The newspaper., 1908-04-17
Modern Poets.
BY MRS. LENA HAMMOND.

American poets namely, Bryant. Poe, Emerson, Long
fellow, Whittier. Lowell and Holmes.
William Cullen Bryant was born in Mass in 1894, and
his earliest poems written there He began writ
ing verses when only nine old and at the OF
seventeen wrote "Thanatopss." 1t was not COM
peted, when first published, and additions made
in 1921, and some changes afterward. Itbrought him
fame at first, strange to say this poem which Is
called the beginning Of American poetry. He
studied law and admitted to the bar. but he did
not like 1t, gave it up and in 1925 took Journal
ism in New York. Iu this he was successful and for
fifty years faithfully performed all the duties that fell
to him. Occasionally he published small volume OF
and in 1871 finished the translation Of the Had
and the Odyssey into blank In his eighty
fourth he fell the stone steps OF General VIII
sons house, after he had delivered an address In
Central Park. He died weeks after his injury and
was buried at Roslyn. His best poems are ''Thana-
topsis." waiting by the Gate" BLESSED are they
that mourn" and 1.-The Past"
Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston, Jan. 10, 1903.
His parents died when he very young, and he
was adopted by Mr.. Allen, wealthy Scotchman. He
was spoiled and petted, grew up wilfu proud and re-
served, and incurred gambling debts at the age OF
seventeen while attending the University OF Virginia.
After this Mr.. Allen placed him in his counting house.
but this did not please the restless boy and he ran
away and enlisted in the army under assumed
Mr. Allen found him, secured his discharge and
obtained his appointment as n cadet at West Point
The severe discipline did not suit Poe and he soon
managed to be dismissed He was drunkard and an
opium eater and the only redeeming trait In his char
acter was MIS- love Tor mis- WIFE, lie virginia
Cemmin 1885, and for eleven years he cared for her
devotedly, through poverty, sickness and He
died in 1S49 two years after his wife. in Baltimore.
He asfound election day in election booth in
toxcated drugged, and died few days later. The
first article which Poe wrote and the one which
brought him before the public notice, "a MS
Found in Bottle" For this article he drew 800
prize offered by the Saturday Visitor. Later he
wrote "Lenore," 1.-The Bells" and 1.-The Raven"
Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston. May %,
1Sa3, a descendant from seven generations Of
clergymen. His father died when he eight years
old, and his mother Obliged to take boarders.
They very poor and Ralph and his brother had
but overcoat between them. AT school he
quiet and studious. He worked his way through
Harvard and secured his degree in 1921. For few
years he taught school, then In 1879 he ordained
minister OF the Second Church of Boston, the old
North Church Of Cotton Mather. He was married the
year. and eighteen months later his wife died.
He left the church in 1892 and went to Europenot to
travel but ruch Wordsw orth, Coleridge
and Carlyle He came home in ls35. married again
and bought home OF his own. and settled down In
Concord for life. His famous hymn
by the rude bridge that arched the food.
Their flag to Aprl's breeze unfurled
Here the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world
sung at the completion Of the Battle Monument,
April 49, 1895 Other poems are "rhe Snow Storm"
and 1.-TWO Rivers" He died in lss2.
william Henry Longfelow born in Maine in
1907. AS boy he kind hearted and afectionate,
and at school very correct and amiable. He
graduated In 1925. His father wished him to study
law; he spoke OF being farmer but the trustees Of
Bondoin proposed he fit himself for Professor OF the
Chair OF Modern Languages. three spent
in study and travel in Italy, France Spain and Ger
many. He returned to Bondoin in 1929. In 1886 he
Professor of Romance Languages at Harvard.
He went to Europe for a second time between the
years 1879 and 1886 and during his second residence
there his wife died. After he came home, he married
again. In 1899 appeared his first volume of poetry,
''voces the Night" The year before. the psalm
Of Lfe," had been printed anonymously by the
Knickerbocker Magazine, and Lopgfellow took this
way of declaring himself. The "vlage Blacksmith"
"The Bridge" The Wreck OF the Heperus" and "Hia-
watha," written in 1855, are too well known to be
mentioned further. Longfellow died in February.
1852. month before Emerson.
John Greeneaf Whittier was another poet born the
same year as Iongfellow. He n New England
Quaker and not much OF n scholar. He only attended
school "a few weeks each winter and completed his
educa tion with year in the academy at Haverhl.
In 1897 and 1888 he distinction poet by pub
fishing 1.-The Slave Ships and Farewell Of Virginia
Slave Mother" Later he published "Maud Muller"
"The Bridal OF Pennacook," "Songs of Labor" and
"Home Ballads. He never married and his affections
given to his mother and sister while they lived.