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'Superfluous kings；' 'A lass unparalleled；' 'Multitudinous seas：' we needed
not to wait for the eighteenth century or for the nineteenth to learn the
splendour of such encounters； of such differences； of such nuptial
unlikeness and union。 But it is well that we should learn them afresh。
And it is well； too； that we should not resist the rhythmic reaction bearing
us now somewhat to the side of the Latin。 Such a reaction is in some sort
an ethical need for our day。 We want to quell the exaggerated decision of
monosyllables。 We want the poise and the pause that imply vitality at
times better than headstrong movement expresses it。 And not the phrase
only but the form of verse might render us timely service。 The
controlling couplet might stay with a touch a modern grief； as it ranged in
order the sorrows of Canning for his son。 But it should not be attempted
without a distinct intention of submission on the part of the writer。 The
couplet transgressed against； trespassed upon； shaken off； is like a law
outstripped； defiedto the dignity neither of the rebel nor of the rule。 To
Letters do we look now for the guidance and direction which the very
closeness of the emotion taking us by the heart makes necessary。 Shall
not the Thing more and more； as we compose ourselves to literature；
assume the honour； the hesitation； the leisure； the reconciliation of the
Word？
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The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
DR。 OLIVER WENDELL
HOLMES
It is good to go； now and againlet the American phrase be permitted
'back of' some of our contemporaries。 We never desired them as coevals。
We never wished to share an age with them； we share nothing else with
them。 And we deliver ourselves from them by passing； in literature； into
the company of an author who wrote before their time； and yet is
familiarly modern。 To read Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes； then； is to go
behind the New Humoristinto a time before he was； or his Humour。
Obviously we go in like manner behind many another； but the funny writer
of the magazines is suggested because in reference to him our act has a
special significance。 We connect him with Dr。 Holmes by a reluctant
ancestry； by an impertinent descent。 It may be objected that such a
connection is but a trivial thing to attribute； as a conspicuous incident； to a
man of letters。 So it is。 But the triviality has wide allusions。 It is often a
question which of several significant trivialities a critic shall choose in his
communication with a reader who does not insist that all the grave things
shall be told him。 And； by the way； are we ever sufficiently grateful for
that reader； whom the last few years have given to us； or to whom we have
been given by the last few years？ A trivial connexion has remote and
negative issues。 To go to Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes's period is to get rid
of many things； to go to himself is especially to get rid of the New
Humour； yet to stand at its unprophetic source。 And we love such
authors as Dickens and this American for their own sake； refusing to be
aware of their corrupt following。 We would make haste to ignore their
posterity； and to assure them that we absolve them from any fault of theirs
in the bastardy。
Humour is the most conspicuous thing in the world； which must
explain why the little humour in Elsie Venner and the Breakfast Table
series is not only the first thing the critic touches but the thing whereby he
relates this author to his following and to the world。 The young man
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The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
John； Colonel Sprowle with his 'social entertainment；' the Landlady and
her daughter； and the Poor Relation； almost make up the sum of the comic
personages； and fifty per cent。 of the things they sayno moreare good
enough to remain after the bloom of their vulgarity has worn off。 But
that half is excellent； keen； jolly； temperate； and because of that
temperance the most stimulating and fecundating of qualitiesthe
humour of it has set the literature of a hemisphere to the tune of mirth。
Like Mr。 Lowell's it was humour in dialectnot Irish dialect nor negro； but
American； and it made New England aware of her comedy。 Until then
she had felt within herself that there was nothing to laugh at。 'Nature is in
earnest when she makes a woman；' says Dr。 Oliver Wendell Holmes。
Rather； she takes herself seriously when she makes the average spiritual
woman： as seriously as that woman takes herself when she makes a
novel。 And in a like mood Nature made New England and endowed her
with purpose； with mortuary frivolities； with long views； with energetic
provincialism。
If we remember best The Wonderful One…Hoss Shay； we do so in spite
of the religious and pathetic motive of the greater part of Dr。 Holmes's
work； and of his fancy； which should be at least as conspicuous as his
humour。 It is fancy rather than imagination； but it is more perfect； more
definite； more fit； than the larger art of imagery； which is apt to be vague；
because it is intellectual and adult。 No grown man makes quite so
definite mental images as does a child； when the mind ages it thinks
stronger thoughts in vaguer pictures。 The young mind of Dr。 Holmes has
less intellectual imagination than intelligent fancy。 For example： 'If
you ever saw a crow with a king…bird after him； you will get an image of a
dull speaker and a lively listener。 The bird in sable plumage flaps heavily
along his straightforward course； while the other sails round him； over him；
under him； leaves him； comes back again； tweaks out a black feather；
shoots away once more； never losing sight of him； and fina