The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-08

tons will assume always nobler pro-
portions, for he is endowed with true
poetic temperament and vision. For
Mr.. Stockard and his poems, it is diff
ficult to find the Illuminating phrase.
One car scarcely realize, that IT is
kindly, generous singer Of beautiful
songs, maker of charming me is
no longer here to fill his distinguish
ed position in the intellectual life of
the State? Yet the universal regret
for his loss will make his self express
sive poems doubly dear. He knew
the beauty cast from time long past"
and made it very real to the lovers of
his poems He bequeathed sincerity
Of purpose to his countrymen, and a
painstaking WatchfulneSS of detail best
illustrated by his choice of the sonnet
as a favored medium Of expression.
His is the method of approval. which
the coming generation Of State poets
will be lasting just as his life mas been
memorable for its g~enuiness and dig
nifty.
Of time which singles out the work of
Boner and Mcneil as the actual basis
Of our claim. Other things have
worked together with them. These are
the gradual change of intellectual at
titude throughout the State; the in
creaSing efficiency of educational
methods the approving seal put upon
sincerity of purpose by such recogni-
ton as the Patterson cup; the direc-
tive energy of so able an organization
as this association; above all. a state
wide willingness to listen sympathetic
ally.
The Professional Note.
Yet had Boner and Mcneil striven
alone in a barren field, they would
not have failed OF success. They are
the first poets of the State to emo a
professional note to native poetry.
l Thoxy n11h1iChad ry~1,rno0 OF tlos- @-,
expense, but on the invitation Of pub
fishers who sought them out, who de-
sired their productions, and who paid
a stipulated royalty on volumes sold.
They approached their art with in
Boner ives. No poet of the State has
telligent self-respect, knowing that
poetical feeling alone does not war
rant breaking into poetical express
sion. They knew that the feeling
must be supported by an intimate
comprehension of a group of highly
specialized laws.
Severer Standard for BOner.
By living SO long away from his
to a severer standard Of criticism
than McNeill. The latter, one might
say, deliberately limited his sphere. II
Boner had done likewise, recognition
would have been earlier accorded him
by his fellow statesmen.
AAC AOuA ICCA yCoAo SPO14A ny hOACA
in New York are responsible for ar
acknowledged eminence in letters
5 which he was the last North Caro-
linian to reach. His editorial an6
critical abilities were generously con
{ ceded by such men as E. G.. Stedman
I. K. Funk, and Richard Watson
5 Glider. Beyond the bounds Of thi:
: State, he was recognized as NORTH
lCarolina's first man of letters. It il
e to be happily observed in this connec'
ton that a second man Of letter:
t stands forth in this State: a second
s and in the difficult field OF literar!
criticism, a greater. Today DR.
e Archibald Henderson takes not onl.
: this rank but that Of a scholar Of in
S ternational reputation, an authorit.
in a formulative and involved field.
writer whose critical accolade is wei
; worth the winning.
BOner Lives In Poetry.
o Nevertheless it is In his poetry tina
touched his harp with so sure a hand
nor has had before his minds eye S,
d clear a vision Of beauty. His lip
phrased songs Of high imagining an,
e From ballad to sonnet his technique i
unfa1tering. It is the Sm~oothness Q
vs. we'll polished art, because he adde
infinitely carefully finish to true poeti
insight.
His vista is wide. A fuller readin;
Of his lyrics cannot but convince u
n that he has deepened the channel Q
d native poetic thought. Poems Of hi
"a own State, poems of sentiment, Q
nature, Of imagination he has give
d. out in abundance; personal poem
Re also which become universal by ap
~plication, setting forth as they d
that wonde we all have felt, wonde
lie that the strife of living should hav
ut to be SO g%rievous, success SO elusivt
in support from within So difficult t
OF maintain.
N The circumstance of Boner's lif
al solemnized his outlook without dark
II. ening it. The "pOStpOnement Of mate
es rial success, accompanied by a cer
IN tain melancholy Of self-realizatio,
c. s~piritualized his later vision. Wha1
re ever of Indifference there may hav
lie been in his early life toward tn
tie sober splendor of death and life i
lis death, Boner grew to full realizatio