The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-11

Price So.
FTER William winters Other
n Days" this new volume, "Old
Friends" will be received with
much pleasure The first volume con-
tanned chronicle and memories of the
stage and was a personal record of
the experiences of many years. Mr..
Winter was modestly pleased and sur
prised by the unanimous praise which
his book ELECTED and. to the great good
fortune of the reading public, was en-
couraged to write a companion book
containing chronicles and memories Of
authors.
The book is a collection of personal
"reminiscences and is Of rare and val
liable interest. The author is unques-
tionably the last important survivor
of the richest period in our literature.
for many years influential and dis
tinguished in the field of prose letters.
and today the representative living
poet Of America. A part of our writer's
short preface explains this book
briefly. After telling that he has had
an acquaintance with authors since
very early in life. dating from the time
of the publication of his first book,
1854, he says this led to a "friedly
intercourse with many of them, extend
ing over a period of more than 90 years
Some OF my recollections of that inter
course are here expressed, with all the
kindness that is consistent with truth,
and perhaps my readers will find
little pleasure in rambling with me
along the grass grown pathways of the
past. where the idols of my youthful
enthusiasm and the comrades Of my
pen remain unchanged"
The kindly author explains that he
has no intention of praising the past
in detraction of the present and goes
on to say that: These sketches only
represent a past that 1 personally
knew. If by chance they should sur
vive their little day, they may aid the
future historian in tracing the literary
movement in America, and throw some
light upon the personality of those
who guided it. If found
tedious, I would plead Sir Walter
Scott's apologetical remark that old
men may be permitted to speak long.
because they can not, in the course of
nature, have long to speak,"
The first chapter is entitled Long
of the first paragraph, brackets his
name with Cooper's. He says Long
fellow is the foremost of our poets.
Cooper is the foremost of our novel
lists He regrets that he did not know
the great novelist but gives him this
passing. tribute before beginning to
tell of Longfellow:
Cooper. who died in 1851, when
aged So. did not know and never saw;
but in boyhood | worshiped him, and in
age ] still read his romantic stories--
so pure in spirit, so fine in invention,
so beautiful in picture, and, aside from
some inhexibility of language in the
sentimental passages, so rich, true.
natural and various in characteristic
dialogue-with delight and admira-
ton"
The author gives a brief sketch of
Longfellow's life and death. speaks OF
his prose and poetical works. tells OF
the honor done his memory by placing
his bust in Westminster abbey, the
first monument of an American author
ever placed in that venerable temple,
and then says:
"A reason for thinking that Longfel-
low is the foremost of American poets
is the belief that he was more objective
than any of the other bards and was
elementally actuated by an impulse of
lyrics might be named. written BY
other American poets, that perhaps
surpsss. in the element of passionate
inspiration. anything that proceeded
from Longfellow's pen. Poes Haunt
ed Palace, Hallecks Marco Boz
zaris.' Story's Cleopatra and Whit
tiers st John de Malta are types
Of ardent poetic emotion; but no other
American poet has produced a fabric
of imaginative poetry that rises to the
height Of Longfellow's Golden Leg
end and is sustained with such CO.
pious feeling and diversified with such
afhuence Of invention, unffagging in
terest of material and perfection of
taste"
One can not forbear a further Quota
ton, showing plainly as it does Mr..
Winters love for the man, but withal.
careful ana just criticism of his work:
Another reason why Longfellow
stands foremost among our poets is
that he possessed and manifested q
more comprehensive. various and felici-
tous command Of verbal art than has
been displayed by any other American
poet; while still another reason is that
he speaks with a voice that is more
universal than personal .Evangeliue.'
The Building of the Ship The Gold
en- Legend The Saga of King Olaf.
Tales of a Wayside Inn and .Hia-
watha' are works that illumine the
general imagination, express the gem
eral human heart and are freighted
with the general life of man."
II is most difficult TO break off in
quotation, for all is so interesting. The
eng chapter on Longfellow, whom