Chapter D: G. C

_Pre-Raphaelite and Other Poets._ By LAFCADIO HEARN. (Dodd, Mead & Company. Net, $2.50.)

The unusual imaginative mind of Hearn, through Irish and Greek parentage, and exposure to Japanese culture, combined weird romanticism and realism with a strange mysticism. To this variegated composite, he added a background of concepts formulated in England, the United States, and St. Pierre. These impressions, visual and mental, produced spontaneously literary projections ranging from “Stray Leaves from Strange Literature” in 1884 to “Japan, an Interpretation” in 1904.

Professor Erskine of Columbia University compiled this volume from Hearn’s lectures delivered at the University of Tokyo in 1896-1902. The major division includes analyses and studies of Rossetti, Swinburne, Browning, Morris, and Meredith. Corollary to this, are notes upon Rossetti’s prose, and Meredith’s “The Shaving of Shagpat”. A consideration of the harsh Scotch conservatist, Robert Buchanan, and the contemporary poet of quiet effects, Robert Bridges, conclude the volume.

Hearn discerns Rossetti’s thoughtful melancholy, sensuous touches, and mystic feeling. The pictorial quality and medievalistic setting of the poet and the painter’s verse are traced artistically throughout the shorter narrative poems, “Rose Mary” and “The Bride’s Prelude”. The technical construction that underlies the poet’s exotic color and temperament, is emphasized by Hearn as a proof of Rossetti’s energetic intellect.

Swinburne is classified as the greatest English verse writer, scholar, critic, and living dramatist. He is a pessimistic evolutionist preaching almost an immoral law, contrasting vividly with George Meredith. As a further contrast the problem of evil is approached by Swinburne much in the same way as the German philosopher Nietzsche. The music of this poet’s verse, the brilliance of his language, the value and beauty of his diction are revealed logically and enthusiastically by Hearn.

Our critic finds an optimistic pantheism and an intense individualism in Browning and paraphrases excellently some of his poems, but there is, unfortunately, no consideration of Browning’s paradoxical interpretation of Love. William Morris’s “refuge from life” in art and artistry in Norse subjects are translated into expressive prose. “No man ever worked harder for romantic literature and romantic art, and few men have made so deep an impression into the aesthetic sentiments of the English public.”

His interpolation of minute textual explanations diverts the reader’s attention and destroys the general poetic illusion. In addition, there is a failure to note nuances of character and a desire to substitute phantasy for somberness. His book is overcast with an occasional lack of logic and frequent overwriting, but his simple yet analytical paraphrasing, keen and emotionally appreciative imagination, and unbiased, reasoned opinions make the volume first-class criticism in technique, style, classification, and general achievement.

T. A. Z.

_Editor’s Table_

As they sat about the Editor’s table, shivering, their coats buttoned high about their throats, Richard Cory, Bukis, Ahaseurus, and Mr. Benson resembled those Russian students we hear of, with their thin red hands and noses, their visible frosty breaths clouding the printed page, their chattering teeth interrupting speech.

But Russian students can usually read their own language. This was more than Richard Cory, Bukis, Ahaseurus, and Mr. Benson could do. There was evidently more of a turn than usual in the University towards an individual modern style.

Trying to read it had evidently affected the conversation somewhat. Mr. Benson, remembering Boswell in a vague way, had been for some moments attempting to imitate the bark of a sea-lion, expecting applause.

“Have you ever heard sea-lions at feeding time?” he asked Ahaseurus.

“What time?” said Ahaseurus. He simply did not understand.

Then Richard Cory’s contribution was an outburst of lyric profanity which proved that our language can at least compete with the Russian in that respect. He really should have watched his language.

Ahaseurus, steeped as usual in Einstein Theories, awoke from a trance to remark sadly, with watery eye, that his feet were too large to allow him to join in all this levity. This _was_ a rum go!

But Bukis said: “This is a hell of a night! Let’s go to the Royal!”

This was agreed upon, although Bukis was severely rebuked by the poor old goat upon whom the task of compiling a last-minute Editor’s Table is becoming too habitually thrust:—to wit,

MR. BENSON.

_Yale Lit. Advertiser._

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