Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-08-20
Mems anO lllisteIlaMll.
Home and Family.

htlh Bfedttr poPulhtAtJ, VIC hnu ohotShco VI
the ''American Literati at Home" The
paragraphs relating to the poet Longfellow
are pleasant reading:
tis certainly grand old estate, this
residence of Longfellow's; almost toe
grand, indeed, to harmonize with ones ro-
mantle notion of what the abode of rhyme
compelling genius should be. 1t is such o
house as the untitled family aristocracy Of
America are wont TO delight in, very an.
cient for the new world, built with thai
substantial massiveness and unpretending
plainness which symbolic the characteris-
tics of pre-reyolutionary generations A
simple, low stone wall, settled little by
time, separates the square lawn from the
street Half way rises high, plain wood
EN- gateway. Looking with ease over the
wall, the passer-by may survey at leisure
the residence of the poet and its surround
ings On either side OF the walk from the
gate to the house is pretty simple lawn
carefully kept, UNMARRIED by trees. In the
center is a fountain which, however, is GOV
cred with moss whether by neglect OF
through the fancy of the proprietor, We
know not.
A small terrace surrounds the house.
which is few feet above the lawn; steps
conduct one up to the huge, slightly
onamented door On either side, and al
the back of the house, are some large
handsome elms, beyond them neat, bui
plain garden. Around the edge of the
walls which separate this estate from
neighboring ones, are groups of tall lilac
bushes and other shrubs At the side Of
the house TOWARD the University is cool
porch, rooted, supplied with benches and
chairs, and locking out upon graceful
clump of elms. This porch is one of the
lavorite haunts of the poet; very often he
is to be seen there toward evening bare
headed, walking or conversing with his
children. The house itself is of wood,
high, with slightly slanting roof, old.
fashioned windows fanchTully decorated al
the top with an old look which is charming
to the lover of antiquities, and by its home
illness without, seemsto to invite to cozy cheer
fuIness. to roaring fires, to genial welcome
within. 1t has long ago been painted yel-
low; the paint, at frequent intervals, has
disappeared; still the house looks vener-
able, not at all slovenly II it did not pos
sess, in its present occupant, living and
most interesting attraction it would still
have charm to all, as specimen of the
mansions Of the provincial aristocracy,
when Massachusetts, was still a province
and to Americans, because it has history
connected with the events of the revolu-
ton. The spacious old rooms now occu
pied by the poet, were once, at memorable
! time, the abode of Americas most illustri
GUS son; the writer of lyrics has taken the
place of the actor of epics. When, in the
early days of the war of independence
Washington was elected by Congress- tc
the command of the colonial army Eng
lish troops had possession Of Boston. The
siege was formed by concentrating the pa,
triot troops in the neighboring towns
Washington went to New England to di
rect their movements in person, and fxed
his headquarters in convenient Cambridge
in this same venerable mansion where
Longfellow now lives. Thence he sent out
his orders, general and special; here con,
vened in anxious deliberation, the little
knot of patriot officers, unskilled in war
collected from farm-honses and labratories
to drill by manual and learn the art oi
sieges. Within this door passed the
wealthy merchant, Hancock, who had
turned his thoughts to ''rules" and ''orders
of the day" gruff Samuel Adams, a Puritan
Mirabeau, putting his finger exactly on
the pith of the trouble; rewards for the
capture of these two had just been pro
claimed over in Boston. In these quiet
rooms, given up now these many years to
the Muse whence come out ever and anon
gracefulsst gems of the rythmic art, plan
of campaign was drawn up, experienced
ex-royal Lieutenant Washington superYis-
ing, ex-merchants, doctors, farmers, advis-
ing-all agreeing, too and at last succeed
ing; unity rare thing in revolutionary
councils, ever prevailing. Washington
did not stir from this Longfellow's house
till he could go in triumph 1t is no
wonder, then, that Americans visit
this old place with mingled feelings
that they find here Renaissance rs we'll
as an attractive presence; and while gazing
ut the home of the first of the native poets,
revert to that troublesome time when there
was for America but the grim poetry of
war. In seasonable hours visitors ore ad-
mitted to see the interior; any one of
whom you may meet on the way will tell
you that the poets hospitality is proverb-
ial. In taking advantage of the privilege,
you need not despair of catching glimpse
of the poet himself You may see him
through a half-open door, busy at his
desk; you may find him frolicking with
his children in the hall; it is not even un-
likely he may come out and welcome you,
though a stranger, and with winning cour-
tssy offer to guide you through the rooms
which have peculiar interest On the
left, as you enter, is the poets study; on
the right, the parlors; at the back Of the
study, the dining room. There is little to
describe; suffice it to say that the interior
is what the exterior has promised-home-
like simplicity and content.
Low studded rooms; wide, cheerful
looking hall; parlors substantial and cosy,
with certain little Indications here and there
of the presence of scholar, and of q
homelike womankind. The study of the
poet is simple and elegantly furnished; q
high desk near the window, where Mr.
Longfellow sometimes writes, standing, is,
it may be conjectured, that piece of fuyni-
ture which will be most valuable as relic
If, as may be the case, it is thereon that
his poems are written.
The family of the poet consists of two
sons, who have arrived at manhood, and
three bright, merry, charming little daugh-
ters. The reader has not forgotten the ter
rible accident by which, some years ago,
Mr.. Longfellow lost q beautiful and uni
versally beloved wife-n lady Of family, OF
most graceful culture, and kindness of
heart which will long be remembered
by the neighborhood in which she was
the most shining, though most mod
est of ornaments Since that frightful
event, the husband has been changed
man. Those who remember him in his
happy married life-who recollect the gen.
ial exhuberance of his spirits, the cheer
fulness of his disposition, the warmth OF
his welcome, the bright wit which flowed
constantly, the buoyancy Of soul upon
which shone the sunshine of life, and
athwart which cloud never seemed to
pass-note with grief the expression Of set
tied melancholy, the love OF solitude, and
the quickly grown white locks which one
sees to-day Still Longfellow is not SO fan
changed but that the kindness of heart,
the old warmth of friendship, the old love
Of the bright and beautiful things of the
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