Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / June 7, 1901, edition 1 / Page 3
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June. June. June, rhythm ami tune, ilreath of red rotei and gleam ol the moon Air from liesperidea filown thro' the ch? rry trees, Hum of the merrv bees. Drunken with June! Sky blue uud white with you. Meadows bedight with you, fiilltoos alight with you. Crickets aeroon. June, June, wonderful rune Of life at its fullest, of life at its noon? Perfume and wine of you. Shimmer and shine of you. Who could repine of you, fllossomful June? Oh! the sweet night of you? Cm in affright of you. With the delight of you, .Magical June! ?Edna Kingsley Wallace in Leslie's Pop ular Monthly. Sidney Lanier. We are always prone to with hold our esteem and reverence from those who have lived among us, and if they reach any degree of success or distinction in life, to undervalue their greatness or their genius. So tne Ilible lias very truthfully said that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, which truth, taken as it is now gener ally applied, still holds good in the case of Sidney Lanier and the southern people. For al though he lived among us and lifted up his voice in rarest, sweet est strains, how few are there who iisten to his soul-melodies! How <leaf are his own people to the harmonious throbbings of his music-swept life, or those ex quisite rhapsodies that burst from a heart over-burdened with iove and beauty! Itut- ii'Ktlo tlio ormvooiaf Inn nf l>ut M IJUC 11IU U|'|/IC\.IUIIW1I Wl Lanier lias been of slow growth, j not because of his hick of genius, but because his song does not appeal to every one, yet the day is fast approaching wnenthedeaf ears will hear and the south will awake to a voice of singular sweetness echoing among her hills and recognize it as coining from a long neglected sou. Even now his work is receiving marked attention from scholars as well as from the general public, and i not alone in the south is this j true, but over the whole land and even across the ocean to Eng-1 land and France, where he is now largely read. This appreciation of his work, however, is not undeserved, for it abounds in beauty, passion and spirituality, giving evidence of a true poetic soul, and he has shown himself a master of those technicalities of verse which mark him at once an artist. In the work of his latter days he shows a distinct and striking individu ality, such, 1 think, as no other American poet has shown, an individuality in whichhehad just begun to allow himself some free dom when he was called away from his labors here on earth. In "Sunrise" we find many nota ble examples of this personality {n the flowing, musical rythm and fine tone-coloring, in which he has no equal. In the beauti ful swing of the "Song of the Chattahoochee" he proves him self an equal to if not a superior of Tennyson. And indeed these qualities are found all through his verse to so marked a degree as to make them its special char acteristic. We find also m his productions that unbounded sweep of imagin ation and richness of fancy such as is only given to heaven-born poets. I low fine and delicate are 1- ? . ? A . _ C .1.1. . 1.. 1 I. ms pictures ui uie wuuub, uiu?e ?"soft glooms" and "closets of lone desire" that whispered such wonderful words of beautv and love to his passionate soul, and to his poet-eyes revealed such visions of loveliness. Indeed, it seems to be in the leaf-woven bowers of the woods that we pet nearer to his inner life. Here he bears the rolling of unseen deeps, here his heart throbs with that pure, exalted passion with which lie was specially endowed. He is thrilled by all the ineffable beau ties around him : he sees in it all the handiwork of heaven. The great Hod himself is present, and swept away on the wings of a deep and pureemotion he warbles his love-fraught messages to us from lofty eternal heights. In his spirituality, hisconsecra tion to the true, the beautifu' and the good, he reminds us often of Milton. His life was spent ii an inexorable suffering, from botl disease and poverty; he sang hi - lays like Milton amid untold an I direct hardships, but lie had als that same unwavering devotic to an exalted ideal which hel l him bound to the loftiest pi pose. He held that art w - evolved from the pure and tie moral; that "unless you w> re suffused with truth, wisdom goodness and love" you had ' ? i ? ter nbandon the hope that the ages would accept you as an ar tist. For no one, he said.cai in terpret or make beauty unless first his life is beautiful. He be-; lieved in the truth of Milton's words "that for a jtersonto write | poetry his life must be a poem." Faults and blemishes may be. found in Lanier's work, but one thing can be said, that he never i had a low or mean thought. His soul was unspotted and pure, his every idea was exalted, his life was indeed a poem. He felt a distinct call to the province of art, and to this end he labored faithfully and earnestly, creating poetrv of such merit that we are to reed to believe that had helived longer he would have given us greater and grander productions. But just when he had reached the point where his distinct per sonality and genius were percepti ble, his spirit was taken away to blend its sweet song with the everlasting choruses of the "choir invisible." In the history of no man has there been recorded such a sad and pathetic struggle against the misfortunes and ad versities of life as he carried on. He was tested and tried in the severest crucible of Providence, but found not wanting, and he bore it all patiently, silently and uncomplaining, bowing humbly to the will of an all-wise God, and striving up to the last moment to utter the music that filled his soul. But with all these afflic tions resting upon him you find no traces of them In his verse. The troubled heart was soothed by its own music. I think there is found in only one place any evidence of a disheartened or downcast spirit, and that appears in that touching story of his own life, "June Dreams in January," where the poet complains of the ruling of Providence in the pass age : " Head rae," he cried, and rose and stamped his foot impatiently at Heaven, "read me this;" (Putting the inquiry full in the face of (lod) " Why can we poets dream us beauty so. But cannot dreain us bread V" He was moving on to liigliei | things. He had no time to stop j and murmur at hardships and j trials. Hehada work to do,and realized that his time was short. He knew that he was rapidly drifting down to the silent river of death, and that every day made him weaker and brought him nearer to theendof his work. While spending a few months in Texas for his health's sake, hav ing been obliged to leave the colder climate of Baltimore, where he held a position with the Pea body Symphony orchestra, he wrote touchingly to his wife: "Were it not for some circum stances which make such a prop osition absurd in the highest de gree I would think that 1 am shortly to die, and that my spirit hath Been singing its swan-song before dissolution. All day my soul hath been cutting swiftly into the great space of the subtle unspeakable deep, driven by wind after wind of heavenly melody. The very inner spirit and essence of all wind-songs, bird-songs, passion-songs, folk-songs, coun try-songs, sex-songs and body songs hath blown upon me in quick gusts like the breath of passion, and sailed i?e into a sea of vast dreams, where each wave is at once a vision and a melody." Beginning early in life to fight that dreaded disease, consump tion, which he contracted while a soldier in the Confederate army, nothing but his great unconquer able will kept him alive and forced the racked and haggard body be yond its strength to accomplish the purpose of his life. He held r.1. * - ' _ l f ^ A .. t. i a _ me principles 01 art 100 ingn ro sacrifice tlieni for personal gain, and although sometimes at the point of destitution he would hot condescend to lower his standard to meet the popular tastes, but continued to write in his own way and to labor for art's sake alone until the pen dropped from his weary fingers, and he was snatch ed awav to finish his song in 11 ? , ?<ii.* I ier's poetry is not of a kind thai finds a quick way to the he: of the general public. His ? \i. d passion does not gain l < ppreciation of every one, ? 101 ,i\i8c the prosaic heart to ? i with ecstasy. All ears are " i pen to hear the sweetness of is dreamy improvisations, ? m h, though objected to by >11 critics, contain precious j< v Is of beauty that linger and >? !i i through the soul like the meitow tones of an organ when i to iched by a master hand. His note was a new one in American song. Nothing like it had been h" ird before, and it is safe to say tint he was "bent on no middle fi ght." His was a melodious spirit made sweeter by the ever mstant communion with things high and holy and pure, soaring i nt times to such a height that he seems to sip of the very waves of that sea of beauty that rolls within the walls of Paradise.? i F. M. I), in Atlanta Journal. A LITTLE NONSENSE. A Chance For the Enthusiast. "Are you de gumman dat said de hoss mus' go?" asked the colored man. "I am," answered the enthusiast on the subject of mechanics. "Well, suh, 1 jes' desiahed to take de liberty of savin dat 1 has de balk ies' animal dat ever blocked a street ies' aroun' de corner. I sho'ly would do much oblige ef you could come aroun' and prove yoh words.1'? Washington Star. The Monk's Revenge. i ? ? Mil ll "Oho, got him on the nut fust time!" chortled the monkey on the topmost branch as he playfully dropped a cocoanut on the head of the gentleman below. And the gentleman below did h queer thing. He seized the tail oi the other gentleman who was sit ting between him and the chap on top. Then he pulled it hard? ?ana men ne let it go witn a bang. And the biffing, boomping consequences you can see for your self in the above sketch. A Misunderstanding. "Henry," said Mrs. Oldham, "this is May Summer's gal's intended." "Ah!" exclaimed the old gentle man. "Glad to know ye, Mr. Le gion." "Brown is my name, 6ir." "Ye don't say? Why, she told me her beau's name was Legion."? Philadelphia Press. He Corrects Them. "Our first impn- :011s," said tin philosopher, "are always full of er ____ ?? rors. "Naturally," replied the other "But old Father Time is a very goo, proofreader." ? Philadelphia liec ord. TIMELY ANNIVERSARIES. fouie Current Selections Kroui His tory's llroad l'usc. Jane 2. [.73--j'?nn nanooipn ?>i Moan oke born in Virginia; died Ml 1816?John Godfrey Saxe, hu morous poet, born in High Rate, Vt.; died 1 -'87. Saxe was educated for the law and practiied it successful ly until his tastes led him ^ into journalism, lie began to edit in lS5i). From 1856 to 1 fl"! he lectured and wrote. in ine iiucr vnr nr utrime euuoi ??i the Albany Evening Journal. The enduring literature from Mr. Saxe's pen was published ' variously lietweeu 1S46 and 1875. He contrib uted to The Knickerbocker Magazine and t<> Harper's and The Atlantic the poems which first made him famous. 1881?Paul Emile Littre, French philologist am) historian, died at 1'aris; born 1801. 1882- (liuaeppe Caribaldi, Italian patriot and sol dier, died in Caprera; l>orn in Vice 1807. 1890?Matt Morgan, artist and cartoonist, died in New York, aged id. 1896?lion. Vincent D. Markham, a very distin guished jurist ot Colorado, died at Denver; bora 1829. 1900?<'la re nee Cook, noted art critic and writer, died in New York city; born 1829. Jane 3. 1780?Thomas Hutchinson, noted as a royal gov ernor of Massachusetts, died in London; born in Boston 1711. 1808?Jefferson Davis was bom in Christian (now Todd) county, Ky.; died 1889. 1861?Stephen Arnold Douglas died in Chicago; born 1813. 1879?Lionel Nathan, Baron de Rothschild, head of the great banking house and member of the bouse of commons, died in London; born 1808. Lionel succeeded his father, Nathan Mayer, or Meyer, who died in 1836. 1896?Gerard Rohlfs, Derma n traveler and explor er, died at Dodesberg, Prussia. 1899?Johann Strauss, tha* "waits king," died at Vienna: bora 182&. Jane 4. 1738?George III, grandson of George II, born; died 1829. 1752?John Eager Howard, soldier, famous at Cowj>ens, born in Baltimore county, Md.; died 1827. 1802?Charles Manuel IV, king of Sardinia, abdi- ' rated in favor of his brother, Victor Emmanuel , I, and the liberal movement began. Victor ? proved too moderate for his liberal subjects and for many years controlled only a portion of his kingdom, and that under an English I protectorate, the remainder being subject to France. In 1814 he was restored to full pow er, but established absolutism, and his reac- j tionary policy led to his abdication in 1821 in favor of Charles Felix, another brother. I 1823?Louis Nicolas Davout, French marshal noted in Bonaparte's wars, died in Paris; born 1770. ! I 1859?The French and Italians defeated the Aus- ; trians at Magenta, j IS96?Ernesto Rossi, distinguished Italian actor, died at Pescari; born 1829. 1900?The empress dowager of China ordered the I foreign office not to suppress tht Boxers. June B. 1723?It. Adam Smith, author of the "Wealth of Nations," born in Scotland; died 1790. 1771?Ernest Augustus, fifth son of George III and king of Hanover after the separation of the crowns, born at Kew, England; died 1S51. ! 1826?Karl Maria von Weber, famous musical com poser, died; born 1786. 1851?The first chapter of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" ; appeared in The National Era at Washington; last chapter published April 1, 1852. ; 1892?Oil City and Titusville, Pa., devastated by a fire created with burning oil, 300 lives being iost, 1,500 people rendered homeless and !jW. 000,000 in property destroyed. 1897?Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee, U. S. N., re I tired, last of the civil war commanders of j great squadrons, died in Washington; born | 1812. 1898?Captain Charles V. Gridley, commander of i Dewey's flagship in the battle at Manila, died at sea off Japan. 1900?Fighting at Taku between American marines and Boxers. Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs, noted Congregationist pastor, died in Brooklyn; born 1819. June <>. 1533?Ludovico Giovanni Arioa to. Italian poet, died in Ferrara; born 1474. 1755?Nathan Hale, martyr of liberty, born in Coventry, Conn.; executed in New a York city Sept. 22, 1776. ?3 1799?Patrick Ilcnry died; born \9 171/? 1813?James l^awrence, naval r officer, died on the Chesa- Lav our. pcake; his last words were, "Don't (rive up the ship." 1829?Major General Henry Dearborn, who com manded cm the Canada border in the war of 1812, died at Roxbury, Mass.; born at North, Hampton, Vt., 1751. 1861?Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, statesman, died in Turin; bom there 1810. Cavour more than any other one man is credited with hav ing achieved the unity of Italy. He was of no ble family, trained to arms. Turning his at tention to politics, he opposed the church and Austrian aggression, made an alliance with Napoleon III, won victories which were de cisive and held the radical elements in check. 1862?Remarkable naval battle in the Mississippi at Memphis; the action was opened by wooden rains and finished by ironclads on the Union side. 2896?Thomas N. Rooker. a veteran Journalist of The Tribune staff, died in New York city; born 1815. 1900? British flag hoisted over Pretoria. Jane 7. 1766?First American congress called by vote of Massachusetts assembly. 1776?Richard Henry Lee in the Continental con gress offered resolutions declaring the colonies independent. 1871?Brigadier General Thomas J. Rodman, in ventor of the Rodman gun, died at Rock Is land; born 1816. 1886?Richard March floe, American press invent or, died in Florence; born in New York city 1812. 1893?Edwin Booth, the tragedian, died in New York city; born 1833. 1894?Professor William Dwight Whitney, eminent philologist of Yale college, died In New Haven; born 1827. Rodman McCamley Price, ex-governor of New Jersey and a California pioneer, died at Haalewood, N. J.; bom 1816. 1897?Nty Ellas, explorer and former consul gen < eral at Meshed, died in London. 1899?August in Daly, American theatrical man ager and playwright, died In l-ondon; born 1838. General W. S. Clark, noted Mexican and Confederate veteran, died at Atlanta. Jane 8. 1806?George Wythe, "signer" and for 20 years chancellor Virginia. <11*0 at Rich mond; bom 1724 180^?Thomas Pa<ne, deist, died In New York city. ' 1840?The city of Matches, Miss., nearly destroyed by a tornado; 20 deaths; loaa, $6,ooorooa iuw?flwirrw jicmn, prwi dent In 1829-87, died at The Toro ptln? | Hermitage. near Nyhville; born 1767. 1888?Re?. Jamea* Frveanan Clarke. Unitarian di vine and writer, died at Jamaica Plain. Ma?a.; I born 1810. 1891?Den tract h e flooda In the Red river region. Texaa. 1896?Juice Simon. dJetinguiahed atatesinan. for merly premier of France, died in Pari*. i?om j 1816. I1 rank Mayo. American actor, died in Nebraska; bom 1839. 1900? Miationa.iec in China cabled Preiident Mc Kinlry to aend protection from the Chfneae antlforeign element. 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Be sure to see my stock before buying. PRESTON WOODALL, Apl7-tf. BENSON, N. C. The Herald and Home and Farm, The Greatest Southern Farm Paper for $1.25. The Herald and the National Magazine for $1.50. These are excellent offers and our subscribers who wish to secure plenty of good reading should take advantage of them at once. ?intake To advantage of these offers The Herald must be paid for one year in advance. THE HERALD, Smithfield, N. C. NOW READY. A MODERN FOUNDRY AND MACHINE WORKING PLANT IN DUNN. Metal Working in all its Branches. Ten thousand feet of floor space, crammed with brand new and ponderous machinery direct from the manufacturers. WE ARE AGENTS FOR THE FAKQUHAH, ENGINES ^ -S-XTTD BOILERS Of all Styles frora 4 to 600 ho reo power a ALSO Threshing Machines, Saw Mills, Etc. WRITE FOR Catalogue and Prices. Ml Kinds Steam Fittings Constantly on Hand. TOBACCO FLUES. A LI, STYLES. Everything Guaranteed. Freight rates equalized with other points. We are in it. Don't forget us. 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The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
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June 7, 1901, edition 1
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