"LONGFELLOW, THE POET AND THE MAN."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 129, 30 May 1908, Page 9

"LONGFELLOW, THE POET AND THE MAN."

LECTUEE BY STB BOBERT STOUT.

• The fact that Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice of the Dominion, was announced to deliver a lecture on Longfellow, cause a large number of ladies and gentlemen to brave the elements last night m order to go to the Leys Institute, and enjoy a literary treat. The result was that all the sitting accommodation in the lecture hall was occupied The President, Mr T. W. Leys, in introducing the lecturer, referred to Sir Robert Stout's distinguished career as a Prime Minister jurist, educationist, Chief Justice, and Chancellor of the University, facts which made his appearance -welcome on any platform in Australasia. (Applause.) On behalf of the Committee of the Institute, Mr Leys expressed warm appreciation of Sir Robert's kindnes in finding time amongst his manifold duties to deliver a lecture. Forty years ago Sir Robert Stout took a prominent part in founding the Dunedin Athenaeum, one of the finest institutions in New Zealand, and if the Leys Institute was as useful in promoting the. love of literature as that institution had been, they would have every treason to be gratified. Sir Robert Stout was received with great applause. Referring to Longfellow's surroundings, the lecturer said he did not know of any country in which there could have been so many able literary men as dwelt in the outskirts of Boston in the years from IS4O to 1860, men who became celebrated, not only in the United States, but all over the civilised world. Such men as Em"erson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, Prescott, Cabot, Motley, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Agassiz, and Charles Sumner, and last, but not least, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Such a galaxy of able men said much for the life and environment of New 1 England, The lecturer referred to Longfellow's birthplace, Portland in Maiae, and mentioned that during the Civil War 72,000 men, (about half the adults over 20 and under 60 volunteered) and of these 20.000 lost their lives fighting for the Union. Both Longfellow's parents' ancestors were Pilgrim Fathers from Yorkshire, driven out of England by the persecution of the Church. At the age of 13 Longfellow's first poem was published. At the close of his college course, the trustees of Bowdoin College were so impressed with Longfellow's literary taste and ability that they offered him the position of Professor oi 3lodem Languages if he would spend two or thre years in Europe to fit Am for the position. Longfellow gladly accepted the offer, and visited Europe, returning to fill the position- offered him. Subsequently, he was appointed Professor of ilodern Languages at Harvard, spending one more year in Europe. Longfellow's first poem to attract attention was '"Evangeline," which was much criticised because of its unusual metre. The lecturer read the opening of "Evangeline," "The Psalm of Life, , ' "Twilight," "Footsteps of the Angels," and "The Builders." Sir Robert next referred to Longfellow's long stand as an abolitionist on the slave question. He quoted "The Slave in the Dismal Swamp," "The Slave Singing at Alidnight," and-the-''"Warning." Eeferring to the last verse of this poem— "There's a poor blind Samson in a land Shorn of Ids strength, and bound in itesV Who may in some grim revel raise' his hand. And shake the piilars of this common weal, Till the vast temple of our liberties, A shapeless mass of wreck and rnln lies." "That -warning," added the lecturer, "almost Geemii The foil effect of slavery in the United States has not yet been felt. The negro problem is gradually assuming a definite menace to the social life of America, and it will take the"intelligence of the best men to avert evil to the white race. (Applause.) The lecturer next referred to Longfellow's "Ballads, Songs, and Sonnets," reading quotations from a number of them in an impressive manner. Following that, the "Golden Legend" ' was touched upon, the "Divine Tragedy," and the "New England Tragedy." In the latter, reference was made "to the persecution of Quakers and witches. "The Puritans, who settled in New England,"' said Sir Robert, "followed the bad example of their enemies in England. They persecuted those who did not believe ac they did. I often wonder if we have fully recognised what freedom of belief means. Do any of us ever desire to have our own religious views taught at the expense of the State? If we do. wo have not fully realised what the separation of Church and State implies." (Applause.) Sir Robert next quoted the opening Jof "The Courship of Miles Standish," also "To Filomena," being a poem addressed to Miss Florence Nightingale (Filomena being Italian for Nightingale). "One of his first poems is," said the lecturer, "one called 'Children.'" Follow- ; ing this, "Hiawatha" was dealt with, and in regard to the criticism that Longfellow copied the old Finnish master-, piece, "Kalewala," Sir Robert said it was not surprising that the incidents were similar in many respects, because differ- j ent races, at the same stage of develop-! ment, had the same folk-lore tales, the same deeds of heroes to recite, and the same social life. Longfellow's last poem, ■ "The Bells of San Bias," was written when 75 years of age, and he died nine days after it was finished. The final lines were a fitting end to the poet' 3 work:— - j "Out of the shades of nlcht. The tvorid rolls into lisht, I It is daybreak everywhere." In conclusion, Sir Robert referred to j Longfellow's translations, and said while i intellectually Longfellow might not j stand on as high a platform as Emer-; son. still the latter lacked his power of \ versification. Longfellow had helped j many, even by his minor poems, for love j of humanity permeated his being, i (Applause.) On the moton of Mr. C. J. Parr, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded ths lecturer