The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-15
OBSERVANDA

An able British critic has made a dis
paraging estimate of the output Of
verse composition-much Of it not poe
try-in the United States from the be-
ginning and as presented in Mr.. E. {.
Stedman's Anthology" but lately pub
lishea.
The same work is being deal with by
critics on both sides. and the discrimi-
nation is fairly taken for the most
part. But few of the south are known
or heard from. We suppose, for We have
not seen the volume. Names appear
Tin quotations we have met WITH that
are inserted more from sympathy than
merit, while better poets in the south
are neglected. Whitman now is quite
a little god IN poetry with certain
northern writer's, and he has admirers
as a great genius in the south. He is
now CALLED 'the poet Of deep vision"
We have to confess that we have not
been able to srow enthusiastic over his
peculiar writings. so destitute of form
ano technical skill. A western critic,
a professor II the University of Chic
ago. 0. c. Triggs, writes interestingly
and at times acutely of the "Antholo-
gy," in New York Forum. He eS-
presses one Of his estimates in this
wise:
Edgar Poe and Walt Whitman are
conspicuous among American poets for
their striking originality and intensive
force. They belong ito the order of
Nj 1-a-c. nn>I ,-nnfnI 6iCtJr ti-a
style; each contributed something prec-
ious that had lot been in the world
before; each gave evidences of unique
experiences and now heights of vision;
each has a worldwide influence, inspir-
ing other poets and becoming the foun-
der of a hoo 9 In the present
volume he is quite without following
none has reached his psychic attitudes
Hovey can be counted as a
pupil; but Whitman's leadership is &C
knowledged by many of the younger
writers. Tt is not unlikely that
the nineteenth century will come to be
divided by the future historian of our
literature into the Age OF Poe and the
Age of Whitman"
One of the marked p~eculiarities and
facts connected with Poe is that while
the southern people Of poetic tastes
and generous culture have been singing
praise for more than so years, his splen-
did gifts, his most marked originality,
his exquisite melody. his production ct
new rythms and accents, his easy
leadership in the higher inspirations
that are only found upon uplands
of song" the north has been deaf TO
it all. or down right sceptical or worse
still, positively hostile. 1t has been the
fashion of northern critics all along to
ignore his extraordinary qualities and
to talk it out in ~parading his unfortu-
nate life and its early ending. But
Poe made a great impression both IN
England and IN France. and poets and
critics wrote of him in hearty admira-
ton, and placed him where he so de-
servedly belonged upon the
peaks above all other American singer,
and verse Nov some of the
later writers in the north begin 20
glimpse the unique character of Poe's
genius and to understand his ingenious
technique and perfect melody. Not
many southrons have caught the ear
of the north that is swift ITO celebrate
the praises OF the third n f~ourth-rate
versifers. AS to Longfellow, so over
praised in the north. and in the south
too, for that matter, whose roper rank
was shown in England more~than half
a century ago, and has held the
high place assigned him in New Eng
land, Professor Triggs sees this. and
SO writes. He says that New England
mot content with writing the greater
volume of our verse. The eastern men
have imposed their critical judgments
upon the people at large. Recently
there have been signs of a shifting Of
emphasis. Longfellow is losing i'm
portance."
But recent northern verse
writers like Emily Dickinson, Riley,
| Glider and others are in danger Of be-
| ing as much lauded above true merit
as were some of the older members Of
the choir, Dana, Willis. Bryant, Hal
| others who could be cited. There have
been many really clever poets among
| the northern women-not of the 1odtier
| kind-but singers Of rythmical beauty
| and tenderness and with a true note
of inspiration. Readers Will readily re-
call the names of Helen jackson, En-
ma Edith Thomas, Mrs. Moul-
ton, Mary z. NJ. o. Dodge. Mary E.
Spofford and perhaps others Of the
tuneful celebrities. Dunbar, the half
bred negro verse writer. is quite the
vogue now in literary circles up there
and the best monthlies are glad te
print his verses n o His rea
poetic value IS being over-done through
sympathy for his race and long-rang'
love for particular ones. But none o