Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

Page 6 text:

J. p. Bell Co., Printers, Lynchburg, Va.

Page 5 text:

Table of Contents. Page The Love of Nature in Eiiglisli Poetry, 1 Natural Scenery in The Idylls of The King, 4 Friends in Shakspere, Shakspere ' s Fairies, i) Tliackeray, as Reflected in The Engli.sli Humorists, . . 13 Pa ;toral Sketches — I, 15 Pastoral Sketches — II, IT A Visit to China-Town, 21 A Day in and al)Out a Tropical City, 23 Leaves from j Iy Diary, 26 Themes from Our Blue Books — 1. Uncle Jack, 30 2. Old Aunt Mary, 31 3. Miss Bettie Jones, 32 4. Aunt Miamy, 33 5. Tan, 34 H. In Haste to Breakfast, 35 7. A Cracker Wedding, 35 The Seminary in War Times, 37 Reminiscences, ; 41 French Compositions — Mes Yieilles Lettres, 47 Le Rouet de Ma Grand ' m re, 48 Un Village Morave, 50 La Petite Goutte de Pluie, 51 Note Editorial, . 53 Marriages, 55 Items of News from The Old Girls, 56 In Memoriam, 59 Seminary Notes, 60

Page 7 text:

THE AUGUSTA Seminary Annual. Vol. III. Staunton, Va., May, 1893. No. 1. The Love of Nature in English Poetry : Its Beginning in Chaucee, Its Culmination in Wordsworth. IN Chaucer we find the childhood of the love of Xature — a love which, becoming then for the first time a distinct element in English poetry, grew and strengthened with the growth of the nation. It was almost lost sight of, it is true, in Shakespeare ' s time, when man and his passions became the all-absorbing theme ; and, in Queen Anne ' s age, when striving after artistic form, the poets abandoned every higher aim. But still living and develop- ing, though little noticed, this love of ISTature existed, and in Wordsworth we find its serene and perfect maturity. There is a frankness and a freshness in Chaucer not found else- where. He takes a true dehght in the new green of the leaves and the return of the birds. Whan that the month of May Is comen, and that I here the foules singe, And that the floures ginnen for to springe, Farwel my book, and my devocioun, he says, and, as we follow him through the woods and meadows and see his light-hearted, wholly unconscious joy, we need not to have him tell us : As for mine entent, The birddes song was more convenient, And more pleasaunt to me by many fold, Than meat or drinke, or any other thing.