The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-08-03


found Mr.. Longfcllow established IN an
elegant house, with his amiable and beau
tiful wife, and surrounded by lovely chill
dren; to me he is the perfect ideal of a
happy poet, and it is said that his life
forms quito romance. He has travel
ed all over Europe, and understands the
language of nearly all its countries. He
possesses divers literary curiosities, from
the popular songs of Denmark to those
of Havana and has saved poetry from a
grave in almost every country. Mr.. |
Longfelow is acquainted with the prim-
tive and patriarchal manners of Sweden, |
of which he gives description in bis
preface to his translation of Tegner's |
beautiful poem, "The Children Of the
Lords Supper" lie visited Italy and
France, and has experienced all the in
tercst which cannot fail to be felt in the
old towns of Germany"
What American can ever forget the
Psalm of Life2 oxciaims Mr.. Ampere; It
"All is vanity" Each of Longfellow's
most celebrated poems is the expression
of feeling common to every mind. in
moods into which every mind is liable to
fall footsteps Of Angels" Excelsior"
"The Old Clock on the Stairs" 'The
Vision,' 'Twiligtt," etc. are most ex
quisitc and delicate interpretations of
universal emotions In 1912 he passed
the summer upon the Rhine, and at Bop
part, where he stayed some time, became
intimate with the enthusiastic yoang
German poet, Freligrath. Upon reach
, ing home, he found the world perfectly
intoxicated with the bcwitcLing grace Of
Fenny Ellsler, and learned from good
authority that her saltatory movements
y were more than poetical this suggested
l. to hlm the spanish Studont," which
breothes so completely of the South it
is, however, rather too Spanish in its
character altogether, to suit our English
a taste. In lS43 Longfellow bought the
f house which had once been Washington's
! head quarters he (Longfellow) had for.
4 merly lodged there while the house was
in the possession of Mrs. Craigie, and
in General Washington's chamber many
of his earlier poems were written.
., Nj. Ampere came upon Bryant at an
unucky moment. at is under the open
sky and engaged in rural pursuits that
+ he (Bryant) is seen to advantage, that
is, in his true character, the natural a.
d inability of his disposition, sometimes
clouded by the cares of life aud the un-
toward circumstances of business inter
course, shines forth under the grateful
} influence of nature so dear to the heart
and tranquillzing to the spirits of her
n child. Here little children cluster a
bout the grave mans steps, fearing not
l. to climb Ills knee. And 'sercnest eyes
meet his in fullest confidence, finding
there none of the sternncss of which
casual observers sometimes complain. Ii
seems almost pity that other walks
should ever draw him hence but per.
haps, contrast between country walks
and city pavements is necessary for the
perfection and durability of rural pleas
i. ures 1t would be almost impossible to
find a man who had led so stirring life
for fifty years, and yet preserved such
perfect simplicity of character and hab-
e its as Mr.. Bryant, No one can be less
man of the world, SO far as that word
'r means worldly man. than he is, in spite
even of his having travelled great deal
and mixed extensively in society. Mr..
it Bryant's collection of books is not large,
Out DIS tastes anu pursuits ieau MIN
through the entire range oil literature
4 IRON the fathers 70 Sheliey ana from
couvier 10 jean naui. lie Is prom
. cient in German, French, and Spanish
III and reads ltaiian with ease SO, works
IN all these languages are 10 DC seen on
MS snelves. lie turns naturally from
n the driest treatise on politics or political
A economy 10 tue Widest romance OF the
p most tender poem, haippy In the posses
sion OF power OF enjoying all that &C.
mus bas created or industry achieved IL
l. literature >, ,.,.
~ "At ten years Ola Wlilinm Cuiiei
bryant wrote verses, which were publish
cd IN one or two newspapers OF the day
= even younger than this he had writer
rhymes, which his father; man OF taste
and learning, criticized and taught
HIM to correct Such precoelty Otter
ends IN disappointment, put MT bryan
dld not retrogade, and at fourteen M
wrote a satricai poem' called The Em
bargo, which Is perhaps one OF the mos
wonderful performances on record Ih'
u trst general collection OF his works wa
N IN 1852, when he gave to the world: II
y one volume all the poems he was willing
II to acknowledge VI HIS publisher, Mr.
Is ELAN bliss bryant loves TO make men