The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-10
THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
How Nathaniel Hawthorne Rose to Fame.

How Nathaniel Hawtho Rose to Fame.
From Recolections of Lifetime or Men and
Things have seen. By S. G. Goodrich.
1t is not easy-to conceive Of stronger
contrast than is presented by comparing
Nathaniel Hawthorne with N. +. Willis.
The former was for time one of the prin-
ciple writer's for the Token, and his ad,nira.
bic sketches were published side by side
with those Of the latter. Yet it is curious
to remark that everything Willis wrots at.
tracted Immediate attention, and excited
ready praise, while the productions Of LIaw
thorne were almost entirely unnoticed. The
personal appearance and demcanor of these
two gifted young men, at the early period
OF which speak, was also in striking con-
trast- Willis was slender, his hair sunny
and silken, his cheek ruddy, his aspect
cheerful and confident lie met society
with a ready and welcome hand, and was
received readily and with welcome. Haw-
thorne, on the contrary, was of a rather stur-
dy form, his hair dark and bushy, his eye
steel gray, his brow thick, his mouth sarcas,
tic, his complexion stony, his whole aspect
cold, moody, distrustful. lie stood aloof,
and served the world from shy and shelter
positions. There was corresponding diff
ference in the writings Of those two persons.
Willis was all sunshine and summer, the
other chill, dark and wintry; the one was
full Of hope and love, tho other Of doubt
and distrust; the one sought tho open day
light-sunshine. flowers, music, and found
them everywhere; the other plunged into
the dim cavcrns of the mind, and studied
the grisly spectres Of jealousy, rcmorse, dcs-
pair. 1t is, perhaps, neither subject Of
surprise nor regret that the larger portion
Of the world is SO happily constituted as to
have been more really to ilirt with tho gay
muse Of the one than to descend into the
spiritual charnc!-housc and assist at the psy-
Geological dissec,ons Of the other. had
seen some ANONYMOUS publication which
seemed to me to Indicate extraordinary pow
ers. inquired Of the publishers as to the
writer, and through them correspondence
ensucd between mo and IN. Hawthorne"
This name considered disguise, and it
was not till after many letters had passed
that met the author, and found it to be
true title, representing a very substantial
parsonage. At this period he was unsettled
as to his views; lie had tried his hand ia
literature, and considered himself to have
met with fatal rebuff from the reading
world. His mind vacillated between vari.
Gus projects, verging,I | think, towards a
mercantile profession. combated his des-
pondence, and assured him of triumph if he
would persevere in literary career.
lie wrote numerous articles, which an
peared in the Token occasionally, an astute
critic seemed to see through them, and to
discover the soul that was in them; but in
general they passed without notice. Such
articles as Sights from Steeple," ""Sketches
beneath an Umbrella" "The Wives of the
the Dead" "The Prophetic Pictures" now
universally acknowledged to he productions
OF extraordinary depth, meaning, and pow
er, extortcd hardly word Of either praise
or blame, while columns were given to pieces
since totally forgotten. I felt annoyed, al
most angry, indeed, at this, wrote several
articles in the papers. directing attention to
these productions, and finding no echo Of
my views, | recollect to have asked John
Pickering to read some of them, and give
me his opinion of them. lie did as re-
quuested; his answer was, that they display
ed wonderful beauty Of style, with a
kind of double vision, a sort of second sight,
which revealed, beyond the outward forms
OF life and being, a sort ofspirit world, some.
what as lake reflects the earth around it
and the sky above it; yet he deemed them
to be too mystical to be popular.
lie was right no doubt, at that period,
but, ere long, portion of mankind, large
portion of the reading world obtained new
scnse-how or where or whence, is not
easily determined-which led them to study
the mystical, to dive beneath and beyonI
the senses, and to discern, gather, and cherish
gems and pearls of price in the hidden depths
OF the soul. Hawthorne Was, in fact, a kind
OF Wordsworth in prose-less philosophical.
Lis fate was similar; at FIRST he was neglect.
ed, at last he had worshippers. In 1887. I
recommended Mr.. Hawthorne to publish a
volume, comprising his various pieces, which
had appeared in the Token and elsewhere.
lie consented, but as had ceased to be a
publisher, it was difficult to find any one
who would undertake TO bring out the work.
applied to the agent of the Stationers'
Company, but he refused, until at last
rellnguished my copyrights, on such oil the
tales as had published' to Mr.. Hawthorne.
and joined friend of his in bond to in
demnify them against loss: and thus the
work was published by the Stationers' Com
pany, under the title of"Twice Told Tales"
and for the authors benefit. It was deem.
ed failure for more than year, when a
breeze seemed to rise and fill its sails. and
with it the author was carried on TO fame
and fortune.
The Largest Man in the World.