380 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



not characterization now, but mood. Poe with his exquisitely 

 exotic flavor, can be compared with Heam in his melody and 

 rhythm. The symbolism in "The Raven" is a new use of poetry 

 as well as a new use of what once was a bird. Many simple, 

 pretty little songs from Bohm can be introduced in the interpre- 

 tations of nature as moods. The "Swallow Song," "Dance on the 

 Lawn," "Leaflets in the Wind," are examples of only several 

 of many. For prose at this time, bits from Burroughs's, "Wake 

 Robin," and "Birds and Poets," might be chosen. 



From the interpretation of moods, poetry goes to an interpre- 

 tation of spirit. That is, the mood is an individual possession. 

 The spirit is the possession of the race. And here we get the 

 feeling of the eternal youth, the ever-returning Spring, the dawn, 

 the glory of fresh, new things. The delicate, beautiful music 

 of Mozart after he had been wandering in a wood often has the 

 suggestion of the eternal laughing Spring in it. Bring this into the 

 literary class-room. Bohm's, "La Zongana" has the rapid, eager, 

 pulsing, strong spirit of this youthfulness of the race. It is not 

 heavy, but pulsing, and eager. Lowell's, "To The Dandelion," 

 is rich in suggestion. It develops the idea of Eldorado. The 

 story of Spanish conquests with all of its symbolism and allegory 

 can be brought in here. Also the meaning to the writer (Lowell) 

 of Italy and of the eternal sunshine. 



The " Chambered Nautilus" breathes the spirit of evolution which 

 comes from this universal spirit of youth. The mystery of Poe, 

 of Hawthorne, the mystery which was like MacDowell's, "Will 

 O' the Wisp," is gone, and in its place there is the deeper mystery 

 of life, the mystery of a Beethoven spirit in a sonata or better yet, 

 in a fifth symphony. Use Emerson's, "Rubies" and other lovely 

 fragments here. 



Then, lest this be too far for the student, let us bring him back 

 to earth in the last project of the year, and study for the moment 

 the application of literature to the prose occupations of life. 

 Markham's, "The Man with the Hoe," illustrated with Millet's 

 painting, and Whittier's, "The Shoemakers" are admirable in this 

 connection. The "Simple Cobbler" of Ward, in adaptation can 

 be suggested. Longfellow's "Village Blacksmith" belongs in this 

 same craft stud v. 



