The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-03-10

mented Theo II. Hill was the first singer
10 nest in the wilderness. From the
spring time 10 the winter OF his age he
cheered and strengthened US with his
minstrelsy. There were notes sounded
before his, but they were those OF migra-
tory birds. passing the night. thrilled by
the morning, and away. Then. later our
beloved lyrist John Henry Boner. joined
him, and. for long time. these two were
the only distinct voices in our State.
But now a veritable chorus is about US.
and the solitudes are vocal with music
Two volumes OF verse during twelve
month. with numerous poems in the
State papers, and, occasionally, in the
ma gaines, signify | hope, a new order
OF things in North Carolina the open
ing OF a new era-the rising TO a life
on a level above that of a mere mate
rialism. AS yet these are only signs
hints, din suggestions, but 1t seems to
| me they are unrnistakable. To carry on
| the figure, theirs is
"in dark summer dawns
| The earliest pipe Of half awakened
birds"
| My time will allow only a word here
| and there. THE Watchers OF the
| Hearth" as Mr.. Sledd calls his second
| volume, is distinct advance upon his
frSt:-an advance in material and in
| craft. Mr. Sledd writes we'll in the SON
| net and shows decided liking for that
| most difficult and most exquisite meas
ure. ''To Sappho" is delivered in Wig
orous phrase, and observes well the
! limitation Of the form. MY Silent Guest"
| is tender touch. and Isaac is true 10
| q beloved past.
Songs from the Carolina Hills" by
| Miss Armfeld, is a first venture l be
| leve, and is a most creditable beginning
| Her note is instinct with life and
| promise. "Carpe Diem" has some sing
ing lines. "Satyrs All' is thoughtful
sonnet, we'll worked out. Freedom" is
| a triumphant note Did my time permit
l should have no trouble in quoting some
pleasing stanzas from her book. Both
| these volumes should find appreciation
| in our State. Will not this Association
| recommend that they and other merito-
| rious work by North Carolinians be in
| clueed among the books purchased fol
cur rural libraries? In what better way
| could be done the double service of en-
| couraging our authors and of acquaintins :
our people with their works? A di-
| gression at this point seems to be war
| ranted.
| The ignorance that some of our teach
ers show about the meagre literature We
have produced is deplorable. little
while ago a professor IN Of our col
leges, in a lecture on North Carolina
literature, delivered before the stu
| dents Of another institution, entirely
| omitted the names of Hill and Boner in
his discussion of our poetry, gravely
| criticising the work of our less known
versifiers. This is Hamlet with Hamlet
left out. I heard another professor in
our State-and 1 use the title each time
| in it's strict sense-in making a transla-
tion Of a sweet little lyric, labor with OK
like skill to reconcile it's figurative to its
| literal Specification. Is it to be expect
ed that, a general thing the students
| will surpass their masters? Let our
| institutions see to it that only men are
! in charge of their literary departments
who are themselves at least capable oil
| appreciating aesthetic things and of in
terpreting them to their classes. In this
way we shall train up literature loving
| people, out of whose ranks, here and
there, will inevitably come literary pro-
| ducing men and women.
There are certainly three volumes OF
|
publications one by Mr.. Frank Armfield
a kinsman of the writer already mention
ed; one by Mr.. L. c. Van Noppen; the
third by Mr.. J. II. Boner. It has been
| my privilege to read these in manuscript
and, I believe, they Will prove a per
| manent addition to modicum Of
poetry. Mr.. Armfield's is now in the
| hands Of the printer and will soon ap-
| pear I do not know what steps il any,
have been taken toward the publica ation
| of Mr.. Van Noppen's. Mr.. Boner's, cen
| tanning selections from his first volume
whispering Pines, together with his
| later poems, is prepared in every detail
| for the press. The manuscript includes
only what the poet would have survive.
1t Is the work Of a lyrist of exquisite
| touch. Mr.. Boner is, moreover, a critic
| and a scholar. He has held important
| positions in the literary world, as a
| member Of the editorial staff of the
| Century Dictionary, and Of the STANDARD
| Dictionary rising to the editorial chair
| of The Literary Digest. He has contri-
buted to the most notable magazines OF
the country, and his work has added grace
to their pages. Extreme i'll health has
| cut off his bright career in journalism
Sick and dispirited, he is. nevertheless,
| heroically struggling at his former post
| in the Governments service at Washing
| ton. Boner's lyrics would be a volume
Of which any State might justly feel
proud, and would, therefore, tend strong
| ly to redeem us in the eyes of our sister
States. South Carolina has given US
Hayne and Timrod; Georgia, Lanier and
Stanton; Kentucky, Father Ryan and
| Prentice; Virginia Poe and Thompson.
| These are some of our nearest neigh
| bors: what of our own State? I believe
| Boner's volume would be a mmandins &
| note from North Carolina. and l wish