The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-27

a Utah poet has produced a great
work A man born in this city, and
whose life purposes and ambitions are
all Identified with those OF this state
and its communities, has completed a
poem which win rank among the finest
Of all literature.
i confess, at the outset. an affection
ate bias in favor Of the author of this
poem, leaning that has grown during
association since b0yhood. when we
rambled the hills together. discussing in
earnestness our dtvergences in thought
as 10 philosophy and religion-dimer-
ences Of belief that elude all attempts
at reconciliation, though they are hDu-
est differences on both sides.
This much 20 show that IN hiss adj
miratlOn for the poets present achieve
ment the writer has not been carried
away-as believers might be-by the
doctrinal features OK Elias" but is alb
sOlutely free to consider its beauty,
strength and other Of its literary quail
ties.
1t does not appear that Bishop Whit
ney has taken any of the great epics
as his model; for in theme, construc-
tion and treatment he has gone far and
away from the old classics; yet his
work would hardly 5e epic in character
did it not like them, swing on the old
lines Of the relation Of God to man, OF
heaven to earth, OF celestial drama 20
mundane experience.
After careful study OF it's merits I
90 not hesitate, in calmness and de-
liberation, to compare ELIAS" with
Dante's "Divine Comedy or Milton's
4 Paradise Lost"
1t would be impossible here to go far
/ into the stupendOus subject Of the
poem, for 1t deals with the "Arcana Of
the Infinite" the beginnings of thought
/ through all the mystic ages OF dim
ancient times; through the growths Of
philosophy and religious belief, now
true, now false; lifting in epochs OF
illumination and groveling through
the dark ages. through periods when
/ the torch burned brightly and cen
turtles when the flame hickered low;
passing with stately measure through
the mazes of earliest idea into the
open field of modern thought. Not
only does il treat with intellectual ex-
perience on earth. but Il harSs back to
the conflict of thought in heaven be-
fore man was.
Sing a song Of aeons gone.
or life from mystery sprung.
Ere sun. or moon. OF. rolling stars
Their radiance earthward flung;
Ere spirit-winged intelligence
FOrsOok those shining spheres.
Far mlghtier glories there to gain
Through mortal toll and tears.
From this period in the vague past
the poet has traversed with enIight-
ened pen the various stages Of civiliza-
ton to the present time and place
Fly. fly with me. tin fancy's pinion rest
Mid barren regions Of the boundless
west.
Where silyery streams through silent val
From SUBMITS aIpined with eternal snow.
Where sways the sunflower in the desert
air;
Where saehem hath his wigwam. WOLF
Where builds the eagle on the beeuins
height.
And wings Ger freedoms hills unfearius
flight
1t was no tyro's task for the poet to
find new terms Dy which 20 reach the
heart in telling the old. old story Of the
sacrifice Of Christ yet read this;
Transtxt he hugo. crime Of crimes!
The God whom worlds adore
! Father, forgive them" drained the
Emmanuel was no nnorel
No more where thunders shook the earth.
Where hghtnings, 'thWart the gloom,
Saw that unconquered spirit spurn
The shackles Of the tomb.
Far-flashing on ifs wings of light
A falchiOn from its sheath
1t cleft the realms Of darkness and
+ Dissolved the bands Of death:
Hells dungeons burSt-wide open swung
The everlasting bars,
Whereby the REASONED soul shall win
Those heights beyond the stars.
Having at some length treated upon
the fortunes Of the church and of peo-
pies through the Christian era To the
discovery of the New World, Land of
al lands the rarest." he describes
/ America in glowing words,
Far as the hemisphere's wide wings ex-
pand.
she sits a sovereign queen. ice-helmed. TO
lave
Her lovely limbs in tropio tides;
And coming closer home seems to
refer to California and the immediate
west:
There bringing forth the promise OF thy
land,
Thesaurus Of the vest the prophecy
[ OF gtttering cities strewn along any
strand.
o golden empire Of the sunset sea!
! Then closer yet:
-- the desert-born. whose DYING rea.
/ Whose bitter wave is as tear the