Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

with a tolerable proportion of that discipline and training which other institutions find it hard to supply.

Mr. Taylor tells us, that he had, from his earliest recollection, this enthusiastic desire to visit foreign lands; but his condition, as a printer's apprentice, was far from affording facilities for the enterprise. There are some cases, however, in which difficulties answer just as well, if not better; and in the beginning of 1844, when his time of service was within two years of expiring, finding that a relative was soon to embark for Europe, he determined to realize his youthful dreams. But while the whereunto was settled, the wherewith was not so easy to be found. To raise the means, he published a small volume of poems, which is in general the way to sink the means that one happens to have, instead of gathering more. But he succeeded in giving an impression of his talent which made some editors of periodical works desirous to engage him as a writer of letters by the way; and the sum thus in possession and in prospect, though necessarily small, was his chief reliance to meet the expense of his travels.

Several of his poetical writings appear in this work; but in the early effusions of poets it is not easy to determine whether the inspiration is that of talent or of taste. The mechanical structure of verse is now carried to an artist-like perfection of finish, never known before. Magazines, and other works of the kind, abound in pieces which, fugitive as they are, run away to oblivion with a graceful flow, compared with which the elegies of Cotton Mather, for example, move like a stage-coach without wheels. Nor can we always judge, till after considerable examination, whether the power comes from ambitious effort and sympathy, or whether there is really a spark within which may be kindled into a high and glorious flame. We are not sure that it is not the best way, instead of taking pains to fan it into a fire, to leave it to find its own most appropriate manifestation. Supposing that the young writer should never" write a poem after the manner of John Milton," his imagination may give him a power of painting in language, and a glowing richness of description, of which we see traces here, and which will make a man eloquent as an orator, earnest and inspiring as a writer. If he should never find a voice or a pen, these will throw a living charm over all his intellectual nature, which will prevent his ever walking in darkness, even should he journey to the grave alone.

Mr. Taylor sailed in a packet-ship for Liverpool, in the summer of 1844; taking passage in the second cabin, which is not, like the Hebrew fancy of the second and third heaven, a decided improvement on the first; but where he made himself as comfortable as the absence of light, air, repose, and sundry other blessings, would allow. Just after landing, he took a run into Ireland, to take a glance at that land of mirth and misery, and to get a hasty view of the Giant's Causeway, concerning which he tells us that the highest part is but fifty feet above the water. This goes to confirm Johnson's gracious remark, that it might be worth seeing, but not worth going to see, a remark which the traveller finds to his sorrow will apply to many other things in this world. He appears to have left the Green Isle after a visit of a single day, and almost immediately we find him on Loch Lomond, in those scenes where human genius has lighted up the beauty of nature with an attraction that will never wear away. He shoots like an arrow to the top of Ben Lomond, to enjoy for an hour the glorious prospect, and then dashes over to Loch Katrine with equal expedition, taking the boat upon the waters, but on shore trusting to that conveyance which nature has so liberally supplied. At times, famished, drenched, and benumbed with cold, as he went through the tangled forest and mountain paths, he must have been agreeably reminded of Fitz James's tour in the same region, though he was better secured against outlaws by his lack of gold and silver, than the monarch by his trusty steel.

He was fortunate enough to have a bright, fine morning for his view of Loch Katrine; and he then hurried on to attend the Burns festival on the banks of Doon, where a whole people were to pour out their enthusiasm for him who, without the charms of fiction, without the enchantment of romance, without the old glories of the past to aid the effect of his inspiration, but simply by his own mind and heart, brought a nation into sympathy with him, and established a fame which every generation is building up nearer to the skies. With all Burns's infirmities and errors, none could deny that he was a man. It is more as a man than a poet, that he enchains the general confidence and regard; or rather, his poetry was only the lantern which the bright light of his spirit shone through. The management of this celebra

tion did not exactly suit Mr. Taylor's republican ideas. A stage was erected in a field, with an inclosure round it; on the stage were the sons and sister of the poet, and those who were to make addresses. But none were admitted within the privileged circle, save those who paid fifteen shillings for a ticket to the dinner; so that the Scottish peasantry could not enjoy the commemoration of one of their number, and the poet himself, had he come to life for the purpose, could not have been admitted to his own celebration. But there was little, too little, time to speculate on these things; after a hasty view of Edinburgh and Abbotsford, the traveller took passage for London. We regret the necessity for this haste; these were the very scenes for his painting, and there was no fear of being too minute in his narratives and descriptions. We do not care so much to know what he thought, or how he felt, in cities and crowded ways, as to know how these places, with their intellectual and romantic associations, affected his thoughtful and observing mind.

His account of London, as might be expected, has nothing peculiar in it; writing it, as we suppose he did, for some newspaper or journal, not much was required save exact description of those sights of which readers are never weary, though they come to them by almost every steamer, and with little variety of form. But when he reaches the Continent, he is more himself; there is a growing life and spirit in his narrative, and he gives us an animated interest in all that he describes. Probably he was himself more deeply excited ; for he says, that surrounded with old buildings and their associations, the fancy is busy reconciling the actual scene with the ideal; but the want of a communication with the living world without walls up one with a sense of loneliness which he could not before have conceived." Landing at Ostend, he passed hastily through Bruges, only remaining long enough to see the belfry, and hear its chimes, which will henceforth ring to American ears with pleasant associations. Neither Ghent nor Liege detained him, though he was dripping like a Naiad from the rain which showered upon him in the open car. At Cologne, he saw for a moment the cathedral which all Germany is now boiling over with enthusiasm to complete according to the original design. But Heidelberg was his aim, and he rested not till he reached that place, the name of which is now so familiar, where

he proposed to learn the language, and make some considerable stay. And here, when he has time to take breath and collect his bewildered senses, which could not be done in the "holy and miraculous tavern," however comfortable it might be, he first begins to convey that full and clear impression of himself, which every traveller, who wishes to interest readers, must contrive to give; and which in this case is so favorable, that we are glad to halt and go over the ground with him more leisurely than the railroad whirl of his former movements would allow.

It is an exceedingly pleasant impression which he gives of this place and the country round it. There is much in which a stranger can employ his time with satisfaction and advantage; but though there are many objects to remind one of Arminius, Luther, and the more peaceful masters of song, few things will be contemplated with more pleasure by the visiter from this country than an ancient arbor vitæ, which was transplanted from America in 1618, but which, he says, does not thrive well, probably because the soil is less damp than it requires. When he speaks of ascending the Heiligenberg, and visiting the Library, or pondering amidst the ruins, every thing seems bright and happy; but unfortunately there is another side to the picture. The law requires one out of every hundred inhabitants to become a soldier, and he witnessed the selection of the conscripts, when, as may be supposed, intemperance was their baptism into the wretched life before them. And yet, is there any thing in this more sad. than the business of volunteering, which is so much vaunted here? Is it not better, in fact, to see men forced into that slavish existence by circumstances or oppression, than to find them, of their own free will, consenting to be military slaves?

In making excursions to some distance in the neighbourhood, he found himself followed, as a native of the New World, with afflicting curiosity. But this was not without its compensations; as he stopped at a prune orchard to buy some fruit, an old man called from a tree, "They are Americans; give them as many as they want, for nothing." This is better than being insulted for the repudiation of some of our States, a compliment not unfrequently paid to Americans abroad; where, as Lord Byron supposed that Washington in his childhood was lulled to sleep with the sound of

Niagara, most foreigners consider Massachusetts and Mississippi so near and intimate neighbours, that the Northern State must needs have indorsed all the paper of the other. He found that many of the Germans were undismayed by what was industriously told them of this country. They had a sort of idea, that other nations were not as pure as paradise before it was profaned by sin, and they were ready to take the risk of its evils, when no longer able to bear the hardships of their own. There are few things more pleasing than the mention of a Bavarian family of this description whom he met in the omnibus for Frankfort. The husband was sanguine and determined; the wife seemed to mourn in silence the prospect of leaving her beautiful fatherland; as night fell, the little girl drew near her father for his accustomed kiss, and then sunk to sleep in a corner of the wagon; while the boy, in the artless confidence of childhood, laid his head upon the stranger's breast.

Mr. Taylor appears to have been edified with what he saw of the German students. There is, no doubt, a full flow of intellectual life and liberty among them; but we do not see clearly why a childish mummery should everywhere be associated with philanthropic and lofty objects; and as to their duels, one of the autumnal sham-fights of our trainbands towers into sublimity, compared with the paltry exhibition. On the contrary, nothing can be more pleasing than his description of the ceremonies with which Christmas and New Year's eve are welcomed; these are youthful, to be sure, but they are meant for the young, and they give older persons the blessed opportunity of renewing for an hour the lost and lamented childhood of their souls. The forests of evergreens that fill the streets, the blaze of lamps, and the sound of happy throngs in the public squares; the mysterious preparation in arranging the presents, the Christmas-tree bright with gilded nuts, sweetmeats, and glittering tapers, and, more than all, the gladness in every face, which evidently shone through it from the heart, made him earnestly wish for a similar observance of the festival in his own distant land. And, Puritans though we are, we entirely agree with him in his feeling; it was a great mistake in our fathers to sweep Christmas with all its associations away. The Thanksgiving which supplies its place is homely and substantial, no doubt; as the pumpkin, which is its emblem, is entirely respectable in its way,

« ZurückWeiter »