The Washington herald., 1908-05-30
THE OPTIMIST.

Il is one beauty OF the optimist's creed
that the doctrine of serene hopefulness Is
to be seized upon with avidity wherever
love to preach optimism. do not feel that
any apology is due because l choose 70
talk about one OF the most optimistic OF
all American poets-Sidney LanieT
have no intention OF treating you TO a
biographical notice OF my poet. II what
have 10 say here interests you. you may
go to the Biographical dictionary for the
rest. Nor do want TO claim that Lanier
was the greatest poet that America has
produced. That is a matter Of individual
opinion. What l desire to emphasize is
the fact that here was essentially a poet
OF optimism. OF large faith and larger
heart, who left a message behind that
may cheer all Of US and help US to lead
more hopeful and better lives.
He was one poet who decried openly
the superiority Of material things. who
condemned the subservience which the
world at large showed to trade. With
the clear insight Of poetic genius. he saw
that trade and barter and material well
fare were but the shadows of life. The
soul Of II lay in faith and hope and trust
in Cod.
/ wonder how many remember MS
poem, THE Marshes Of Blynn," than
which there are few poems in the Eng
lish language that point with such in
slstence and high example to the value
OF optimistic faith.
As the marshhen secretly builds on the watery sod.
Behold ! wiz build me a nest On the greatness
Of God:
viii ay in the greatness Of God as the marsh
In the freedom that fills all space 'twixt the marsh
and the skies.
BY 50 many roots as the marsh-grns sends in tho
sod
wiz heartily lay ne a-hOld Of the greatness CT
Oh. like to the greatness Of God is the greatness
within
The range Of the marshes. the liberal marshes Of
Glyun.
This poem Is, 70 me, a marvellous ex-
ample or how the optimistic poet. deter
mined TO see the best in everything. may.
by sympathetic love Of nature and glow
Ing imagination. idealize a fine and beau
tiful and inspirational thought. as the
- ANNAAAANo9 Va AAAN 4AA-nA1E A0h AAEAAAG AAAoAA
has US in its keeping. out of the most
dreary and cheerless prospect
Lanier was a poet like Henley, who
wrote out OF the depth of suffering: and
he was Ike Stevenson. too, that he heed
ed not the blood upon his handker-
chief" but in the "fen clutch" Of tuber-
culosis did the best work that in him
lay.
Not for him 10 repine that the day was
not to be longer. so that more and bet
ter work might be accomplished. With a
fever o. 104 degrees. we find him writing:
and ever my heart through the night shall With
knowlcdgc abide thee.
And by day shall my spirit. as one that has
tried thee
Labor. al leisure. in art-tin yonder beside thee
Ny soul shall float. friend sun.
The day bring done.
And SO. say again, here IS a poet that
all ortimists should read. for the brave
spirit OF him. the large hope. the clear
seeing vision. His poetry is the poetry
OF love:
When nies all love. It's life; aught else. It's
naught.
That was his creed, and It is a creed
that well may be retaught in this era Of
material things.
He himself believed that II was the
poets mission to help men TO a larger
hopefulness. for when he was asked the
question as TO the poets mission. he
replied:
DE bcarcth starry stuff about his wing1
To pollen thee and sting thee fertile.
That is what Lanier does for US. n we
accept him in the right spirit and with
an open heart, and II you who read want
an eager invitation 10 drink deeper OF
the Lanier spring OF hopefulness, let me
point TO his most exquisite poem:
Into the woods my Master weut
Clean forspent clean forspent
Into the wood NY Master came
Forspent with love and shane
But The olives they were not blind TO Hin
The little gray leaves were kind 70 Him
The thorn tree had mind 10 Him
When into the woods He came.
Out Of the woods ny Master went
And He was well content
Out Of the woods my Master came
Content with death and shame
When death and shame wcsid WOO Him last
Prom under the trees they drew Him last
Twas on tree they slew Hinl-last
When out Of the woods He came.