The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-09-20
Mr.. Emerson at Home.

Just outside the village of Concord, Mass. at
the intersection of the old road to Boston with
that to Lexington, is the home of Ralph Waldo
Emerson. 1t stands a little back from the road,
and tall pines and frs before ii give an air Of re
trement well fitting the home of philosopher.
The original house was built fifty years ago, and
as 1t now stands is a large square building, paint
ed white, and furnished with generous supply OF
windows and chimneys, 4 few years since it was
badly damaged by fire. but while the owner was in
Europe it carefully restored by his friends,
| and few Improvements added, the only irrepara-
bic loss being some boxes Of old sermons slowed
away i'll the garnet, which having done good ser
vice in the hands of the Puritan divines now
persisted from an excess of the element they lacked
before. \ roomy barn stands near the house. and
behind lies little farm Of nearly a dozen acres.
The whole external appearance Of the place sug-
gests old-tashioned comfort and hospitality
Within the house the flavor Of antiquity is still
more noticeable. Old pictures look down from the
walls: quaint blue -and-whtc china holds the
simple dinner; old furniture brings to mind the
generations of the past Just at the right YOU
enter is Mr.. Emersons library, large square room
plainly furnished, but made pleasant by pictures
and sunshine. The homely shelves which line the
walls are well filed with books There is lack OF
snowy covers or itch bindings and each volume
seems TO have sobery grown old in constant ser
vice, Mr.: Emerson's study is quiet room up
stars and there each day he is steadily at work
despite advancing Years.
Although one hardly realizes it. Mr. Emerson is
| getting TO be an old man. Born in 1903, and Il
graduate of Harvard in 1921, he has seen the fatal
aStellsk set to the names OF one after another OIL
his classmates, until now few are left beside him
self. lie speaks OF himself Il man whose work
is nearly ended, but the only sign Of failing power
noticeable in conversation with him is slight
hesitation and apparent effort i'll recalling a needed
word. especially proper name.
HIS Wlie-a sister Of DR.. Jackson, the diScovcrel
OF an5eSthetcS and rival claimant with Morse OF
the electro magnetic telegraph-s stately lady
| with beautiful snowy hair. and a digniied but
sracious bearing She is proud and Justly So OF
her husbands genius and fame. One daughter
lives at home. and dcvoeS herself to care for the
comfort Of the family.
| In college Mr. Emerson did not DISTINGUISH him
self as a scholar. He INDUCED his fondness for
| literature at the expense Of lessons. As Il class
mate remarks, He was one of the few who made
the discovery that Shakespeare was very entertain
| ing reading. The Waverley Novels then com
! ing out. and SCOTS magic enchanted him as it
| did everybody. Each new volume was quickly
| purchased. and he with group of college friends
all eager to enjoy it. would sit up far into the
night, taking turns at reading aloud so that all
| might hear at once
| Oddly enough. philosophy was study which he
| dsliked and never excclled in Mathematics. too
were great stumbling-bloek. The story is told
by the best OF authorities that only few years ago
| he unwlttlngy cheated poor Irishman, when pay
| ing h.m for some work. by calculating that seven
tlreS seven We're twenty seven, and the error was
not detected until Pat. who had his doubts about
| the matter, consulted Il neghbor and came back
| for Il settlement.
There We're y-nine in Mr. Emerson's class and
| commencement parts were given to twenty seven
! OF them. Emerson stood high enough to have 4
| snare III a cOnference-a part usually given to the
| dullcr men-and accordingly he and two Others
conferred ION the character of John Knox, vii
liam Penn and John Wesley" After graduation he
taught school with an older brother in Boston tol
| some time before he entered the ministry.
We are wont TO say that at such or such time
! Mr. Emerson left the ministry But is he not in
the ministry still ! From the Literary World
! September