The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-03-31
he Poets ~ ~
y of the South.

y the Baltimore sun.
literary critic has said. Among South.
Soets there is dead level OF medi
from which but one name that of
may rise
IL not for even the most enthusiastic
Ter of the poets Of the South to claim
IN of them prominence In song. This
N be ms idle as to claim for all the
listers Of New England the fullness
a. gift Of Longfellow or for all the
Mugs of England the genius of Ten.
n We may, however. whether we are
birth, East. West ct South, Yield to our
"a poets love and admiration. This
critical examination OF the quail
n of poetlcal excellence is not to dis
10, but to grade in our regard the
lis of our affection. BY comparison
n poets with those of other peoples
MAY estimate our own In the larger
of universal values. The correct
q of this valuation is not TO be ascer-
N except through the meeting of
u minds.
"a is interesting TO examine the esti
q nut upon some of the Southern poets
sfitIcs who are not in entire sympathy
Shse of birth or inclination, with the
IN. The. detail of such an examination
IN here be tedious. The general result
Nhowever, be briefly stated. In pre-
a article we have spoken OF host
Nncers whose voices have rung clear
but we VIII now speak of men
IA work has won larger and more
Sspread recognition than have the
6bctions of their fellows. First among
Il stands Edgar Allan Poe (of whom
II Lanler-we shall speak In future
IA0. OF Poe, Barrett Wendell, In his
I tly published Literary History of
Mica, says:
~ turn only to the photography in
MAST volume of Stedman & Woodber-
4 admirable edition OF Poe, 1t appears
4 between 1890 and 1895 there were at
e ten translat Ans from his works into
ious foreign languages, among others
edlsh, something that looks like Bohe-
IS. Italian. Danish and South American
lnish Certainly among the literary
mas of Europe no American author has
r8CteO more dllCulipi Ahhh pOs hhNsN
Hence still seems extending" This
n the distinguished professor of English
Harvard college but voices the sentl-
n Of most critics and at least lifts one
n above the dead level of mediocrity."
IA ~
IA name of Sidney Lanier is gathering
n with the rolling years. The circle
Shs influence is extending as the eX-
<tlon of his poetlcal genius is studied.
n today by one of the most critical as
ii as the most judicial of Northern
lis, it is said, The most gifted and
10nplshed OF Southern poets was Sid
fNLanler." This estimate does not de
Poe. for the same critic does not
~ Poe as a Southern poet. The works
s1anier are today more frequently In
lind and more widely read than at
X previous date. Their beauties are be
nhg more appreciated and though APP
Seiaton has not reached Its zenith,
MAY say that in Lanier another South
4 poet has not only risen above the
"a level of mediocrlty," but has
Akved what will be a worldwide fame.
RIO Other poets of ante -bellum days
~ claim our attention. These are Henry
rod and Paul Hamilton Hayne. Henry
tod, born In Charleston. S. c., In 1929,
MATED al the University Of Georgia, was
|>nned for the bar. Literature claimed
d e1d he gave his life to her service.
Il poems possess at times power that
'S0thers seems totally lacking, hut every
len is finished presentation Of a beau
M thought. ''Timrod's style" SAYS Hen
& Austin, midway between the elaborate
~ Of Tennyson and the wecdy natural
~ of Wordsworth. bears greg resem
suce to Lowcll's. but has perhaps more
AZ and less power"
M ~
"a the great poets of the Southern past
1ul Hamilton Hayne stands in the fore
-. Born, as was many another South
~ genius in Charleston. S. c., he be
ia an adopted son of Georgia. Hc died
k1opse Hin tGrovetownl, in that state
M s, 1856. OF this singer we read ii
Ae Poets of America" by Clarence
imam, that Haynes vitality, courage
native lyrical impulse have kept hin
[Eoice. At this time an appreciation
fls work by Maurice Thompson Eau
Of alice of Old vlncennes'D is par
arly interesting:
- The Mountain OF the Lovers The
fhobian Bow 'Macdonald's Raid,
Yelled The Vengeance of the God
Diana, and The Solitary Lake arr
rs worth the crown of an academy
~ sonneteer. Hayne was strong. rank
well with the best in America, and BIZ
trlptiye verse is often very melodiou
a full Of warm, harmonious color
III VuHury Of Southern rights, sounds
ses, perfumes and oolors we enjoy II
Ri poem 'Muscadines, than which NJ
r. genius than Shelley or Keats eve
led better or a richer."
n communication has been received iron
III A. Joyce, OF Washington, In while
mays:
"a knew personally Theodore oHnra
LET RYAN and George Denlson Prem
"a OF Louisville. Ky, for whom | com
In January, 1853, Laugh and Tn
"a Laughs With Your
gu might have justly claimed a
ueFn poets General William Hayne
and stephen Collins Foster, VIII
I'm Dying. Egypt, Dying and 'ol
.ueRy Home, Uncle Ned, Old Blac
Old Dog Tray and 'Swanee Rit
was personally acquainted wit
E aud Foster
f. &Ja,..
Hienry I. stanton. who was my schoo
AZ Maysyille. Ky. In 1854. wrot
Fuest and most phllosophic poem o
aian OF this republic. Here It IS
/ heard him recltc 1t: