Word: spirited
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...such an extent that, in transferring their thoughts into the Procrustes bed of a particular metre, no feet are stretched and no thoughts mutilated, take up at random any collection of poems, and how many are there that seem to bear a trace of the influence of the true spirit of Poesy? How many give us glimpses of that faint and fair celestial mirage which attends her coming, seldom seen by mortal eyes, never to be summoned at will, - as it were, the scenes and longings of life mirrored in the purity of heaven...
...Beduzle suggested). Let us have society poetry, class poetry, elective poetry, youthful-soaring poetry, poetry by the cord. Let us, for literary exercise, think in poetry, and write chemical reactions in rhythm, and for economy kindle our fires with glowing thoughts. But let us not be surprised if the spirit of Poesy visits us but seldom. Practice may improve metre and the combination of words, but the spirit of Poesy, with her mysterious beauty, comes unexpectedly and vanishes quickly. In silence she bursts upon the sight unsought, filling the soul with joy unutterable, awakening melodies of which only a little...
Another article, in the same number, and of the same description, begins, "The Spirit of Liberty was abroad." From indications in other parts of the paper, we should judge that the schoolmaster is hard upon the tracks...
...glad to have lived at the time of our Great Fire, because he had seen it bring out the courage and energy of the citizens of Boston. Without taking exception to this remark, we should like to see another kind of fire, - a fiery exorcising of that spirit of evil which brings on a "baleful train" of disaster. We should like to see a warm excitement of the conscientiousness of individuals to keep them continually alive to justice; we should be glad to realize a thorough awakening of conscience and heart...
...rash speculation, or to cover debts. This is the old story over again, - each embezzler meaning to restore the funds, but none doing so. Making haste to be rich, the dishonest inclination to live beyond one's means, to equal or outshine others, - these all excite to that demoniacal spirit of evil which leads downwards to destruction, and makes only the difference of a crooked "s" between peculation and speculation, both despoilers of the highest attributes of our nature. As to this expectation of "paying back," which is always brought forward as a salve for the conscience...