Democratic Vistas; And Other Papers - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ... A WORD ABOUT TENNYSON. BEAUTIFUL as the song was, the original 1 Locksley Hall' of half a century ago was essentially morbid, heart-broken, finding fault with everything, especially the fact of money's being made (as it ever must be, and perhaps should be) the paramount matter in worldly affairs. Every door is barr'd with gold, and opens but to golden keys. First, a fa.her, having fallen in battle, his child (the singer) Was left a trampled c rphan, and a selfish uncle's ward. Of course love ensues. The woman in the chant or monologue proves a false one; and as far as appears the ideal of woman, in the poet's reflections, is a false one, at any rate for America. Woman is not 'the lesser man.' (The heart is not the brain.) The b:st of the piece of fifty years since is its concluding line: For the mighty wind arises roaring seaward and I go. Then for this current 1886-7, a just-out sequel, which (as an apparently authentic summary says) 'reviews the life of mankind during the past sixty years, and comes to the conclusion that its boasted progress is of doubtful credit to the world in general and to England in particular. A cynical vein of denunciation of democratic opinions and aspirations runs throughout the poem, in marked contrast with the spirit of the poet's youth.' Among the most striking lines of this sequel are the following: Envy wears the mask of love, and, laughing sober fact to scorn, Cries to weakest as to strongest, 'Ye are equals, equal-born.' Equal born! Oh yes, if yonder hill be level with the flat. Charm us, orator, till the lion look no larger than the cat; Till the cat, through that mirage of overheated language, loom Larger than the lion Demos--end in working its own doom. Tumble nature heel o'er head, and, yelling...