 years ago, until the pre-
sent time, has been presented every
New-Year's Eve on the stage Of the thea
ire of Amsterdam" and upon its first APP
pearance the great Grotius repaid the
compliment of its dedication TO him by
this tribute to the author: THE 'Oedipus
Coloneus' Of Sophocles and the 'Suppli-
cants' Of Europedes have not honored |
Athens more than thou hast Amsterdam"
At a noted assembly Of the artists Of
Amsterdam known as the Guild Of ST.
Luke. October 20, 1853, Nonde. then i'm his |
67th year. the year Of the first representa- |
ton Of Lucifer by the common consent OF |
100 leading painters poets architects. and !
sculptOrs was hailed as the honored guest !
of the occasion, wreathed with laurel and |
crowned as the "Symposiarch" or King |
Of the Feast" crowned" says the trans |
lator. with a kingship won by prodigies |
of valor on the battlefield of life. Every |
leaf in that laurel wreath was purchased |
by thorn. But who thinks Of the sharp |
ness Of the thorn when caressed by the |
velvet Of the leaf"
1t is difficult to understand how the
writings of the great genius should be so
little known TO English and American |
readers and scholars. and it is strange, |
indeed. that more than two centuries
should have rolled around since the death
Of the poet before this, his conceded
should have been translated
into the English tongue But this long
delay only enhances our interest and the
obligations Of literary Britain and Amer
lea TO the translator and publisher Of
This uniquely-printed. illustrated, and
bound volume. The fidelity of the trans
ator is commended to US in a scholarly
by a learned Dutch profess
ior Of the University Of Utrecht, DR.. G..
<aen, and the poem is preceded by a
most interesting sketch Of the life and
lines Of the poet and an Interpretation
If the poem by the translator.
Nondel was born IN 1857, and lived for
linety-one years in one Of the most
ventful centuries OF the history Of the
world, and especially of his own Father
and and Of Great Britain. He was a con-
temporary with the later heroes and
rails of the Dutch revolution, and OF the
war against the Stuarts,
he rule of Cromwell as protector, and
he restoration OF the Stuarts under
'harles III. These stirring times were a ,
tting preparation for his life work.
he translator, in choice and poetic lam
uage, thus presents this idea:
"A generation of fighters is always the /
recursor Of an epoch Of singers. The
anegyrist and the historian ever follow ,
! the train of the soldier and the states :
ian; the epic and the eulogy as surely ;
j the path OF great deeds as the polemic :
nd the satire in the track Of wickedness q
nd folly. Tie sculptor and the painter :
re evoked from obscurity only by the I
al Of heroes. The musician and the 4
voice Of the ideal-stand ever
lady 70 blazon forth the glory of the
al. Unworthy actions alone are I'M a
'ng 6
The foundations of the Dutch republic :
I'd been laid by race of Cyclops in n
hose battle-scarred forehead glowed the a
lgle eye OF freedom. race Of "a
tans followed and built upon this .
m foundation magnificent temple G
art and science. above whose four r
'lden portals were emblazoned chisel- Il
d in 'deathless diamond the names /,
ondel, Rembrandt. Grotius, and 4
'ino2a, the high priests Of its worship" q,
ondel was born in Cologne, where his o.
labaptist parents had sought a refuge -
I'm the religious prosecutions Of the p,
w countries. After the Protestant as n
ndency had been securely established =,
their homes they returned but the a
ct and younger brother afterwards ~
came Roman Catholics, and he lived | ~
ID died a devcut adherent of that faith ~
he contention between the ultra \,
lvanists and John Van Oldenbarne-
ldt TO whose person and fortunes ne i
IS devOtedly attached eliminating in
overthrow ard death OF the aged !
ltesman. contributed, perhaps, no little
Vondels change OF faith. The fate
Barneveidt inspired him to write the
egorcal tragedy Of "Palamedes or
lrdered Innocence" in which, under
yer of the ancient legend. he melted
bic indignation against the enemies
d judges Of Barneyeldt, with such