New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-03
Boston Portraits In French Setting.
BO,ion, Fore:sthers' Day, Dec. %, 1865.

vi.
pearng in the Rerue da DeuI MOnds', and translated for
Bosros. November. 1904.
am everywhere received with open arms.
For beginning dined yesterday with the Atlantic
Club with the chosen Of the literary and political
circles Of Boston There several present OF Trans
atlantic reputationthe famous naturalist Agassz; the
philosopher aud poet Emerson Mr.. Sumner, who intro
dnced to Senator Wilson Of Massachusetts, Richard
Dana the lawyer and distinguished writer Wendell
Holmes the celebrated poet author Of song that has
become almost nationals and several Others more or
less known. sat between Emerson and Agassiz- The
latter Is large and robust man, with big hands and
loud voice. but plain and sound In his way Of talking
which Ia at the same time little heavy and little
SLOW At all events, he strikes you with an air Of elm
gular intellectual power. Emerson Is lean slender
man. Of somewhat satrical smile, looking very little
like poet. but very much like philosophers full OF
originality and humor. sort Of Ampere more aosruse
profound. but less brilliant Senator Wilson was
opposite OF great merit. sprung from the people
and preserving in his talk somewhat Of his origin but
nevertheless worthy modest. and Of n cOunienaDce that
bespeaks both honesty and tmidity.
The Atlantic Clnh IL a little academe, shut 70 out
siders where admission Is obtained only the ground
of literary merit and personal friendship. An air OF
emnence and a tone ~ cordially peTyade this IN
affected and gentle coterie
have made two new acquaintances-Mr. Wendell
Philips, the celebrated Abolition orator, and Mr.
Quincy likewise chief Of that purity. The latter Is "A
man Of distinguished aspect fine expression, slightly
touched with dsdainf1ness. He j. agreeable taker
and well known in Boston for bis scholarship He
showed some little memorials Of their Colonial his
tory beginning with the coat FRANKLIN wore when he
signed the alliance with France. and Washingtons
epaulees and ending with the site Of the house now
no longer existing where Franklin was born. and The
field Of battle Bulkers Hill where granite shat
marks the spot where the celebrated Warren died.
The first thing that strikes you about endell Phps
is bis g,nilehess aud good nature one can hardly be-
ieye that this simple. andbe. Is the metIe-
some speaker ard the placed by everybody IN the
foremost ranks % American orators He is large
man. with ridred nose, prominent ehin an open
brow, auburn hair touched with white, eyes oil pale
brown but I'M ~ rcposc and smiles, seen under a
broad.bum gray bat, which be always wears. and
which gives him the look OF an old botenist They say
be j. p0,sessor u large fortune, which be dcyoies
entirely TO tie cause Of Abolition Oae asks in Looking
him. where that energy j. bid 81 which be has given
proof many times IN perous onset and where ~ the
sonntc dennucaOu when has brought I'm the nate
Of the slaye-dt.yers
These aye the men have seen in Boston. simple IN
feeling or they are sup, rior IN mind GO into their
libraries, museuus everywhere, you ind this type "
the cultured gentleman. dressed IN black. open and
bland IN feature cOyroou, In manners, ana rep!ote
with that calm II the passions which eevai!ng studies
always produce. nursery OF such men ought 10 De
the salvation Of people When i remember that bit
Few years ago those who dared enroll themselves rs
Aboonlsts beaten and outraged aud sure Of the
prescription Of public opinion. AID that they have been
stcadiasi until to-day, tLoy are masters can but feel
hdent In the future Of America 1t Is not long since
ncng popuace. and bis ficnds Obliged 10 for
his defense Once. at the West, while speaking Mt
meeting Of the Democrats DO stood FOR hour exposed
20 shower OF stones eyes and apples which rained
from all sides. Through all this. and even while the
presiding officer was begging him 10 dcsst FOR fear 81
lie consequences, lie kept a calm iutrepdy. when
ent to visit him at bis small aLd modest house. he
show cd ne marble Likeness of noble. manly features,
nm Of astonishing grandeur II was the bust OF "a ruds
farmer Of Connecticut, the heroic John Brown that
armed missionary of human lbtrty. | saw also tbs
large pike with which this almost Biblical warrior
fought at tie head OF band of hatarmed idgityes IN
the Virginia mountaiBs. The blood OF John Brown Is
as fruitful that OF all tue Martyr HIS grand old
figure already looms OF legendary proportions. when
the black regiments 90 into battle they chant The war
song II "Od John Brown
! was yesterday Longfellow's house He lives at
Cambridge ~ tie suburbs In plalr large wooden
mansion which has, ! don't know wbat-antiquiiy and
solemniy with its large mansard roof, MS ornamented
ghining rods its heavy paseTs IN the ias ide VITA us
remnants Of ancient trees and tie yaritgated pnis
abou, them It's stiff style Of parterre Ia frdnfd"e
which all give IT, they say In architecture. an epoch
The house u.s. indeed sort OF hisOrca! memoral-ior
| II was the headquarters OF washington; Two
months ago WAS led ththcf by Mr.. sumner. TN thbt
visit did not stop to strike the iron knoeker OF ms
oaken door but entering at once. wandered through
the vacant apartments, and left our cards IN simple
paIor and then lett the promises IKE thieves Without
having seen either servant dog, or master NeVeT
thelcss the books the pictures. and other OBJECTS 81
art-the calm and bOokish air OF the library fragrant
with flowers 1t and e'ncing taste that seemed
10 have directed every arrangement 30 happI hp
parent TRANQUILITY Of this domestic center. tie open
and h0spitabe door, through which without ceremony
we had penetrated into the family sanetuary-a THIS
impressed me flyoTably with the unknown dNelos "
that house returned 10 II yesterday In company with
near relative OF tie poet. Ia consequence oi great
rrcpaahlc grief which has saGdencd his HE, Long
fellow has emerged but seldom nom his household
circle and has not wished to in 1t but sma num-
Der Of his old friends. They had said TO ne, You viii
Zee how good. loyabe and gracious be ~" Some even
added, "Iie il an angel" And certainly II ever good
ness and moral beauty were painted in visible tfaces on
human countenance there they were IN the sweet noble
and frank and gracious address of the man who arose
20 extend me his hand. He IL 10 longer the elegant
looking poet Of whom have the print In the shops
He has grown terribly DID, and changed much IN me
last three years His long gray hair ana MS gIand iuh
grizzly beard give him the air Of old Homer His smile
has an ndescrbable sadness, but kind OF womanly
sweetness still controls his grave and manly lace
What a difference between this father Of tranquil
family occupied with the education OF bis chiidieh anu
the ordering Of his household. and our Hectorlke
poets who always putting themselves on tue pre-
ientious pedestal Of their own concelt mat saw
here struck much In his hvor AS the theatre
charlaanism and base pride Of the others have dis
gused me. ,, IA, ~
have not as yet become much acquainted with his
works Among some things which seem 10 me niue
lukewarm and Of short breath. In turning over the
leaves, 1 have found others quite charming, sWnNs
marked by dscreetncss and exquisite delcaey when
has become a part OF his manner. lie eAccB III tno
choice Of words and images; In freshness ana morning
purity Of c0lorng His form IL always rch ana ornate
but he has nevertheless such dispgenuous way ABOUT
him. H. so 10 speak, omerio, ANA Inc sign Oh aue
poet He finds at every step such delicious oompai
sons which, though sometimes almost childish arc yet
full OF simple and grandeur. In his Evange
line" he risked perhaps too much on the unoranao
meter but 1t Is nevertheless quite comparable TO the
Hermann and Dorothea Of Goethe. In Hiawatha,
| his inspiration. ordinarily tender and melancholy
raised itself without effort TO an epic grandeur.
1.-The Golden Legend" he was inspired by the philo
sophie symbolism vi the poetry Of Germany Hs'erses
~ from mouth to mouth and dispute even In England
with the patti ,tic Tennyson FOR supremacy over is
readers, fbaye seen Americans who think he has too
much Of sentimental revery and prefer to tho tender
Longfelow the ardent lyrics OF Bryant Imysei thlnk
him genius Of the second rank demgod certainly OF
A.. e,ra,v rsgons az the ooetca Olympus inferior 10