The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-09
SOME SCOTTISH MEN OF LETTERS
IIIustriOus Sons of Scotia Who Have Made English
Literature Glorious. Poe and LOngfellow
in American Literature.


scent. For instance, Ben Jonson and
John Dryden, two of the most gifted of
so-called English authors, were either
whole Scotch or half Scotch. The great
est of all English statesmen, as | hold,
W. e. Gladstone, was Scotch on both
sides, and Lord Macaulay, one of the
greatest English authors, was either full
Scotch or half Scotch. / merely cite these
to show how much lovers of literature
are indebted to Scotland for supposed
greatest English authors Mr.. Glad
stone was himself prolific author of
essays and books, and proud of his
Scotch ancestry. Aside from his extra
ordinary labors in public life, running
through sixty years or more, he produced
a great many volumes upon literature,
etc, exhibiting great ability, learning,
industry and range of accomplishments.
Considering the magnitude of his public
services and the vast variety and length
Of his very numerous speeches, he was
of superlative industry as we'll as of most
remarkable versatility. In his rec.ea-
lions between sessions of the Parlia-
ment, he produced enough literary mat
ter to have taxed prolific writer CIV
ing himself entirely to literature. Be-
tween 1874 and 1879 alone he contributed
long and elaborate articles, showing
great activity as well as variety, to the
then three new, and now very eminent,
periodicals, the ''Fortnightly Review"
the Nineteenth Century Review and
the Contemporary Review'-articles
that would fill volumes. He wrote seven
long papers for the Contemporary;
twelve for the Nineteenth Century, and
eight for the Fortnightly Review-twen-
ty-seven in all. If you could see even
the titles of these contributions, you
would be amazed at the vast change of
topics presented. 1 will give but part:
us the Church of England Worth Pre-
serving?" 1.-The Place of Honor in His
tory; Russian Policy and Deeds in
Turkestan'': The Iris of Homer and Her
Relation to Genesis 14:11-17''; "The Six
teenth Century Before the Nineteenth A
Study of the Reformation" "England's
Mission; ION Epithets of Movement in
Homer: Probability as to Guide of
Conduct; The Olympian System versus
the Solar Theory; Gree Trade. Rail-
ways and Growth of Commerce; RE
ligion, Achaian and Semitic; ION the
Influence of Authority in Matters of
Opinion: ''The Color Sense In addi
tion, during these few years, he wrote
pamphlets, one of which was great
literary achievement, and was entitled,
The Vatican DEGREES in Their Bearing
on Civil Allegiance" In a few weeks
10000 copies were sold at home.
1t would be interestin~ % know the
names OF all the gifted .nen-statesmen,
orators, men of letters-who were born
in London 1t would take time TO prose-
cute such an inquiry. | recall that Mil
ton. Sir Thomas Browne. Thomas Middle
tor and Robert HerricK, four very ia
nous authors. were among them. Let
me mention here, lest | forget it, but it
has no connection with places of birth, an
interesting fact-William Harrington,
Roman Catholic author Of distinction and
much personal worth, the son of man
OF letters, was born before Shakespeare
death. He wrote a play called The
Queen of Arason," and a volume of
poetry entitled Gas Stava." He wrote
poem in addition he called an "Enconium
on Sack" In it he refers distinctly to
the greatest of all authors. We quote
the following:
IF this wine should Prynnc
bcCin
a health to Shakespeare's ghost.
What would the fools say to it who
babble of Bacon as the author OF the
greatest poetry of all the world when
really he was n poor versifer, as one can
see by consulting the article on him in
Lord Campbell's Lives of the Lord
Chancellors"? He would not be a salts
- how
daily today.
In the New York Critic London
critic refers to Longfelow as 1.-The
chief poet in America" That springs
from either ignorance or preju-
dice. There is not reputable critic in
Great Britain or in France who is not
better informed. Not one classes Long
fellow in true genius, and even art, with
Edgar Allen Poe Even in the Northern
States a saner and more penetrating
judgment prevails over the judgment OF
Longfellow of thirty and forty years ago
He is not regarded in New England as
the greatest poet" of that particular
section Longfellow has unquestionably
poetic skill. melody, grace, sincerity,
huidity, but he lacks power pas
sion. profound movement, and even strik-
ing originality as others possessed.
Lately Bliss Carman, Northern poet.
said OF him that "Evangeline,' one of
Lonefellow's chief performances and
%lories had "faults of style; that in
places the narrative is fiat" and while
picturesque" was passlohless.
Thomas Higginson. well known Yankee
living author, says of him in late
monograph upon the poet:
1T will perhaps be found as time goes
on that the greatest service rendered oy
onsfellow-beyond all personal
awakening or stimulus eXerted on ms
readers-wa that of being the nrst con-
spicuous representative in an eminently
practical and Woodworking community
of the literary life. One of circle oil
superior men. he was the only one VINO
stood for that life purely and supremeiy