, 1877-02-19
Tho Poets Comments on Tom Hood,
Campbell, and Other Writers,.
Entertaining tho Company with
Pleasant Readings.
Charles Dickens First Visit to Americo,
and lIis Comments.
The Banquet Given to Him by ths Club Of
which Halleok Was a Member.

CsCA manuscripts WHICH UAu Decn OfEIlVVken
by tho former user OF the desk. These manu-
scripts were euch a. Ind, for come reason, been
rejected by tho editor, but preserved for their
authors, who had never called for them. In
glancing over them could but commend the
judgment Of my predecessor, which Ind caused
him To reject these communications, and, to get
rid Of them, consigned them to tho flames,
preserving one only. This was lengthy com-
municatton entitled IA Day with Fitz-Grccnc
uelleek," which seemed To nc to contaln mat
ter too Interesting TO bo constgncdt 10 the flames.
1t had probably been laid aside because OF Its
length, nnd the editor never found time to
condtnsc It. There was no Glow 10 The authors
name, It probably having beeh sent
with private noto to tho editor. propose to
"edlt" this communication, preserving such
portions a. think will 10 OF interest to the
many friends Of the genial poet / make this
explanation In Justice 10 tho writer Of tho
Communication and to myself, for hare no
flca Of tciDg captured with stolen goods in my
possession. Should tho author recognize his ar
tscle, ho may thank mo for having preserved 90
much Of It as follows. Now to tho abbreviated
story:
DAY WITH TITz-0REEng 1ALLEoK.
II Stony Creek, Conn, Wero famous for
no other fact, Its nAne Is worthy Of rcmcn,-
oau,, enu author - M.raa Ro.,.r. " a a
eeAo, esu.n' Ius"o, " Sl.so DUa&M1e' 'n'" Inv
Long Island Sound, above New Haven, and not
q creek at nil, had at that ttmo a single
house Of entertainment, clcanly and snug OF as-
pect, kept by grizzly eontonnaEiau, originally Of
Hhode I8l2nu, named Douglass. This curious old
fellow had seen George Washington, John Han
cock, and Franklin IN tho last century, and
somewhat boAstfully uaed 10 say that, old as lc
was, he bad rather have had hi. 50 than TO live
snother hundred years Without having enjoyed
that privilege Stephen A. Doug1as, be faid,
,,as, pernops, The second cousin Of some Of hi.
r.sstE5eat-g.sndeh'd.sn. SONG e. Of Ill h!' own
children he had not seen since h's o0th ycaf,
and knew not whether they werc living or dead.
At The Inn OF this sturdy old relic Of Rcvo1u.
uona1y l''ns'. Tnnfseue ',, ,.uteex. ~ wno sssF
sought ont and made study OF singular CHAR
acters, was wont to stop for few weeks' rccrca-
ttou, running down from his homo at Guilforl
thoughtful llte oy indulg'ne = wholesome appe'
tile Tor catching ush, and In the easier pastlmc
49, ar,I,. - thn s,orv r-.or TTo,.1 ,vhos. ,,.n,s
y WIS. " .'s o.oS e.seA oao.. a "n'ao .ane'
lug 'ns.s no'' " ~ .ese aesets.. WYE! osotper,
out All "yerlong vacation, CHANGED to arrlvo. ii
this creek, and was rewarded for hts seeming
isolatlon BY having
DATs h'nn.1 sronl 1 WITH TIE roEz
ing evening IN bis cheerful company. il was
during tho month Of August. la2 Without
entering upon description Of the days nshlug,
Gr Of tho bountl1ul and moss excellent dinner
which fu]EowrI, perhaps lew ipcllcnts Of tho
evening, aud hr1c! notes ot tho poets eonyer.
T. describe Mr.. llallesk's tou, ensemble .: il
W. ~ n n0'f oehss sr a nayss ysee q h' % A1ot vS
figure, With frank, loyal, twlnkltnE eyes clean
cut features. a wuEl-triulmed beartl Of iron.
Kray, and ",he sweet dcmeanos OF gen
hi. native right to wear tho imperial purpe q
genius. In dress It WAS needlcss to deny that
The poet was no dandy. A shilling straw Int
shel,e,sd big l1n immortal ssoTn; u was bat fur
his slightly frame, and bagey blue eotton um-
purpose Of support IN tatF weather and tlctcr
In storm. But. with II aal, the shhhhy gentle.
superior, patrontzlng TO strangers, but warm
and conddIng, trustfnl 10 degree when tic leo
hud becn broken aud the stranger bud become
friend. uc looked to bt about three acQrc, and
wis Is sun-hurncd and brown Us h!s own Indian
hero, Red Jacket. When the poet set cut to
talk, and "untled the strings Of his tongue" to
soon nTiskly warmed to hls work, and hs words
pleasantly most n'usieelly, witt. a delight
{ul spirit and spsrklu. 1t Is no ~.
aggeralion Of speech to uay that hts
suli!or was ape'l.hound for the
thuslaau1 Of tho poets converse. Said he,
EtAnclng out at tho darktning s<cnc, "Dtuo
Sky and blue water are tho best things In the
world to drive away the bluea.
and such sartcit.ng 1eay beauty! fiel1, fell, and
and Byron write. Thcy couldn't help Il. Poor