New-York tribune., 1874-06-13
A DAY IN CONCORD.

-" LITTLE MEN" FOR PAGEs-DR. BARfoL A"oo
TIE PERSONALITY OF SHAKESPEARE = I'M,
LAST HOUSE HAWTHORNE LIVED IN
WHERE HE WALKED WITH HIS VISIONS
nRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT The iH'"o'-'
Posrox lime 5.-This world is not all "a Vaie
os ,.ars since il contains Concord. "on. 'uu ~. =
.doy and saw IFS pleasant ways for myself iheie "
.eiu"s' on" 80 " our club" OF which Mr.. Alcott Is
-. ,posonbey and friend. aud he invited us 10 meet
NTH him Yesterday at Concord. We "eio " pi' "
his grounds had the weather been nne as ""Sh "o
,,assed most of the day In his house. Carriages a""u
ma af the depot and we drove through the peaeeu'
ettv town. green with the fresh verdure OF June, ana
white and fragrant with fruit trees in blossom We
assed the new library which is the pride of the place
The literature OF Concord Is doubt its religion so
very appropriately, the library is built hke cnui
onasl Gothic and with an ambitious spre. lnuoou ~ ",
one exclaimed "what pretty churchP out our snis
=, a,,eaa driver said proudly and sententiousy'
- noa,ro that's the library" We passed also MT
Emerson's large, uDpretendng, yet most coihioi'oio
and delightful house. which has been rebuilt 10 ooh pre-
cse,v as OF old before the envous flames devoureuH w.
AT last-driyng along that road over which the Bfsh
,eguars marched in the sunshine, hundred years ago
s s,opned before Mr. Alcott's gate This rustic renee
a, which we all look eurously, is sacred, because the
hands of the philosopher himself cut ana arranged every
stick II is fashioned of graceful boughs' and quaint
pnarled trunks of trees 1t shuts in great green yaru
and some wonderful elms. that must be hundreds OF
wears old It was this house that Robert Hagpurh
vedthe early lover at last the husband or Rose
GARFIELD in 'septimus Felton," Hawthorne speaks OF
the retreang hill behind the great elms; and the old
house. (which the magic hand OF Alcott has improved
by the touch that throws grace amiabeness ana nau
raj beauty over scenes that have little preension In
themselves"
Can you guess the delight OF being welcomed az such
a gate 10 such home, by a reyered and beloved man.
whose face is benedicon whose silver hair is crown
of glory and whose mild persuasive voice never spoke
as truly believe. harsh or unCenerous word IN all
the many years he has spoken TO his felows Behind
him came his two tail and slender daughters-LoulSa'
who has told the story Of herself and her three sisters
in Little Women" 10 the largest public that ever read
any juvenile book. and May, Of whose artistic gifts
have more 10 say hereafter There are welcomes ana
welcomes. There is the polite welcome, OF whcn you
cannot complain but which does not set you at your
ease and the cordial welcome which makes you
glad you have'come The one we received was Oh tne
latter order The barometerhad been faling-we had
been doubtful whether TO or to stay at home-pu at
sight of these three friendly faces. we were sure tha
we had not made mistake whatever were the weather
We went in and rambled like explorers the rooms,
finding attractions everywhere wish couio tell
YOU how pretty and how peculiar it all was The house
has been built between and two hundred years.
When il came Mr. Alcotts possession some sixteen
wears ago, he told he would have to pullt down
and put up dwelling on the Old site II he wahteu
10 live there But he sent for experts TO examine H.
and they assured MN Cudt 10 VI "V"''
pretend to put up strong superstructure The great
beams solid oak and the nails OF wrought ron'
and there was no weakness anywhere to keep ii from
standing for centuries more. SO, instead OF pulnG
down, he repaired and beautihed. He kept all the
quaint oldashioned pecuiarities and made each one
serve some purpose of adornment Miss Louisa sad'
langbngly that her father made gothic brackets TO set
fiu pans on and, indeed, did not see single corner
in the whole house that had not artistic charm.
Here was quantity shaped jug; there curious earv-
ing yonder OF flowers. and everywhere pictures
THIS brings back to Miss May Alcott, pleasant per-
son 70 return 10, by the way.
She was born an artist The walls of her own room
were covered her childish sketches and the house
was fun finished work of her later years
To look copies Of Turner almost made you believe
in the nsmiGration of souls. Others have copied
form and color but she had not alone rendered these
external features but had infused into them the very
soul of the original till should think Turner's ghost
must find il hard 10 tell which were his own ana whch
were hers. / not surprised TO learn that John
Ruskn-Turner's prophet and idolaer-had taken MISS
May to his heart-need explain to censorious world
that do not this literally Sand considers her
10 be the one person "a right to copy the works
of his idol These copies OF Turner full of won
derful color that they would make bright the darkest
day, and almost warm the coolest one.
Then there were lovely flower pctures-originals,
tbese-panted black panel is the pretty fashion
of the present This fashion has been scarcely in
froduced abroad "a yet-give America credit for one
novel idea in artso there is both EHgh and
French demand for these pictures. which Miss Acot
sends abroad receiving foreign gold IN return is not
this an era when America exporting works of art to
delight the efete Civilizations &c, &c?
What with flowers and pictures, and philosophy, we
were happy TIL lunch time, and then we had pleas
ure being served with our coffee and sandwiches by
the very Little Men of Miss Alcots charming book
They arc Mr.. Acot's grandchildren such grave. eour-
teous sweet-faced, gentle and genemanly little men as
philosophers grandsOns ought TO be-
After lunch we waited for Mr. Emerson, who was to
ION us and hear Dr. Bartois paper for TO read paper
you know, is the thing without which Boston
club couldn't meet in Concord where all the birds
were singing and all the trees ia bloom AS we waited
We talked; wisely and how well will leave you to
conjecture. At last Mr.. Emerson, his wife, and
some guests; and we went into the library. Fancy q
cosy room with crimson carpet and all the deepseated
comfortable chairs and lounges covered with crimson
likewise; with crimson cloth the great table; with
wherever there not pictures, and pictures
wherever there books and the odd spaces full
Of flowers cheerful fire burned in the chimney. by
way recognition OF the cloudy day, but all the win
dows were open, and all the merry birds tried to
sing Dr. Barol pretend that they knew about
SnaRespeare than he did For his subject was Shake
speare's Personality in his Poetry" There have been
many Shakespeare's worSs, but few Of
them have ever Intimately OWNED FROM the works
the man.
ealu IdpIIoH, un dONOhpiShCu Nii''N' '"'c'y
deceased It is reported that English cotemporary
sepding his groom the TO call his friend
Shakespeare was asked by the servant how he should
know which was Shakespeare You will know him per
fectly we'll was the H. alone looks like a
man All the rest animals" But it IS very singu
lar how litte we know Of this representative man
This man OF might, whose kingly nature included and
eomprehended all other men. Our American essayist.
Mr. Emerson was once, after glowing tribute OF praise
70 the great dramas, which has surpassed
constrained 10 add that after all Shakespeare must so
fpto bistorv with a tnore than doubtful reputation,