New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-28
HONOR POETS BIRTHDAY
PRISE FOR LONGFELLOW
National -Arts Club Dinner a Tribute
10 His Name.
NATURE"


60 Nature deals with us and takes away
our pIaythiIgs one by one. and by the hand
Leads. Us so gently that we 20
Being TOO full Of sleep to understand
How far the unknown transcends tbs what we
know. Henry Wadsworth IongfelOw
one Of the most important entertainments
that the National Arts club has provided for lis
members and guests ia many years was the din
ner last night, given upon the occasion Of the
centennial celebration of the birth Of Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow, in their new clubhouse
IN Gramercy Park
Every nook and corner Of the spa cious dining
room aud each round table-at which some three
hundred men and women sat-were decorated
with jonquils and tulips. blending tremendously
with the clubs standard coIor-sreen. The pro-
graulrne which. with a photogravure reproduc-
ton Of portrait Of the poet was the souvenir.
bore upon its first page the words and music of
"ChTysaor,'' song composed for the occasion bv
Arthur Nevin- The inside pages contained tbe
music programme, the speakers. the toasts and
the menu The whole was in the form of =
ron uec with q leather thong and sealed with
red wax bearing the clubs monogram.
me music programme began with two piecas
DaypTea ana 'Chrysaor," which were sung
by quartet composed Of Mrs Ralph Costa Me-
Grace Parker Lyon, Henry Arson Truax and Dr.
fTeaeElck Gillette. 1t IS Not Always Nav"
written by Mrs Dor6 Lyon. followed II was
sung ny Henry Arson Truax: then "I<eramoso
written by Arthur FaTwen and sung by Lionel
Hayes Robsarte, Henry Arson Truax George
Benis and Harry H. Barnhart: The Brook"
written by Paul Ambrose and sung by Or. Gill
lette and "Immortelles," written by Mrs Dora
Lyon and sung by Mrs. Ralph Costa, Miss Grace
Parker Lyon. Henry Arson Truax and Harry
II. Barnhart.
The six toasts the programme were re-
spondsd 10 in this order: "LongfeIlow and Amer
ican Ideals by Richard Watson Glider: "Criti-
cisEn vs. Popularity" by ST Clair McKelwav:
"Longfellow's Lyrical Gift" by c. G. Roberts.
"LcEgfellow as a Story Teller in Verse" by the
Rev. Thomas Il. SIcer; THE Academic Life and
ne Poetic Spirit" by Edwin Markham. and THE
Poets II To-day" by Dr. John H Finley.
he American poets present included Robert
hL9dges' Bliss Carman, Madison Cawein. Flor
snce Earle Coates, II. Montague Bonner. Mrs.
J. c r Dorr R. Y. Glider. HiIdegarde Haw-
ihorne, Edwin Markham, H. Curtis Page. Gale
Young Rice, c. G. D. Roberts. Clinton Scotland
Louise Morgan SUI, Edith NJ Thomas, F. r.
florence. Henry van Dyke, Florence Wilkin-
son, Robert Burns Wilson and George E Wood
berry
Letters Of regret were read from ]. d. How
els, Edmund Vance Cooke, Charlotte Fiske
Bates, James Whitcomb Riley John James
Platt' Richard Burton. H. Id Alden and John
y Cheney. Ambassador Bryce sent this note OF
regret:
og T BTyoe greatly regrets that as he VIII be
"u-stQ 70 De IN Washington February 81 he
Ca1nct hsye the pleasure Of accepting the invita-
honored by The president ana $500 @5n which ne is
TONG! airs Club, He. knew Mr. Long9e owe and
memory Of one 50 worthy TO be renembeTed and
Dr.. Henry van Dyke, the presiding officer, in
his Introductory address, said:
To the memory Of LongfeIow. gentle and noble
I[@F,er ot pc most human and ultimate Of
language. through The Imagination TO the heart OF
], Is most fitting that this LongfeIlow Centennial
f.cu-d oe cel4brated in the honor OF the National
fel eve rar oeIT si50@ w e. 1iif OF tnofe who
hzauty and order, With honorable traditions and
that this art Should be nsfioIsi that If sbed Si5
First Of all our poets 20 catch the Of the
people, BE had kept his hold upon their heart.
70 De aboriginal. Where there are ten laboring:
VINO Know anything about the poet Of revolt and
thousand who know and love the poetry OF Long
s-.eE. OF nm u may be SAID as II was said OF
goodness and the spirit Of poetry found perfect
oppression, The common people heard him gladly
Edwin Markham said. IN part:
According to al ancient legend, a legend full OF
IIofouad meaning, il was The Muses. WHO gave tina
Loo 10 ~ SpnnX-tl-e riddle which man must
sneliy disclose and verify the riddle OF our
iTteace- Poetry thus has her high place as the
eternal Interpreter and irsplrer Of life
Since time began there mas been conflict between
0-- ." "l.e ti-F zee sF-l-i. t'il - 'SS'illlS4Is
revelation the custom OF our fathers-these are the
bonds of the academc-who cries out that the
frEs thar has been Is the thing that shall be
tn" trouble with the genius is thai lie cannot
Hflse into his followers the eternal spirit OF
progress wnien makes him the leader he IS George
Fox = bold adventUTer ia quest q the ideal.
The great cor seratiTe institutions ecclesiastical,
collegiate. political, have Lhus imposed upon the
.atacomrs and towers Of which the free spirit is
forever trying 10 escape INTO the open ar LEI ono
.rf H. - a. o,l-.set fr0T, his times The divine
---.e erarIl ~ he ages The race is throwing of
Gathers out ~ the wings Of the imagination to
qasiutance with books, knowledge not tested by
mon The poets soul. For an great springs
rom the abandon Of the gods
To the poet The world is substance. but sym
sririt and lie spcndor 50 his report + than
history and deeper than science.
Dr. s. Clair sIcKeiway, speaking on "Criti-
c-sm Versus Popularity" said:
have been asked 10 enusu your attention for
little while, ii can, D. a consideration Of criticism
versus popularity with reference to he hundredth
Ife prefeftUce OF lie cornnite. and their estimate
selection took cOsuizance Of the fact tHat "A late
!, ~ atfonize Or 10 deprecIate Longfellov for The
purpose Of exalt!nG others who have not won As
II was Eeaconsleld. ia Lothian" l think. VINO
made one al MS characters define critics as the
That has beer the so!ace Of the satisfaction q those
@ao have succeeded in spite Of cEtcisIn IN their
ile but vino arc not Ger an 81 ne appreciation
= posterity. There IS = heeF II The phrase as