The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-19
OMAR KnAYYAM AND TENNYSON


editions Of this poem are being put forth
sumntuousiy illustrated: Il has been set
% Music and sung; It is even acted, the
supposed meaning Of II being interpreted
In series OF gymnastic poses BY charm
Ing young woman, the which one might
view for 81. Richard lie Galienne has re-
translated the Persian original, but tho
stately verse of Fitzgerald remains stiil
the more popular. After long waiting.
Omar has at last become fad and is
patted ON the back bv our very best So
cicty. But even fads are not without
stme cause. What is the secret OF the
snccess OF the Rubaiyats II lies In several
causes First, no one knows precisely
what the author is driwng at. and IL mas
Always been a merit in second-rate p5ess
10 be OBSCURE and la SECOND rate intci-
lccts 10 profess 10 understand what IT is
certain no one else can understand So
runs "Bab Ballad"
And his gentle spirit rolls
10 TIE melody OF louis,
Which is pretty, but don't know what it
means 2
Again, Il is heather. and our topmost
liternti and heirsimitatois have Always
suspected that Christian thought is a
trlte too common u be real deep. Again,
II softly leads the mind from the despair
OF philosophy by the pleasant way OF
elegant phrases. into the scented groves
of sensuaiity, which is where a number
of people OF the very highest respccts-
bility would like TO 50 II IL could only
lie understood that 1t was highly proper.
The fact is, the whole poem is a fine
.,,lN nf a. .tn Inv a,
be classed with the specimens Nordau has
collected
''And this first summer month that brings
the rose
Shall take Jamshyd and Kaikobad away"
may have meant something to Omar but
to the average reader today il only pre-
SCENTS an indistinct Turluish-rug impress
sion, sounds well and suggests something
or other. like Rosetti's thrilling lines:
"Cecily, Gertrude, Magdalen,
Margaret and Rosalys.'
When the poem does not mean nothing
at all, it means something vague and
misty. We can imagine the infatuated
reader, who appreciates fully the grand
purpose Of the verses. folding them up
when through reading, turning to the or
binary mind that has been desperately
trying to follow, and remarkng, in the
words of Samuel Johnson; ''Sir, I hope /
have said nothing yon can comprehend"
Ard when the poem does convey an INTEL
llgihle idea at all 1t has but enc message,
an old message, indeed, that has dis
ruptsd home, has befouled true love and
has not failed TO lead TO ruin all who
heed, whether they be in dress suits in
the club house or in rags in Clark street
dive. That message Is; What's the use,
anyhow? you can't understand tho mys-
teries OF life end death. religion and
philosophy. so have all the fun you can.
The joys OF discipline and lofty life arc
indstinct. Wine ana women are plain.
Enjoy what you can"
Better be jocund with the fruitful grape
Than sadden after none or hitter fruit"
How different. how utterly superior to
this stream of odorous garbage, is the
thought In the Englishman's in Memo
RAM" The Christian LOOKS into the deep
abyss of philosophy and up to the sky OF
religion; he sees the same puzzling enigma
Of life and death that is seen by the Fer
sian. omar's. cry
Il sent my soul throughout the invisible
Some secret OF that after-life to spell,
And by and by my soul returned to me
And answered, ] myself, am heaven and
hell"
runs almost parallel to Tennysons
What find in the highest place
But mine own PHANTOM chantinH
hymns
And en- the depth OF death there swims
The reflex OF a human face"
Both felt the pressure of that world old
poet sings
II stretch lame hands OF faith. and grope
And gather dust and chaff,"
just as the eastern poet complains
Myself when young did eagerly fire.
Doctor and saint and heard great argu-
ment---
But evermore
Came out by that same door where in l
went
But while the heather concludes therc-
fore that the only thing worth while is ID
'hll the cup" and crowd into our brief
stay here as much frolic as we may, the
Christian is borne by the very wings OF
his doubt to live purer and worthier
life. And herein Is the essential differ
ence between henthenism and Chris
tianity; neither explains the dark PR b.
lens of existence OF sin and tuturity, but
the former filings away in childish petu-
lance, while the latter gives faith that
reveals TO US the sweet power of mys-
esry to draw us up to better character.
Spring Is here says the heather, but
its subtle voices speak TO nothing in him
but the pulses Of his ANNA! DESIRE so
In the fire of spring
The winter garment of repentance fling
Spring is here" exclaims the Christian
but he does not throw away repentance,
but beholds it unfold into sacred Joy:
And In my breast
Spring wakens. too, and my regret
Becomes an April violet
And buds ana blossoms like the rest"
The heather can see no tangible good
save
"a book OF verses underneath the bough
jug Of vino. leaf Of bread-and thou
Singing beside me In the Wilderness
All! wilderness were paradise snow''--