New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-11-26
FROM BOSTON.
THOMAS DOWSE, THE LEARNED
LEATHER-DRES
n An Occasional Correspondent.

From An Occasional Correspondent.
Boston, Nov ~, 1856.
Those of the jewellers in your Sanctum who spent
the Academic portion of their lives at Cambridge
hard by-iOr, ilterate as you have been pro-
nounced by the authentic sentence OF MIR. Charles
Astor Bristed, it is no. because some of you had
not opportunity of improving yourselves-I say,
such members of the Ttibuntian College cannot
fail to remember wooden pillar which lifted itself
from the sidewalk of Cambrdgeport, half way to
town, bearing upon its top the craven image Of a
sheep. II was landmark to many College genera
items as they Jared between the City and the Uni
yersity. Many fleece of snow have myself seen
superinduced upon the luxuriant curls which the
cunning hand of the carver had bestowed on that
Oyine eidoion, as l plodded COllege-ward after
stolen visit to the theater. 1t was then in all Its
glory. Afterward, by some of those accidents
to which all things here below are subject, l re-
member it lost its head. Still, it bravely held its
own for several years, but after time passed by
ard it was gone, and my eyes beheld 1t no more.
But the pillar, with its neecy symbol, was more
than way mark for the wayfarer, or sign to the
seeker after dressed leather 1t had mysterious
interest in all our eyes as the sign OF Thomas
Dowse the Learned Leather-Dresser, ms he was
popularly called, and as standing before house
containing AS il was said library of singular per-
elegance. Perhaps cur imaginations somewhat out.
ran the reality at that tme-but not much as
shall proceed to tell. No less competent an au-
thority than Mr. Everett had pronounced 1t even
then the most valuable library OF English books for
its size, he knew of. / have had several opportu-
mites since then of visiting the interesting collec-
fions OF this most interesting man, and though II Is
several years since the last time, have most dis
tinct recollection of him and of, them. You may
have noticed in the newspapers his recent death,
at the age of nearly ~ years, and his previous gitt
of his library, which he completed IN his lifetime,
to the Massachusetts Historical Society. AS 1
have no gossip for you this week, perhaps you VIII
take as a substitute slight pen-and-lnk sketch OF
Mr. Dowse and his havings.
His house, before which stood the symbolic
sheep, was large, square, wooden one on the main
street of Cambrdeeport The door on the street
opened into bis shop, which was always busy with
the manipulations OF his trade. AS you approached
il, you might see an elderly man driving up IN an
old one-bOrse wagon filled with sheepskms. PLAN
in his appearance and in his dress, one would re-
mark nothing about him to distinguish him from
any other industrious and thriving tradesman. l
that one of his fair friends says, in describing
him in The Cambridge Chronicle that he was re-
markably handsome III his younger days. 1t may
have been So but cannot conscientiOusly say that
he had any traces Of beauty left when knew him.
He had perhaps recovered entirely from it, as from
OlnSI mdluuitS VI ChluuOou anu youth. long De-
fore. He was homey, hard-featured, fresh-com-
plexoned old man in my time, with good eye and
q peryading expression OF courtesy aud kindness.
When he had once made your acquaintance and be-
Ieyed YOU worthy to be trusted in the society Of his
chosen friends up stairs, he would throw down
the reins and stretch out TO you hand unctuous
from the pets and hard from the tools, but warm
With kindly pressure OF welcome Once on the
ground, he would limp with you (haying been lame
49, ch;ldbood IN the door of his house, and, II his
ieisure admitted accompany you to his library; or
if not, tell you TO go up and be as free OF 1t as
himself
You entered the house by door at the side near,
est Boston and, going up a broad staircase found
your way m a small room over the door b, which
you went in. In this room was small collection
of oil paintings-not more than eight OF ten-ou.
all OF them unquestionable originals and oil grea,
merit. remember, in particular, very beauti,u'
female head by Greuze. another by Grimsn and
magnificent iiower-piece by Vanhuysune, think
Out OF this room, as remember it, you t1rned 10