Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-07-28

observed In any portion Of Its vast ex-
tent, and no torch or other artificial
source of light was discernible. Yet a
food of intense rays rolled throughout
and bathed the whole In CHASTITY and
inappropriate splendor.
The words Of his wild fantasias tfcI
he not infrequently accompanied him
self ON the guitar with improvisations'
were the result Of that intense col
lectedness and concentration to which
I have previously alluded as observa'
BILE only in particular moments OF the
highest artificial excitement. The
words Of one Of these rhapsodies
have easily remembered. | was per
haps the more forcibly impressed with
1t as he gave 1t, because In the under
or mystic current Of its meaning 1 fan
cied that perceived. and for the first
time, a full consciousness on the part
of Usher Of the tottering Of his lofty
reason upon her throne The verses.
which were entitled 1.-The Haunted
Palace" rah very nearly II not accu'
rately thus:
In the greenest Of our valleys
BY good angels tenanted
Once a fair and stately palace
Radiant palace-reaI ed its head.
In the monarch Thoughts dominion
It stood there.
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half SO fair.
Banners yellow. glorious, golden
On its roof did float and flow
(This. all this. was in the olden
Time long ago).
And every gentle air that dallied
In that sweet day
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid
A winged odor went away.
Wanderers In that happy valley
Through two luminous windows saw
Epirits moving musically
To lute's well tuned law
Round about a throne. where sitting
(PorphyrogeneD.
In state his glory we'll befitting.
The ruler Of the realm was seen.
~.
And all with pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace door.
Through which came flowing. flowing.
flowing
And sparkling evermore
A troop Of Echoes. whose sweet duty
Was but to sing
In voices Of SURPRISING beauty
The wit and wisdom Of their king.
v.
But evil things In robes of sorrow
Assailed the monarch's high estate
fAh, let US mourn, for never morrow
Shall dawn upon him. desolateD.
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed
Ii but dim remembered story
OF the old time entombed.
W.
And travellers now within that valley
Through the red litten windows see
Vast forms that move fantastically
To discordant melody.
While, like a rapid ghastly river.
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever
And laugh, but smile no more.
I we'll remember that suggestions
arising from this ballad led us into
train Of thought wherein there became
manifest an opinion Of Usher's. which
l mention not so much OIL account OF
Its novelty (for other rlen have thought
thus) as on account Of the pertinucity
with which he maintained 1t. This
opinion, in its general form. was that
of the sentence of all vegetable things.
I lack words tO express the full ex-
tent or the earnest abandon Of his
persuasion. The belief. however, was
connected (as l huve previously hint
ed) with the gray stones Of the home
of his forefathers. The conditions OF
the sentence had been here. he imag-
ined, fulfilled in the method of COL
location of these stones. Its evidence
the evidence OF the sentience-was
to be seen, he said (and here start
ed Us he spoke). in the gradual yet
certain condensation Of an atmos-
phere of their own about the waters
and the walls. The result was dis
coyerable, he added. in that silent yet
Unfortunate and terrible influence
which for centuries had nodded the
destinies Of his family and which
made him what now saw him-what
he was. Such opinions need no COM
mept, and | will make none.