New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-07
NEW COMPOSITIONS, REPRINTS AND
ANTHOLOGIES

THE COMPLETE POLITICAL WORKS OF JOHN
MILTON Edited by William Vaughn Mo Moody
XIV. az Houghton, Mifiin & Co.
FOR THE KING AND OTHER POEMS. BY Rob
ert Cameron Rogers. limo, PIP. Nv, g. q. r.
Putnams Sons
renee Dunbar lsmo' pp' X ~ D0'' "e''
Co
JUST RHYMES By Charles Battell Loomis Il
lustrated by E. Y. Cory. l2mo' PIP I" L. H.
HARVARD LYRICS AND OTHER VERSES p, t, BE
Years Se.ecied by Charles Livingstone Steb-
bins of the Glass OF NlneV-Se'eh' A-"0' Pp' -
1853 Boston: Brown d CO.
THE MEMORY OF LINCOLN. Poems Selected
With an Introduction by NJ. A. De Wolfe Howe
Ismo Boston: Small, Maynard co.
MI Hewlett may find his inspiration largely
in times and places far from our own but ne
always contrives subtly to identify the emotions
OF his personages with those characteristic OF
human beings in any century. We might say
indeed that the argument of his charming pas
toral Pan and the Young Shepherd, mao
something in it directly symbolical OF just such
spiritual adventures might fall to some
voutbs and some maidens of to-day; but in the
aprraisal Of literature to honor symbolism over
much is to displace the poetry with which 1t Is
really intertwined In reading this quaint little
comedy Of life in a land so charged with the
magic of ancient myth that ii seems to be a
land entirely incredible, we are conscious only
in a vague way of the elements that make the
actors kin to ourselves. We could not dispense
with those elements; their influence thoush
vague is in the last degree important But the
great point is that we feel first and last the
poetry of the authors conception. 1t is good 10
have him show us the human soul acting under
trying conditions in ways honorable and touch-
ing We like the Doric humor that turns the
dialogue of his peasants into speech OF the raci
est and most tangible character. Every page
has an undercurrent Of reality. But best OF all is
the poetic beauty which envelOps the whole
making il fair romantic picture OF scenes iaid
somewhere in the morning of the world. The
sweet SAVIOR of the earth is in this pastoral dedi-
Gated to the god of the wildwood and the stream
Eeing a poet Mr. Hewlett feels his imagination
most stirred when he is in the presence OF Nat
pre. his classical ideas his sense Of modern pas
sion are Joined to an enthusiasm for that love
illness of earth that is apart from all things
classical or modern. There are lyrical passages
in this book rich in rhythm and charm, but MT
Hewletts mode of writing communicates a
buoyance also to his prose, and Pan and the
Young Shepherd" may well be considered among
the poetic productions Of the time
In rather forced prologue to "Godfrida' Mr..
John Davidson, writing a suppostiuous CONVEX
sation between himself and an interviewer
indicates that the reader is to accept the pa!
az romantic but containing the essence OF
reality" He says, further: Il take men anu
women as l know them Dut tha' III!
.elf may realize them and make them more
alparent and more engaging TO an audience
rlace them in an imaginary environment, anu
IN the color and vestments of another time.
This is a most unfortunate dellverance, because
q removes the reader from the only point OF
view at which he might obtain plausible I'M
rression of the play. He is challenged In THESE
lines to bring to bear upon the WORK the ohe
tombstone which causes il straghtway 10 COL
lanse II we regard 'Godfrida merely az
picturesque invention, with certain SITUATIONS
more OF less dramatic and entirely BIZARRE we
can enjoy il almost to the point OF admlrauoi
Discarding all the laws of human nature we
find the play an artistic design, capable OF peihe
unfolded on the stage with CELEBRITY and point
Rut Mr. Davidson. resting his claim for serious
attention upon what he considers to be an III
fermentation OF human nature, gives US duch-
ess who is certainly not woman else sic
uould not even granting a fourteenth-century
elasticity of character, unveil her innermos'
feelings to the whole world upon any and every
occasion This duchess and Godfrida, the her-
oine Of the play, are both enamoured OF the
same man. To that as a theme for drama we
can raise no objection. But we cannot AUNT
mat their jealousy could be exhibited on the
stage IN manifestations utterly beyond the Verl-
ties Of life. The whole fabric of "Godfrida" is
onn