Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . ncomium of partiality and preju-dice. The circumstances of Sidney Lanierslife furnish a pathetically tragic setting to his pure-souled, beautifulwork. A Georgian, he was born at Macon, February 3d, 1842; hisfather was a well-known lawyer of that city. The family on themale side was of Huguenot French descent; on the maternal side thestock was Scotch. Sidney was educated at Oglethorpe College in hisnative State. The war found him on the Confederate side; and whilea prisoner he consoled his spirit with his beloved flute and wrotefugiti
Library of the world's best literature, ancient and modern . ncomium of partiality and preju-dice. The circumstances of Sidney Lanierslife furnish a pathetically tragic setting to his pure-souled, beautifulwork. A Georgian, he was born at Macon, February 3d, 1842; hisfather was a well-known lawyer of that city. The family on themale side was of Huguenot French descent; on the maternal side thestock was Scotch. Sidney was educated at Oglethorpe College in hisnative State. The war found him on the Confederate side; and whilea prisoner he consoled his spirit with his beloved flute and wrotefugitive verses,— early pledges of the twin master passions of Lanierswhole life, literature and music. It was while immured thus thathe and Father Tabb, the Maryland poet-priest, struck up the friend-ship which the latter has commemorated in more than one lovingsong. Laniers constitution was delicate; and the exposures and hard-ships of war developed the seeds of the consumption which he foughtheroically through young manhood and into middle life, and finally. Sidney Lanier 8892 SIDNEY LANIER succumbed to. Some years of experimental occupation followed uponthe war experience: he was successively clerk, teacher, and lawyer,taking up the legal profession at the earnest instigation of his father,who could not realize that Laniers vocation was so different from hisown. The letter which the son wrote from Baltimore, taking thedecisive step that made him a literary man and musician for betteror worse, is impressive and revelatory of his character: — «I have given your last letter the fullest and most careful doing so, I feel sure that Macon is not the place for me. If you couldtaste the delicious crystalline air and the champagne breeze that Ive just beenrushing about in, I am equally sure that in point of climate you would agreewith me, that my chance of life is ten times as great here as in Macon. Thenas to business. Why should I — uay, how can I — settle my
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