St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-02-04
FAMOUS MEN TWENTY YEARS ACC

FAMOUS MEN TWENTY YEARS AGO
The New York Independent con.
tains the following interesting sketch
or sketches, from the pen of Rev. Theo
L. Cuyler -"G
DEAR T -: I have just been en-.
joyins in the last volume Of Washing.
ton 1rvins's Life his pleasant reminis.
cences Of the literary celebrities o1
Great Britain. Perhaps few memo.
rics Of some other notables-preserved
by me from a visit to Europe in the
year after graduation from college
may interest you and your lndependea,
family. The first week after my affi.
val was spent in the exquisite Lake
District Of Westmoreland. / gathered
hoIly-leaves in the grounds of "Ellery,
the shooting and boating-seat of old
Christopher North I rode past the
homes of Bishop Watson and Mrs. He
mans, and put in at sunset to the "Sal-
utation Inn" Of Ambleside, where Cole
ridge, Southey and Wordsworth often
stopped to shave crack wi, the
broad-visaged landlord. In the twi-
light, Wordsworth trotted past the
door, with bunch Of. heather stuck in
his "bonnet"' and his :ihite hair falling
on his shoulders. The next morning
| spent with him at Rydal Mount in
full view Of the mouutain-scenes that
inspired him to his best poetry. In
walking about his grounds, the poet.
philosopher looked like a Berkshire
county farmer -Horc q blue coat and
broed slouched white. fi&t, AID "gog.
sizes" bestriding his rortentous nose. -
He was the, patriarch of nature to:tha
life: He spoke tenderly Of Irving
sadly of poor Suutlley, who was then
in ruins-and pointing toward "Dove's
Nest" the former abode of Mrs. He
mans, he said ''she was most clever
lady hut we never thought her very
original" His quiet wife sat knitting 9
at the door as he re-ehtcred his cottage.
Natures best interpreter since Cowper,
he now liesin the little Gothic church
just under the hill. " Il, j." 49,.
Reaching Ediobungh by, way Of
''Branksomc Tower; and Abbotsford,
| called at the house of Professor VII.
son, in Gloucester place. But old
Christopher had fled to escape from
the Smallpox; which had br,ken, out
among his domestics. He was famous
for his carelessness in dress. Just. then
Edinburg was laughing over story o1
Wilson'a being stopped on his way to
lecture in the University by street
vcnder OF old clothes, who wished t.
strike upa Bargain. Christopher, with
a loud langhj caught at his thrcadbare
trowsers and SAID, "What'll ye gi'c me
for these !" Not long before he had
lost his lovely wife. Returning: some
essays unread to his students, he ten:
de'ly apologizcd by saying, n: could
hardly see to read in the valley of Tic
shadow Of death -.
DR.. Candlish was then the most con.
spicuous Edinburgh preacher after
Chalmers. Prof: Addison Alexander
says that he heard from him the best
discourse lie listened to in Europe.
Candlish reminded NE of Van Ruren
in the face-spokc with awkward We.
hemence-a d delivered powerful
discourse on the Creation. which has
ever since found place in his volume
on Genesis. In manner he was Lrusque
and abrupt-quite in contrast with the
Henry Clay-like bonho,nie of lr. Guth.
rie. Have you roticed thai The Lon.
don Times has pronounced Guthrie
"the most eloquent man in Europe p
Sickness has now laid hi IL aside-it is
feared tor ever. .szs,.In-s.. .,T...d. :.
| A few days. passed at Sheffield gave
me an opportunity to meet James Mont
gomery; whose hymns viii be suhg
when his elaborate longer. poems will
be-, forgotten. A Small, refined, old
map, with very. .sllvery hair. ~he always
looked oddly from being swatked lip in
huge :cravat that reached froiia Ills
chin quite. down on his breast. ,He
was full .pf, enthusiasm for America
and full of,iRdigqation too, that SO ma.
ny people would persist In confoundine
him with Robert, Montgomery. whose
poem on Satan has been ilmpaled llikt
\ q <. I