He
secured the position of first flute in the Peabody orchestra, and, by sheer
force of genius, took up the most difficult scores and faultlessly led all
the flutes. He read and studied, wrote and lectured like one who had
suffered from mental starvation. In 1879 he received the appointment of
lecturer on English literature at the Johns Hopkins University, a position
which his friends had long wished to see him fill. He held it only two
years, however, before his death. His health had fast been failing. He
wrote part of the time while lying on his back, and, because of physical
weakness, he delivered some of his lectures in whispers. In search of
relief, he was taken to Florida, Texas, and North Carolina, but no
permanent benefit came, and he died in his temporary quarters in North
Carolina in 1881.
Works.--Lanier wrote both prose and poetry. His prose comprises books for
children and critical studies. _The Science of English Verse_ (1880) and
_The English Novel_ (1883) are of interest because of their clear setting
forth of his theory of versification and art. In his poetry he strives to
embody the ideals proclaimed in his prose work, which are, first, to write
nothing that is not moral and elevating in tone, and, second, to express
himself in versification which is obedient to the laws of regular musical
composition, in rhyme, rhythm, vowel assonance, alliteration, and
phrasings.
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