The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 4, October 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 4, October 1837
Various
Periodicals
We have imperceptibly extended our remarks beyond reasonable limits;
and must close, for the present, by recommending their subject to the
perusal of our readers, satisfied that, amid much to condemn, they
will find a great deal to admire; and well assured, that none will
deem their time misspent in the perusal.
* * * * *
POEMS BY WILLIAM THOMPSON BACON. In one volume. pp. 134.
Boston: WEEKS, JORDAN AND COMPANY.
'THESE poems are the results of my leisure at college, and published
for experiment. If the public find any thing worth reading in them,
they may be followed by another volume.' Such is the sensible and
sententious preface to this very beautiful little book, which we
have read with much gratification. The preface itself, so often a
medium for childish extenuation, forced egotism, or the long-winded
dissertations of those adepts in the art of being deep-learned
and shallow-read, who are ambitious of 'showing off,' led us to
anticipate something more than mere respectable mediocrity at the
hands of the author; and we have by no means been disappointed. As
might be expected, we find in this little work no affected phrases,
nor new-conceited words. The young writer has evidently chosen the
best models; and the good taste which generally characterizes his
productions, evinces that he possesses, to a great degree, the
ability to separate beauty of thought and style from the corruption
which apes it. He is a quiet but acute observer of nature; his
ever-veering spirit catches naturally its sunlight and shadow;
and he has the power often to clothe the heart of the reader with
the changeful vesture which robes his own. In the blank verse, we
sometimes detect examples of false rhythm, and inharmonious words now
and then mar the construction of an otherwise well-turned poetical
sentence. These faults, however, are amply counterbalanced by
abounding graces of language and diction, and by a pervading spirit
of pure feeling, and moral and religious sentiment. We had prepared
for insertion an extract from a poem entitled 'Other Days,' with one
or two passages from 'A Forest Noon-Scene;' and although in type,
for the intended gratification of the reader, we are compelled to
postpone their publication until the November number. We repeat, we
welcome this little volume with unaffected pleasure, and commend it
to the reader's favorable suffrages.
EDITORS' TABLE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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