, 1872-10-27
BOSTON,.
The Radical Club---First Meet
ing Of the Season.
Colonel T. ". Higginson Recounts
the Sensations of His Trip
to Europe.
A Delightful and Instructive
Talk.

From Our Our, Correspondent.
Boston, Oct. 21, 1872.
The third Monday Of October ig the date Of
the frat meeting of the Radical Club for this
season, and henceforth. until May, it will have
regular meetings on third Mondays, and such
special meetings as may be arranged for by the
Committee Of Arrangements,-a Committee con-
sisting pominally Of several members, but really
of One.-
MRS. JOHN T. SARGENT,
who has been the efficient fostering and manag-
ing agent Of the Club since its organization.
She determines the memberships, collects the
dues, arranges the programmes OF exercises,
sends out the cards OF admission, and, in most
cases, provides the place of meeting which is at
Mr. Sargent's house, in Chestnut street, except
when it is ut the Rev. DE-. Bartols, three
doors distant. Both houses have large double
parlors, where from 100 to $50 people may be
comfortably seated. The secret Of the main
tenance Of this Club must be moro in this fea-
ture Of hospitality, as think, than in any other
circumstance or condition. I hare no doubt
that it would quickly decline if the meetings
we're in d more public place. But both Mr.. and
Mrs. Sargent take pleasure in making their
house the headquarters Of a distinguished lit
erary set, and, two or three times week during
the aeason there are pleasant meetings there, ut
which are present not only the lights Of the
Radical Club, but others whose names are
scarcely less distinguished in social and culti-
vated circles. The continued prosperity OF the
Radical Club is sufficient tribute to the tact,
address. and accomplishments of the lady who
has SO long been its organizing and executive
Queen.
The inritation-cards sent out last week an
nounced
An ESSAY BG ME-. u1Gd1SsoN.
These cards have become necessity, for the
general public Of all degrees, some time ago, pre-
sumed to considered Mr. Sargents house a kind
of public hall, and crowded in On Club-days,
very much to the discomfort Of those who right
1y had this privilege, and to the annoyance Of
tho host and hostess. It had been bruited
about, several days before the meeting, that Col
onel Higginson would discourse before the
Club of his summers jaunt in Europe; and,
among thoee who know how delightfully."- he
cnn talk when he chooses. there WAS naturally
IN eager expectation of the occasion. The
meeting being the first session Of the season,
there was an unusual interchange of congratu-
lAtl0n O6tW6o1 Llp6e VINO rarely uAGbLt except IL
this Club. Most Of
TIE REGULAR ATTENDANTS
made their appearance,-Dr. A. Bronson Alcott,
who, during the summer, has published q vol
ume, f" Concord Days" which Will make friends
for him wherever known; + Pr; Ba5tol VINO, las!
with brilliant thoughts, which froquenters OF the
Club could remember hearing when they fell
freshly from his lips. John Weiss, whose last
book. ''Thc American Religion, "altlough it does
not jump with the popular creeds, is, neverthe-
Julia Ward Howe, gifted and heroic wo-
man, but with an unfortunate tendency to
bury truisms in profundity Of words Ednah
D. Cheney, thoughtful writer, especially on
subjects connected with Art; Frank Sanborn, q
clever Journalist Of the independent kind aud
an Industrious student Of other subjects than
politics; Samuel Longfellow, brother Of the
poet, and himself poet as we1l as Unitarian
minister, whose theology is beautiful Iheism;
Miss 4. P. Peabody, devoted to educational re-
form, and particularly to the introduction OF
Froebel's Kindergarten system; Nora Perry,
whose poetry is in oil the monthlies, and Louise
Chandler Mou1ton, poet, too, and story-Tr1ter,
but whose best work is: perhaps, her letters on
literature to the New York Tribune. D. a. Was
abroad. T. Henry Hunt, late Of Montreal but
an acquisition to the corps OF aclentlhc men IN
this city, and Mr. 4. Fl. Louis, an Engllsh jour
nalist, author, and traveller. were among the
guests Of the occasion.
Mr. Higginson said he had no papers to read,
but would tell, in an informal way, some Of the
experiences and sensations Of
HIS EUROPEAN TRIP.
For aconyersational narrative, this was IN c1-
ceedingly happy and entertaining one, and parts
report am going to make, give his language
with uerbdtina accuracy, nor, indeed, all Of his
points, but rather the material Of which they
were made. Doubtless, in good time, either as
lecture or Atlantic essay, most OF your readers
will get his story in his own ceau-cut, polished,
and idio1natic English.
He said he was the
LAST HELLO OF VANISHING TYPE
OF American societJ,--the class WHO postponed
their European tour till middle=age. Formerly
it was customary for Americans to spend the
former part Of life in their own country, learning
what they could, and then to take course Of
Europe. Now, it is the fashion to take Europe
first; and on the whole, he was inclined to think
the latter method the better one. Yet, in his
own case, he WAS sure the postponement had en-
learning the way to 3 thing, approaching it by
stages, making as much as possible Of your
orange-peel and water before doyouring the In.
most sweet of tile orange. He did not mean q
preparation Of dates, OF figures, but rather an
education OF the imagination.
It is pleasant, after We have read all that an
author has written, and appropriated all that we
could discover about his character, appearance,
and ways, to meet him at length face to face:
There is i similar sensation in visiting Europe
after the Imagination has been stimulated BY
long contemplation and long expectancy: 4
clever woman once said to him that she was yet
undecided which vas tile most exhi1aratipg aud
delightful: to study 9 great mans character
through his works. and then supplement it with
personal acquaintance OF to haye that sudden
and indelible revelation which comes with the
first look into . face. Ho met and travelled in
company with, for time, an estimablo American
clergyman, who WAS conducting through Eu.
rope
BEVY OF BRIGHT GIRLS;
and perhaps his responsibilities we're not
lessened by the circumstance that one Of them
was his wife. The clergyman said he had en-
deavored to make them thoughtful and studious
Of the scenes they we're enjoying; sometimes
suggested reading bit of history, or told an old
legend; but it was no use. They were having
SUCH good time, they were not learning any
thing. They were going over Europe for the
same kind Of good time, and getting just as
much good, as they would havo and get by trip
to the White Mountains or Niagara Falls. :
The association OF Europe with the past was
impressed upon, him by the first fragment of 3
ruin seen from the steamer as they neared the
11rah onaut IT. :