New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-27
Henry u4DSUOhTH LONGFELL0W.


HENRY UADSUOETH LONGFELLOW
Henry Wadsworth LongfellOw, born on the
9th of February, 1907, is to-day seventy
years old. If the age assigned to man by the
PsaImist is neither the exact measure OF life
nor of creative power, it is at least a period
whence, looking back, the total character OF a
life, and the sum of that life's achievement,
may be calmly and mpartially estimated. 1t is
now Just half a century since Mr.. LongfellOw
published his first fugitive lyrics; and the
career of no American author since that time,
has been marked by such even sunshine OF
recognition. His fame was of gradual growth !;
but, as he had no literary vice to unlcarn, it
was sound to the core. His later popularity
(unequalcd by that of any modern English
poet, with the exception of TennysOn) Is due
neither to accidental taste nor conscious effort
to secure it but it rests, simply and solely,
upon the natural response i'll the hearts of
men and women TO the limpid thought the
purified aspiration, the gentle and cOnsoling
sentiment, of his poetry. These qualities have
carried his name far beyond the limits of his
country and of the English tongue. In every
land and language of Europe hc is the repre-
sentative Of American Song.
Mr.. LOngfelOw's life, but for a single great
and tragic sorrow, must be called an emil
nenty fortunate One,-but not because its
fortune has specially resided in its accom-
plnying circumstances. It's best happiness has
grown from personal qualities, to which, on
such an anniversary. we may be pardoned for
referring. With all his great fame, he has
been, and still remains, snguarly modest: he
has invariably preserved silence, when assailed:
literary jealousy, or emulation save IN the
nOblest sense, he has never known; and he
has been as slow to deal sharply with the
faults of others as he has been eager to recog-
nizc the least promise of good. large, I'M
reserying humanity is the basis OF his nature,
not only coloring every form of his creative
activity, but manifested in the speech and act
of his daily life. We cannot associate the idea
of age with such nature: even the sweet
serenity and grace of his recent "MOritui
SGlufamus" makes us half believe that it
was written for others, and not for the poet
himself.
We are still too young a nation to have
adoptCd any official acknowledgment of the
glory of Literature. We cannot give the poet
rank and title, as in Europe, and government
pensions for such service would be wildly dis
tributed by the hands of Congressional Com
mittee Even the people, while they enjoy
and are grateful, rarely remember that silent,
unknown appreciation often seems the absence
of IT, to an author. Those forms of express
sion which constitute a tangible reward for
years Of devoted endcavOr, must come from
small class. When the proper occasion comes.
they are not withheld. The SEVENTEEN birth
day Of William Cullen Bryant was specially
honorcd by the Century Club of this city, in
1864, and the venerable poets eightieth birth
day, two years ago, was permanently COM
memOrated by Il memorial vase. On both of
these occasions the whole people may be said
TO have been represented: the East and the
West Joined hands with Mr.. Bryant's friends
and neighb0rs.
We are glad to make known the fact that
Mr.. LongfellOw had the opportunity of accept
ing similar tribute. Several well-knOwn
gentlemen of this city, last Spring, discussed
the plan of rendering to him complimentary
banquet on the present anniversary. 1t would
have found a more than hearty, even Joyous
responsc: all men prominent in letters, art,
the learned professions, commerce, and indus
worthy alike of the city and the guest. But,
"a Mr.. I.ongfellow was then suffering from a
severe nruIalgic affection, it was thought best
to ascertain whether the compliment would he
acceptable, before proceeding further. While
expressing his grateful acknowledgment of the
will and design, he begged to I've allowed to
accept the former alone He has always ShrlInk
from positions which must make him person
ally conspicuous. While we regret that IN
opportunity has been lost, which indeed could
not add TO his secure Ienown, but would have
revived Il sense of the debt which the whole
American people owe to him, and have en-
cOuragcd many lonely literary worker, il is
the more our duty to make public the tribute
which was intended
To-day there will be thousands of happy
"returns!" silently expressed in hearts which
look for the same pleasure, hope, or consola-
ton in coming years as they have received
from the poet in the past. Like our own gray
bard, Mr.. Longfellow will never forsake his
Muse. No cloud of doubt or mad impatience
ever troubled her serene eyes, no wind of fierce
human passion ever rufiled her bright filletcd
locks. If there is now and then Queter tone