Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/54

 38 THOMAS PEIRCE. [1820-30. from now. Between 1825 and 1835 Mr. Peirce but seldom wrote. His last published poem, " Knowledge is Power," was contributed to the Cincinnati Chronicle in 1829. Benjamin Drake, then the editor, spoke of it as a poem of much spirit, and hoped that " one who wielded his pen with such fluency, would oftener contribute to the gratifica- tion of the lovers of poetry." Mr. Peirce was not only disinclined to gratify tliis hope, but in his later life was unwilling to be reminded that he had ever courted the muses. The specimens of his unacknowledged newspaper contributions which are subjoined, together with the extracts from " The Muse of Hesperia," given on previ- ous pages, fairly represent Mr. Peirce's poetic abilities — unacknowledged we say, be- cause he did not sign his name to any of his poems, and never so far acknowledged "The Muse of Hesperia" as to give the Philomathic Society an opportunity to pre- sent him the "fifty dollar gold medal" which it had won. THE DANDY.* Behold a pale, thin-visaged wight. Some five feet, more or less, in height ; Which, as it frisks and dances, Presents a body that, at most, Is less substantial than a ghost, As pictured in romances ! A head of hair, as wild and big As any reverend bishop's wig ; And on the top inserted (Or front, or side — as runs the whim) A something with an mch of brim. And crown like cone inverted. Around its neck a stiff cravat ; Another tightly drawn o'er that. And over these, a dozen Enormous rufiles on his breast; And close below a tiny vest, For gaudy colors chosen. And over all, a trim surtout Scanty in length, and tight to boot. And (what is now no wonder) ever posterity see verse of mine. Rigg'd out with capes full half a score ; And five small buttons down before, Just half an inch asunder. With trowsers welted down each side. And spreading out almost as wide As petticoats at bottom; A small dumb watch some cent'ries old, With twenty keys and seals of gold — No matter how he got 'em. To dangle at a lady's side. Whene'er she takes a walk or ride, A thing extremely handy: — These constitute — as foshions run In eighteen hundred twenty-one — A Cincinnati Dandy. TO A LADY.* If virgin purity of mind. With native loveliness combined, Li life's unclouded morning; If in her fair and comely face Shine ti'ue politeness, ease and grace. Her character adorning ; "From " Horace in Cincinnati." Ode XIX.
 * " Horace in Cincinnati." Ode VII. To Posterity — if