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Randftir* Poem*.Mtotr*. EtUtora:Among the interesting facts brought out by my study of the life of tbs author of “My Maryland” is in the evidence showing that Randall and Poe were taught by the same Instructor, Professor Clark, who taught Poe in Richmond and Randall later in Baltimore. Another interesting fact not generally known is that of Randall's direct descent from Rene Le Blanc, the ••gentle notary*’ of “Evangeline.”An an author the prejudice of the world is against Randall. *Nearly ail the critics, readers of a thousand poems, are loath to beiiere that he wrote noteworthy poemsother than “My Maryland. Almost unconsciously they argue that if he had they would hare heard of them. Poe onoe said of a Maryland poet of merit, EdwardCoate Pinkney, that he had the misfortune of haring been born too far South. This is in a measure true of Randall, but his Inclination to glre his poemsaway to anyone, anywhere, at any time, and his disinclination of a lifetime to publish his poems explains the universal ignorance as to his inspirations. Recently I enjoyed the privilege of a talk with one of the best-known critics and authors of this country. During the conversation he said: “Well, you know, Mr. Andrews,Randall wrote verses such as a hundred men are turning out today.” I had sent him a copy Of “Maryland, My Maryland, and Other Poems” some time before, and as T hud confidence in his Judgment I perceived by that remark that he had not really given the poems his attention. In due time I took occasion to bring out the book, and the expected appreciation ap pea red through his prompt expressions of surprise upon the closer reading of a single poem. ,On the other hand. I had scarcely put the volume In the hands of Mr. F. T. Milt lsr, the editor of the Journal of American History, a genius among the you' jr r editors of today, when I received an enthusiastic letter from him acclaiming Randall as the “Whittier of the South” and hailing him as a new star among the brightest In the poetical firmament.„ In looking over the criticisms thus far received of Randall’s collected poems it Is noteworthy that the greater appreciation comes from the North—whenever the volume met more than a cursory notice fiom an equally cursory examination. Th«North does not always understand the fiery phrases in Randall's war poems; tosome “the despot’s heel” is wholly In comprehensible, their histories not refer ring to the military rule of Butler in Baltimore. “Gothp” and Hessians’ are comparisons Irritating to those who forget that Randall did not write these reference* in times of peace, but frequently in sight of the trail of Sherman. Raudaii thought “Arlington” his best poem. But recently that able editor of the Century, Mr. It. U. Johnson, aald to me that the “spirit of the poem is narrow; it cannot live.” With all due respect to the ability of Mr. Johnson It is my humble opinion tbst “Arlington is more exquisitely beautiful andfull of genuine sentiment than any poem produced on either side during the war, and it will be loved by all who love the South and who honor thosePwho fought for what such men as Lee and Jackson deemed their duty. The Boatou Transcript speaks of the “spite which characterises the war verses,” but it shows appreciation of Randall as a poet that la In pleasing contrast to the estimate in the New Orleans Picayune, whose critic» did not give the poet credit for a line of inspiring verse after “My Maryland,” Another Southern writer dismisses the love poems as hardly rising “above the level of schoolboy verse,” adding that “the majority of these things seem to be the ambitious efforts that many boys make In their ‘salad days' in the rather sickly sentimental emotion of first love.Many reviewers marvel at Randall’s versatility in composition and “his mastery of such a variety of meters.” Among these are the Columbus lt;Ohio) Dispatch, the Western Trade Journal. Chicago; the Confederate Veteran and the Manufacturers? Record, of Baltimore. These reviews speak of the book as “a revelation, and refer to the superior merit,of many poems over “My Maryland—to opinion which Randall himself cherished most dearly and would have been most gratified to hear. On the other hand, many reviewers dwell on My Maryland.” Vogue says: “He gave Maryland the distinction of being the only State of the Union to possess a really Impassioned lyric of high order written in her honor, a distinction that she is likely to hold for all time, since the sort of passionate State patriotism born of the last great straggle for the extreme State rights theory has probably disappeared forever in this country. It was a Marylander who gsTe us our most famous national song, •The Star-Spangled Banner, ’but Key's poem is tame beside the fiery lines of theyoung Confederate sympathiser.It is most interesting to look over the reviews with regard to the variety of opinions expressed as to the moat notablepoems. That the volume elicits such variedopinion is. of Itself, a tribute to the poet. One prefers “Eidolon. for “What could be more exquisite in its way; another selects “Magdalen for its “wonderful tenderness and delicacy of phrase; another says “Resurgam attains to “the sublime in religious faith.” Thomas E. Watson writes that it is “of the same family as Kipling’s ‘Recessional.’ and is quite the equal of that world favorite. while an Ohio paper publishes It side by side with “Lead, Kindly Light. I could go on and name a number of different poems picked out by this or that reviewer for especial commendation above the rest. The Augusta Chronicle says emphatically that no Southern library in the future willbe complete” without Randall's poem a Iwould go further and say the same of every American library.The volume has been reviewed in Germany, and is to be reviewed in London and Paris. From I-ondon Dr. Ezra Pound, of Oxford University, writes me an appreciative letter which antedates a purposed magaxine review, and which may not be -quoted here, perhaps, at present. Of further interest to Randall's friends and readers I would add that, in a talk wltfc him at the British Embassy, that distinguished scholar. Mr. James Bryce, evinced great Interest In Randall and later, in a wholly unsolicited opinion, wrote to a friend In Baltimore of “That remarkablevolume of Mr Randall’s poems.”Matthew Page Andrews.Baltimore, December 17, 1908.
Newspaper Details
Baltimore Sun
Baltimore, Maryland, US
Sun, Jan 10, 1909
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 09 Jul 2020
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