The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-10-11
English Notes ON America.

and After the War;" Mr. Robert Fergu-
son, author of "Swiss Men and Swiss
Mountains" has written book about
his recent travels N the United States.
Mr.. Ferguson makes fewer 5luuders than
English travellers usually fall into, and is
evidently hearty adm:rer of some of the
public meo of this country. He makes
fun of certain national peculiarities, which
are as sharply criticized by cultivated
Americans themselves as by foreigners,
but In the main his book is not only pleas
ant but accurate While In Boston, he
Fseems to have had the opportunity of
seeing the best literary society, and he
gives the following sketches
LoNGFELLow.
/ found him in his study, an elegant
and cheerful room, in one corner Of which
| fine orange tree, with its golden fruit,
keeps green the memory of departed
friend, the late Professor FELTON,. The
table is strewn with books and preseuta-
ton copies, in various langnages-aye,
even in Chinese. But the ways of the
Chinese are not as our ways, and this pre-
sentation copy was in the shape of a fan,
on which poet of the Flowery Land had
| written a translation of the Psalm of
Life and, If the translation were only as
good as the writing, assuredlY the work
was we'll done. Though the features of
| the poet have been made familiar to US by
many pictures and photographs, yet no
one can see him for tho first time without
being struck with his appearance. His
expression of mingled dignity and gentle
ness has been fairly presented to US; but
the peculiar sweetness of his smile aud
the touch of spiritual beauty which often
plays upon his features cannot be render
ed In a likeness. Before him les the
| ever open Dante, his translation of which,
labor of love, has occupied him for
years, now approaches to completion. But
Dante has not his undivided regard, and
hardly would the picture of Longfellow
in his study be complete without, ever and
anon, through one of tho "three doors
left unguarded," little figure stealing
! gently in, laying an arm around his neck
as he bends over his work, and softly
| whispering some childish secret in his ear.
Then, too, his work was interrupted by
visitors of another sort, for among travel
ers of all nations the tour to America
would hardly be considered complete
without visit to Cragie House. And
speaking fuently French, German, Ital-
ian, Spanish and Portuguese, and having
also knowledge of Danish and of Dutch,
it may we'll be supposed that there seldom
comes traveller with whom the poet can
not, if necd be, hold converse in his own
tongue. x
STORIES ABOUT QUEER VISITORS.
And sometimes there come other visit
ors, too, self-introduced-a class to whom
the customs Of America show more toler-
ance than they do with US. I remember,
during the period of my stay, western
man, comically quaint and cool, who came
with request to see the pictures at
Cragie House. On two successive days
he came, and for three or four good hours
was Dante thrown aside while, with an
| amused good humor, the poet answered all
his odd questions, and showed him every
thing there was to be seen. Then there
came very many others craving assistance
| In sickness or sorrow, and to these deaf
ear is never turned. No mans income
can be secret in America the income
tax returns are open to public inspection !;
and the newspapers amuse their readers
By classified lists of the incomes of prom
inent merchants, literary men, politicians
and others. Mr.. Longfellow is endowed
with an income far exceeding that which
is generally supposed to fall to the lot of
! poets; and as he never refuses to listen
to any tale of distress, the number of
applicants, worthy and unworthy, who
find their way to his gate is by no means
small The airs which some of the Amer.
lean beggars give themselves are very
amusing. [ remember the case of man
who came with his arm in a sling, repre-
senting himself to have been wounded in
the service of his country. Mr.. Longfel-
low, having some suspicion, asked to be
allowed to look at the wounded arm. "It
is not pleasant sight to show a gentle
man." said the man. "Perhaps not, but
we are obliged sometimes to look at
unpleasant things" dwell, sir" said tie
man, drawing himself up, elf that is the
light in which you look at the matter, I
would rather not be beholden to you for
assistance, and so wish you good morn
| ing" Then there was another man upon
whom, in response to his tale of hunger
and distress, there was bestowed hand
some loaf. Now, the least that any Eng
lish beggar would have doEe under the
circumstances, would have been to have
! taken the loaf and converted it into gin.
But this would have been beneath the
spirit of an American beggar, and SO he
| resented the insult to his dignity by
depositing the loaf as he passed out, like
an ornament, on the top of the gate post.
THE WAR