study, for reading aloud, or for recitation. For purposes of literary study, however, this group as well as the remaining three can to advantage be preceded by "Classics"; while the last group in Part I., and the last in Part II. had better not be studied critically in class except by the most mature. In the course of the study of American poetry, a treatise on the general subject of poetry, such as Bryant's Lectures on Poetry (found in the first volume of his prose writings), or Wordsworth's Preface to the Lyrical Ballads, can be read to advantage. After the native field has been thoroughly gone over, a modest estimate of the results secured may follow a reading of Leigh Hunt's discussion, “An Answer to the Question What is Poetry?'' A patriotic reader will do well to remember, that as Mr. Richardson has finely said, " Though thought cannot die, the life of books and of authors is of minor importance." Acknowledgment must be made to those publishers or others whose courtesy in granting the use of copyrighted material has made this volume possible. Those to whom I am indebted, and the volumes from which the respective works are taken (or the poems themselves), are as follows: Messrs. HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN, & Co.: T. B. Aldrich's Poems, Mrs. Elizabeth Akers Allen's The Silver Bridge and Other Alice and Phoebe Cary's Poems, Miss Cone's Oberon and Puck, and The Ride to the Lady and Other Poems, Cranch's The Bird and the Bell, and Caliban, Emerson's Poems, and May-Day and Other Pieces, Bret Harte's Poetical Works, Holmes's Poems, Lucy Larcom's Poems, Longfellow's Poems, Lowell's Poetical Works and Heartease and Rue Parson's Poems, Saxe's Poems, Sill's Poems, Stedman's Poems, Story's Poems, Taylor's Poems, Celia Thaxter's Poems, Edith Thomas's Lyrics and Sonnets, A New Year's Masque, and Round the Year,1 Thoreau's The Fishing Boy, Whittier's Poetical Works, Woodberry's North-Shore Watch, and Other Poems, Messrs. D. APPLETON & Co.: Bryant's Poems, Halleck's Poems, Songs and Ballads of the Civil War, Songs and Ballads of the Revolution. Messrs. A. C. ARMSTRONG & SON: THE BALTIMORE PUBLISHING CO.: THE BOWEN-MERRILL CO., of Indianapolis: 1 In a few instances, as with this author, the titles of other volumes than those used for purposes of selection have been given. "I take pleasure in quoting from the letter of this firm: "We write to give you the permission you ask for, provided you will name us as publishers and sole owners of all of Poe's works, and so state our firm name and address. Yours respectfully, "A. C. ARMSTRONG & SON, 'New York." THE CASSELL PUBLISHING CO.: Miss Gilmore's Pipes from the Prairies, Messrs. EFFINGHAM, MAYNARD & Co.: Messrs. LEE & SHEPARD: Mrs. Howe's Battle Hymn of the Republic. THE J. B. LIPPINCOTT Co.: Read's Poetical Works. Messrs. LONGMANS, GREEN, & Co.: THE D. LOTHROP CO.: Hayne's Poems, Scollard's With Reed and Lyre. Mr. GEORGE GOTTSBERGER PECK: Messrs. G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS: American War Ballads, compiled by G. C. Eggleston, Elaine and Dora Read Goodale's Apple Blossoms, In Berkshire with the Wild Flowers, Verses from Sky Farm, All Round the Year. J. H. Morse's Summer-Haven Songs. Messrs. ROBERTS BROTHERS: Verses by (H. H.). Mrs. Jackson. Messrs. CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS: Lathrop's Dreams and Days. THE F. A. STOKES Co.: Cheney's Wood-Blooms and Thistle Drift. Dr. R. M. BUCKE: Whitman's November Boughs and Leaves of Grass. Mrs. J. T. FIELDS : Fields's The Stars and Stripes. 1 A volume of extracts from O'Reilly's Poems, entitled Watch words, is published by the Cupples Co., Boston. Mr. C. H. (JOAQUIN) MILLER: Songs of Italy, Songs of the Sierras, Mr. YVON PIKE: Dixie and Every Year. Mr. R. H. STODDARD: Miss L. L. A. VERY: Jones Very's Poems. Among those to whom, in the preparation of this volume, I have been indebted for personal kindness and advice, I desire to express my thanks to Mr. John Vance Cheney, to Mr. C. F. Holder, and to Mr. D. C. Lockwood; to Prof. C. M. Gayley; and especially to Prof. H. A. Todd. To my former fellowteacher, Mr. Austin Lewis, I wish to make acknowledgment for valuable suggestions. Among the books consulted, I have to refer to the Appendix by Mr. Arthur Stedman to the Library of American Literature, to which I have frequently resorted for facts about authors' lives. In conclusion, I would crave the indulgence of those who, I am fully aware, know much more about poetry than I. They will see the defects of my performance, but they will also appreciate what difficulties have attended the task. If my volume may succeed in winning from them acceptance as a deserving attempt in the right direction, I shall feel well repaid for the labor of its preparation. PARIS, France, October, 1894. A. B. S. |