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in “The Task.’”” Similarly the lines prefixed to the ‘ White 
Doe of Rylstone,” are clearly a reproduction of a stanza in 
Cowper. 
Echoes of Cowper are found in many of the later poets. 
Mr. George Milner has pointed out how carefully Cowper notes 
the several colours of the leaves of different trees, and with what 
correctness he depicts the flowers and their varied beauties 
Many of the poet’s lines are familiar to all—notably those on the 
game of war, on the slave trade, on winter, on patriotism, and 
portions of the poem he wrote on receiving half a century after 
her death a portrait of the mother whom he had so devotedly 
loved. His picture of a winter evening at home was undoubtedly 
drawn from life. We can see in fancy the little parlour at Olney, 
Puss and ‘Tiney (the tame hares) frisking on the Turkey carpet 
(the lawn whereon they loved to bound), the ladies plying their 
knitting needles or busy with their wools, the poet reading to 
them the news from the Kast, or reciting one of his lyrics. 
There is one word not found in the language of some nations, 
but happily contained in ours, which seems to describe such a 
peaceful scene as this—the word “ home.” 
No attempt had been made to fix the place which Cowper 
ought to occupy in the ranks of English poets. He could 
scarcely be considered among the greatest poets, whose chief 
characteristic was his simplicity, nor is the relative permanent 
position of such an one in the annals of literature easy to 
forecast, for simplicity is unsuited for critical analysis, it withers 
in the heat of praise, it hides itself before the sirocco of a sneer. 
None the less is it one of the great elementary qualities of the 
heart, it survives through all the centuries, it has a magical 
charm for all the world. 
ETHICS OF CIVILIZATION. 
By C. A. DARLEY, B.A., December 2nd, 1890. 
The reader drew a contrast between the civilization of the 
present day and that of the Greek and Roman period, and in 
order to make the comparison more striking, and to give a 
personal interest to his remarks and deductions, sketched the life 
of a Greek gentleman of 2,000 years ago, The most prominent 
mark of Ethical progress in the present day was the more general 
recognition of the rights of man. The ancient division of 
mankind into masters and slaves, was superseded by the doctrine 
of the equality of man. There was a more general desire to help 
the less fortunate in life’s race, to alleviate suffering, to provide 
