THE MAGAZINE OF POETRY. VOL. V. No. I. THOMAS BUCHANAN READ. WHAT HAT more fitting illustration of the possibilities of the American boy than is given in the history of Thomas Buchanan Read. The traditional 'silver spoon' was lacking in this case. In place of it was given genius, though I doubt if the possessor of it ever guessed at his own abilities. Certainly his mother could not have foreseen anything in the future for her son beyond the acquiring of a comfortable business through the agency of a desirable trade; or, being a widow, perhaps her own necessities were the task-master. However it may be, he was apprenticed, at an early age, to a tailor, but the work evidently was uncongenial, as he ran away to Philadelphia and took up the trade of cigarmaking, and when fourteen years of age made his way to Cincinnati, where he found a home with Shobal V. Clevenger, the sculptor. His biographers do not state upon what terms the home was secured, and one can only conjecture that Mr. Clevenger must have taken an interest in the boy and given him the aid which should finally redound with such credit to both donator and donatee. While living with Mr. Clevenger, young Read learned the trade of sign-painter, attending school at intervals. He had also learned something of the art of painting and sculpture from Mr. Clevenger. Upon that gentleman's departure to Europe, Mr. Read went to Dayton, where he secured an engagement in a theater. He returned to Cincinnati a year later, and, with the assistance of Nicholas Longworth, opened a studio for portrait painting. He remained but a short time in Cincinnati, and from then on until 1841, when he finally located in Boston, he lived a migratory existence, going from | one town to another, painting portraits or signs, giving public entertainments, and, as a last resort, cigarmaking. It was in 1843 Mr. Read's poetical talent blossomed forth, and he published in the Boston "Courier" several lyric poems. In 1846 he removed to Philadelphia. In 1850 he visited Europe, and from 1853 to 1858 he lived in Florence and Rome, studying and practicing art. Although he after spent some time in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, Rome was his preferred residence. He was born in Chester county, Pa., March 12th, 1822, and died in New York, May 11th, 1872, while on a visit to this country. Mr. Read also possessed some dramatic talent. During the Civil War he gave public readings in aid of the soldiers, and many times recited his war-songs in camp. As a painter, Mr. Read cannot be considered so great a success as a writer. His pictures are graceful and poetic, but they lack fine technique. No doubt, had he received training in early life, he could have been classed with some of the great artists of the century. As it is, he has left some pleasing conceits in "The Spirit of the Waterfall," "The Lost Pleiad," "The Star of Bethlehem," "Undine," "Cleopatra and Her Barge" and Sheridan's Ride." Some of his best portraits are those of George M. Dallas, the ex-queen of Naples, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Henry W. Longfellow, while his group of Longfellow's daughters was exceedingly popular. His literary productions include "Poems" (Philadelphia, 1847); "Lays and Ballads" (Phildelphia, 1848); "Female Poets of America " (1848); "The Pilgrims of the Great St. Bernard," prose, published as serial," "The New Pastoral" (Philadelphia, 1854); "The House by the Sea" (1856); "Sylvia, or the Lost Shepherd and Other Poems," (1857); "A Voyage to Iceland" (1857); "The Wagoner of the Alleghanies" (1862); "A Summer Story" (1865), and "The Good Samaritan" (Cincinnati, 1867). His complete poetical works were published in three volumes in Philadelphia (1865 and 1867). Some of his poems have been issued in England. N. L. M. THE PILGRIM TO THE LAND OF SONG. THE dews are dry upon my sandal-shoon |