THE MAGAZINE OF POETRY. VOL. I. NO. 1. A RICHARD WATSON GILDER. In the time of this trudging on from the railroad office, by way of the reporter's beat and the country GOOD subject does not always find expres- editor's den, to the beautiful sanctum of the Century sion in a sketch, for the manner of the Magazine, Mr. Gilder was singing, as a true poet sketch must have its value, still it is the figure, must, come what may, and his songs were always the figure, that conveys the lasting interest. a genuine product from the higher slopes of Among the younger poets of America, three at Helicon. least of the most charming are editors, and, there. Mr. Gilder is married to the daughter of Comfore, somewhat withdrawn from familiar inspection modore De Kay. His wife's grandfather was into that mist of reserve which is the protection of Joseph Rodman Drake, the poet, author of “The judicial personages. Aldrich, Gilder, Bunner, - Culprit Fay." There are four children in the Cloth of Gold, The New Day, The Way to beautiful Gilder home, two sons, two daughters. Arcadie — there is a swarming hive of music- Indeed it is as a poet that we must think most o! burdened associations set beside the editorial dens. him, and we must be glad of anything that makes Go in at the door, but hide your roll of manuscript. him sing. Let us not go into the charming Richard Watson Gilder. born at Bordentown, house and household to explain why his poetry is New Jersey, February 8, 1844, walked the royal the soul of love, the essence of tender and exalted American road to success, the broad highway of purity. An ideal American home is the next place self-dependence and earnest labor. He began with to heaven, a clerical engagement in the office of a railroad, The most natural thing in the world would be pushed on into the sanctum of a country newspaper for a man like Gilder to lead, without trying to for which he was glad to be a reporter. Presently lead, those with whom he comes most in contact, we find him in the editorial chair of the Newark and so we find him at the head of certain significant Morning Register; but there was not enough work and interesting movements of the artistic and for him in editing one paper, he must needs find a literary people of New York. He helped to found monthly journal upon which to vent his surplus of the Society of American Artists and the Authors literary and executive energy. A publication called Club and was one of the originators of the Copyright Hours at Home, issued monthly in New York, offered League. His genius must have the magnetic him this extra work and a foot-hold in the great quality as well as the creative power. The art city upon which his eyes had been fixed from the reform which the Century swiftly wrought in first. A great deal of experience, with little money America is not a more notable evidence of his to show for it, finally led to the sale of Hours at Home taste, foresight and executive ability, than is his to the Scribners just at the beginning of the new unsought personal prominence a proof of his fitness era in American art and letters which dates from for a certain kind of quiet, gentle and always the founding of Scribner's Monthly Magazine. Mr. welcome leadership like that which has been put Gilder was chosen by Dr. Holland to assist him in upon him by the Fellowcraft Club of New York, a conducting that powerful journal. A wise choice brotherhood of journalists and artists. It is sigas time has shown. Scribner's Magazine soon nificant that such a club should have for its leader ripened into the Century and Mr. Gilder suc- and president a poet pure and simple; it suggests, ceeded Dr. Holland. Immediately the magazine what is the truth, that the poet is no longer the furged forward remarkably, gathering quality, man in the garret, the crust-gnawing and hyposolidity of interest and individuality for itself. chondriacal sentimentalist. One of the greatest The men behind the journal were Roswell Smith discoveries that time has vouchsafed to the nineand Richard Watson Gilder. It is a pleasant truth teenth century is this close kinship of the poet's to say, however, that Mr. Gilder knew well how to genius to the strongest and directest forces of our select his helpers. Mr. Robert U. Johnson and civilization. The man behind the Century Magazine Mr. C. C. Buel have seconded him with notable has done a great deal for America. He can do a energy, taste and judgment. great deal more. M. T. Copyright, 1889, by CHARLES Wells Moulton. All rights reserved. You may count the rings and the seasons, ·May hold the sap to the sun, You may guess at the ways and the reasons Till your little day is done. A THOUGHT. Once, looking from a window on a land That lay in silence underneath the sun: A land of broad, green meadows, through which poured Two rivers, slowly widening to the sea, Thus as I looked, I know not how nor whence, Was borne into my expectant soul That thought, late learned by anxious-witted man, The infinite patience of the Eternal Mind. But for me the golden crest That shakes in the wind and launches Its spear toward the reddening West! For me the bough and the breeze, The sap unseen, and the glint Of light on the dew-wet branches,The hiding shadows, the hint Of the soul of mysteries. THE MASTER-POETS. He the great World Musician at whose stroke O, these are they play, The master-poets of humanity, Sent down from heaven to lift men to the sky. THE SOWER. THE SONNET. a I. Thus did that Sower sow; What is a sonnet? 'Tis the pearly shell That murmurs of the far-off murmuring sea; It is a little picture painted well. From a great poet's hidden ecstasy; Sometimes a heavy-tolling funeral bell. The solemn organ whereon Milton played, falls: For like a fjord the narrow floor is laid a THE POET'S PROTEST. O MAN with your rule and measure, Your tests and analyses! You may take your empty pleasure, May kill the pine, if you please; II. It was an autumn day When next I went that way. And what, think you, did I see, What was it that I heard, What music was in the air? Or that my love for thee did first befall. Love me or late or early, fast or slow: The song of a sweet-voiced bird? “WHAT WOULD I SAVE THEE FROM ?" What would I save thee from, dear heart, dear heart? Not from what heaven may send thee of its pain; Not from fierce sunshine or the scathing rain: The pang of pleasure; passion's wound and smart; Nor loss of faithful friends, nor any gain From needful death. But O, thou other part As through the blue I see the stars above! In whom the world I find, hid fold on fold! Thee would I save from this — nay, do not move Fear not, it may not flash, the air is cold; I MET A TRAVELLER ON THE ROAD. I MET a traveller on the road What was it in his smile that stirred He stood beside the level brook, WEAL AND WOE. Thou holdest in the compass of thy grace Of the old, primal curse thou knowest the whole: Thine eyes, too wise, are heavy with the dole, The doubt, the dread of all this human maze; Thou in the virgin morning of thy days Hast felt the bitter waters o'er thee roll. Yet thou knowest, too, the terrible delight, The still content, and solemn ecstasy; Whatever sharp, sweet bliss thy kind may know, Thy spirit is deep for pleasure as for woe Deep as the rich, dark-caverned, awful sea white. "LOVE ME NOT, LOVE, FOR THAT I FIRST LOVED THEE.” SONG. Not from the whole wide world I chose thee Sweetheart, light of the land and the sea! The wide, wide world could not enclose thee, For thou art the whole wide world to me. Love me not, Love, for that I first loved thee, From other souls oh, gladly will I take, What seas of human pity there may be! So that I hear thee answer to my call! SONG. YEARS have flown since I knew thee first, And I know thee as water is known of thirst; Yet I knew thee of old at the first sweet sight, And thou art strange to me, Love, to-night. THE CELESTIAL PASSION. Lest he discover; Pity me, lean to me, Thou God above me! O WHITE and midnight sky, O starry bath, Wash me in thy pure, heavenly, crystal flood; Cleanse me, ye stars, from earthly soil and scathLet not one taint remain in spirit or blood! Receive my soul, ye burning, awful deeps; Touch and baptize me with the mighty power That in ye thrills, while the dark planet sleeps; Make me all yours for one blest, secret hour! O glittering host, О high angelic choir, Silence each tone that with thy music jars; Fill me even as an urn with thy white fire Till all I am is kindred to the stars! Make me thy child, thou infinite, holy night,So shall my days be full of heavenly light! REFORM. I. OH, how shall I help to right the world that is going wrong! And what can I do to hurry the promised time of peace! The day of work is short and the night of sleep is long; And whether to pray or preach, or whether to sing a song, To plow in my neighbor's field, or to seek the golden fleece, Or to sit with my hands in my lap, and wish that ill would cease! “EACH MOMENT HOLY IS.” Each moment holy is, for out from God returns. A WOMAN'S THOUGHT. I am a woman - therefore I may not Call to him, cry to him, Fly to him, Bid him delay not! II. I think, sometimes, it were best just to let the Lord alone; I am sure some people forget He was here before they came; Though they say it is all for His glory, 't is a good deal more for their own, That they peddle' their petty schemes, and blate and babble and groan. I sometimes think it were best, and I were little to blame, Should I sit with my hands in my lap, in my face a crimson shame. And when he comes to me, I must sit quiet: WANTED, A THEME! “Give me a theme," the little poet cried, “And I will do my part." “ 'T is not a theme you need,” the world replied; “You need a heart." Not as a lover AFTER--SONG. THROUGH love to light! Oh wonderful the way That leads from darkness to the perfect day! From darkness and from sorrow of the night To morning that comes singing o'er the sea. Through love to light! Through light, O God, to thee, Who art the love of love, the eternal light of light! |
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