New-York tribune., 1900-12-07

| lHE
Alice Of Monmouth with its wonderful. tri-
| umphant drge.-to the inspired and beautiful
ariel" that commentaries Shelley. the same pure
stream OF poetic thought and feeling flows stead
| ilv onward and the same golden music sounds
the music OF a noble mind and passionate and
tender heart, by nature consecrated TO the ser
vice Of beauty, and. therefore, TO the high
est welfare OF mankind. The Poet is not and
/ must not be a teacher. He does not know and
he need not ask IN what way his spirit affects
the world. Longfellow has told you that he found
his wandering song in the heart Of friend. En-
erson has told you that the sexton. ringing his
church bell. knows not that the great Napoleon far
of. among the Alps has refined up his horse and
paused listen The songs Of the poet are sifted
into the minds Of men, the sunshine is sifted
into the Of the forest. In that way the Muse
Of stedman has become loved companion to thou
sands OF responsive souls; IN that way his influence
has wrought and his solid fame has grown.
sometimes think the deadliest foe Of creative
impulse poetry is the faculty OF criticism, and
that our poetic literature will never, as a whole,
acquire the opuent vitality bloom and color Of old
English poetry until our authors cease 10 be self
conscious and critical and-as that great poet.
Richard Henry stoddard. so often and SO happily
has done-yield themselves fully 10 their
tons But the faculty Of criticism. as Stedman
has used f. becomes creative. Never have found.
in any OF his pages. a narrow doctrine a
bllghting word. Genius he has said. is something
that comes without effort, and yet impels fits
possessor heroic labor No better word ever
said OF f. a better example given OF
IL than this which contemplate and ac-
claim. in the splendid fruition OF his inspired la
borious and grandly faithful life.
II is profoundly true. as our friend has wisely
said, that "a breath Of poetry is worth breeze of
comment" II was once my dream that l also
might contribute something 10 the poetry OF my
native handsome strain Of beauty that the world
would not willingly let die" That dream has van
ments with which vain ambition is hattered by de-
lusive hope. can say now. with old George Col
man
MY Muse and !. ere youth and spirits fed
Sat up together, many night. doubt;
But now I've sent the poor old lass TO bed.
Because-because my fire is going OUT
She does not always stay there. Sometimes long
after midnight. find her in my arm chair in the
chimney corner. and together we look into the en-
bers and think OF old friends: and this is what
/ q wish could call il Poetry would like TO say
tonight. 10 one most honored and most priced:
December G. 1900
comrade and friend! what tribute shall render
Roses and lilies bloom no more for me.
And naught remains Of Fancy's squande-ed
splendor
Save marish flowers that fringe the sornbre sea.
But were each word rose. each thought bless
ing.
Each prayer coronal Of gems divine
Honor and love and perfect trust eonfessing,
My words my thoughts my prayers should
all be thine
For thou hast kept the faith: thy soul unhaunted
Whatever storms might round thee rage and roll
BY one celestial passion still enchanted
Has held its course right onward 10 its goal.
No sordid aim. no worldly greed, beguiling.
Could ever vile thy constant heart astray;
No vine-elad, Crcesn, Cyprian Muses. smiling.
Allure thy footsteps down the primrose WY.
Thou hast not basey gathered thrift with fawning.
Nor worn laurel that thou hast won;
But, in thy zenith hour as in thy dawning
The good thy nature willed thy hand has done
on thy calm front the waves OF trouble broken.
Have backward surged and left thee regnant still;
Nor tempests OF the soul nor griefs unspoken
Have e'er had power TO shake thy steadfast will.
Thy glory cannot die-for, were thy singing
Zen once 70 falter, through the domes Of fame.
In one great organ burst. superbly ringing.
The whole poetic choir would chant thy name.
II will not falter: from the heart oerHowing.--
With the glad freedom Of the wild d-bird's wing.
Where icy gales DER sunlit blowing
Il sings because divinely born 10 sing.
No stain is on thy banner: grandly streaming.
It's diamond whiteness leads the tuneful host.
Forever in the front OF honor beaming,
And they that know thee best must love thee
So rest: thy regal throne thou hast ascended:
The standards blaze. the golden trumpets ring,
And IN one voice our loyal hearts are blended
God bless the Poet. and God the Kingi
Among the men al the reception were Charles De
Kay. Recorder Gon. Spencer Trask. William Ord
way Partridge. Alexander Yong the Rev. DR..
Robert Collyer Dufheld Osborne. oscar Straus
Professor Franklin H Giddings. William Young
Henry Abbey, Alexander Black Albert F. Ho1gh-
D KnnEIrson Smith and l,nlnnnl MHllarr