The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-12
NisceiiaQccVs.

From the Gentur,

The Home Of Bryant
Who knows not Melville's beechy grove,
And Roslin's rocky glen ~
The home of Genius is always hal
lowed spot; shrine whereat the wor-
ship is the more sincere because self
prompted, sympathetic, and silent. W.
all love to linger amid the scenes thai
have furnished the inspiration and famed
to flame the glowing fancy of him upon
whose brow Fame has placed the Laurel
wreath. Naturally, much of interest at
taches to the features, the manners the
habits, and other personal peculiarities OF
celebrated men. We flock to look al
them in public. We turn aside from dol
lar-worship, and even from duty, to pay
wh6le-hearted homage to the hero, the
philosopher, the poet, whenever and
wherever met. But while thus we muse.
the fire burns and within US is begottel,
the wish TO know more intimately, or at
least familiarly, the man whom the peo-
pie delight to honor. We would segre-
gate him from the crowd that surrounds
celebrity, and, following him apart from
the mass, would don the garb of friend
ship and enter with him, bidden guest.
within the charmed circle Of the great
mans home. 1t was in such a spirit, and
prompted by motives in which mere Gu
riosity had small concern, that, not long
since, paid brief visit to WILLIAM
CULLEN BRYANT, at Roslyn, his rural
home.
RosIyn is situated upon the. northern
shore OF Long Island, about eighteen
miles from New York, being opposite the
town OF Rye, Westchester county, and,
until within fifteen years, was known by
the unromantic name of Hempstead Har-
Dor. At the date of Mr.. 7Bryant's removal
thither, in 1s43, the village consisted OF
about forty houses and a population OF
some two hundred and fifty persons. 1t
has at present the appearance of hamlet
OF perhaps five hundred inhabitants. II
boasts of having furnished the site of the
tirst grist mill built on the western part
OF the island, and of the first paper mill
erected in the State-both of which were
established by an ancestor of the Bishop
Onderdonk. The harbor runs up from
the Sound, for nearly mile, between YER
dure-Clad hills, which are said to be the
highest peaks upon Long Island, and
from whose submits the prospect, com
prising both landscape and water views. is
grand indeed. ACROSS the harbor's mouth
a tongue of sand extends almost from
shore to shore, leaving, on the, eastern
side, narrow opening for the channel,
through which the steamboat finds a pas
sage up to the Roslyn landing place. On
either side of the harbor, at the base Of
the bills, are seen the houses of the in
habitants, while the declivitiss them.
selves are dotted with white dwellings Of
greater or less pretsnsions. a.,
The land approach to Roslyn is of rare
beauty, the road being lined and over.
shadowed by locust and other trees, and
the scenery varied and romantic. Enter.
ing the glen from the west or south, the
visitor enjoys, at single glance, COM
prehensiye view of scenery remarkably
Swiss-hke in its simple grandeur, and
prompting the application OF Brya ants owr
lines r .,.-.,..-
Here, from dim woods, the aged past %
Speaks solemnly; and behold d, -,
The boEndless future, in the vast %
And lonely river, seaward rolled. "sIaoI
The house occupied by Mr.. Bryant is q
two-story frame building. of liberal ar
rangement as to room, although far from
modern in its general appearance. Ma.
ture, and not Art, has supplied its exter-
nal ornament. A lattice e-columned piazEa
extends entirely across the southern front
commanding fine view up the bay, and
of the hills on either side, forcibly sug.
gestive of Swiss lake scenery. An attrac.
tive addition to the landscape is little
sheet of water, in from. of the house,
whose crystal surface holds mirror up tc
Nature, and duplicates the beauties of the
spot. Over this lake, near its centre, has
been thrown trellised foot bridge, oI
petite proportions, bat of pretty design,
A graveled walk extends around the wa
ter's edge, and at-house, in an unseen
corner, shelters a little skiff available fol
miniature marine excursions. Here, too
IS vine-clad cottage, formerly the resi-
dence OF the poets son n-in-law, PaFkt
Goodwin, bat now occupied by the farm.
er's family. From this little nest, of Ma.
ture's building, the widest of paths wind.
downward 10 the bath house on the beach
where, at viii, one can become part O.
a prettier aquarium than Art has evei
formed. Turning toward the mansion
house, we find it shaded by noble speci
mems of the willow, locust, aud the tuliI
tree, and embowered amid shrubbery o
the most varied character, all redolent o
Natures sweetest fragrance. Flowsr