New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TICKNOR'S MEMOIRS.

The present memoir Of ono OF the most eminent
men of letters who have gwen lustre 10 the name OF
Massachusetts, was commenced by hls intimate
friend Mr. George s. Hillard, but on account OF the
impaired health of that gentleman, has been COM
pleted by Mrs Ticknor and her eldest daughter,
although not without his valuable counses, and per-
sonal revision of the whole work. 1t consists
mainly of the journals and letters of Mr.
Ticknor during an interval of more than
half a century. several years of which were
passed in the highest intellectual circles OF
European society, and all of which wero conse-
Grated with singular fidelity, to the cultivation oil
literature. The volumes possess peculiar INTEREST,"
not only as a vivid pOrrature of rare and original
individuality, but a graphic illustration OF an
early phase of American letters, which have since
blossomed into abundant, If not rpcned har-
vest of precious fruit. The commencement OF MIR.
Tcknors literary life was at the dawn OF the intel
lectual movement, which forms so remarkable an
epoch in the history of Massachusetts, among the
conspicuous features of which the formation OF
the Anthology Club, the publication OF tho North
American Review" the administration OF Harvard
College under DIR. Kirkland, and the nearly stimuli
taneous rising Of the galaxy of stars. represented
In part by William Ellory Claiming Washington
Allston, Richard II. Dana, William Cullen Bryant
Alexander Everett Edward T. Charming DR.. Jacob
Bigclow Nathaniel Bowdtch, Jared Sparks, Andrews
Norton Edward Everett William Tudor Joseph c.
CorsweI William Ii. Prescott, George Bancroft
and John G. Pafrey
Mr.. Ticknor was born in Boston Aug. l. 1871
His ancestors were among the intelligent yeOmanry
of New-England from whom he inherited the Wig
orous physical constitution and admirable practical
sense, which were no less strongly marked features
in his composition than his passion for learning and
the refined elegance Of his tastes His father wac
graduate Of Dartmouth College, and for many years
of his life was devoted TO the profession of teaching.
He formed intimacy with DIR. Whoelock, the
President Of that institution, who on occasion OF his
visits to Boston during the Winter vacations,
always an inmate of the family of his pupll and
friend The old masters attention naturally
directed to the blooming son of his host and after
an examination, gave him certificate of admission
to college before lie was ten years old. He did not
enter, however, until four years afterwards,
when he Joined the junior class in 1903, graduating
In 1907 at the age Of sixteen. Soon after
leaving college. he commenced a course of classical
studies with the Rev. John 5. J. Gardiner, die-
tingushed Episcopal clergyman of Boston, and one
Of the most Thoroughly educated scholars of that
city. Under his guidance, he read parts of Liyy,
the Annals of Tacitus, the whole Of Juvenal and
Persius and the Saircs Of Horace. and at the same
time pracicing Latin composition in and prose.
In Greek he read several Of the plays of Eurpides
portions of Esehylus Herodotus, and Thucydidcs,
aud several books Of the Odyssey. After spending
three years in this manner he commenced the study
of law in the Office OF William sullivan that bland
and courteous gentleman of the old school, whose
bow was said to be a benedcton, and whose smile
like jacobs ladder, when he plunged into the mys
terics of Plowdcn and Coke, with exemplary dill
gei,cc but with no enthusiastic interest. In 1913
he was admitted TO the Sutiols bar but continued to
occupy himself with Greek and Latin rather than
l,.,t in ft,a1 ind,
tie profession so little TO his TASTE he gave mp lis
Office. resolving with the approval Of his father to
spend several years in study and travel i'll Europe
Previous TO erharliug the foreign voyage, which
at that time was far more serious enterprise than ut
present, he made journey to the south for the pull
pose of seeing more of his country than had
hitherto been in his power, passing the Winter of
1Si4-1j in Washington and Virginia. His letters
during this visit form graceful opening 10 the cor
rcspondeuce which presents such perpetual charm
in the course of the work. characteristic speci-
men Of these is afforded in the following sketch OF
John Randolph. whom he met at a dinner party in
Philadelphia TIL instant entered the room niy
eyes rested on his lean and salow physognolny. He
was sitting and seemed hardly larger OF taller than
boy of fifteen He rose to receive me as was pre-
scented, and lowered half foot above my own
hight. This dispr0portion arises from the singular
deiornty of his person. His head is small, and,
until Won approach him near enough 10 observe inc
premature and unhealthy wrinkles that have fur
rowud his face. you would say that 1t was boyisb.
But a your eye turns towards his extrenities every
thing seems be minatuTay stretched out and pro
tIact,d To his short and lneagcr body are attached
long LEGS which. instead of diminishing, grow
larger ~ they approach the floor until they end in
pair of feet, broad and large, giving his
whole person the appearance OF sort OF pyr-
amid. His arms arc the c0uneTpaIts Of his legs;
they rise from small shoulders, which seem hard
ly equal to the burden are drawn out TO a dis
proporiOnate length above the elbow, and to still
greater length below and at last terminated by
aland heavy enough to have given the supernatural
blow to William of DelOraine, and by fingers which
might have served as models for those of the goblin
mage In his physiOmOmy there is little TO please or
satisfy except an eye which gances all and rests
OH none. You observe, however, a mixture OF the
White man and the Indian marks of both being Gp-
pareut Ills long straight hair is parted on the top,
and portion hangs down each side while the rest
Is carelessy tied up behind and flows down his back.
His voice is shrill and efemnate, and occasionally
broken by those tones which you sometimes hear
from dwarfs and dcforned people He spoke to ne
OF tie hospitality he had found in Philadelphia and
Of the prospect of returning TO a comfortess home.
with feeling that brought nearer to him for the
moment and of the illness OF his nephew Tudor, and
the hopes that it had blasted with tenderness
and melancholy winch made rue think better
of his heart than | had before AT table he
talked little, but ate and smoked great deal"
His account OF dinner TO which he was invited by
President Madison is in the same descriptive vein =
As in the drawing-rOom before dinner, no one was
bold enough 10 venture conversation. The President
did not apparently know the guest on his right, nor
L. Afs-r 10 10