The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-23
AN HOUR WITH LONGFELLOW.
4 chat Between The Author Of "HIawa-
tina" and an English Nobleman,
Lord Ronald Conner
from Vanity Fair. London ]


Dear Vanity-A friend Of mine, whose title
and family name are both floral. and who ap-
precates and ls appreciated by the Ameri-
cans, hearing that | had made acquaintance,
and consequently lasting friendship. with
Sam Ward for as his friends, who are legion
both in the old and new world, cali him.
"Uncle Sam ,, wrote that to know the afore-
said Sam Ward was In itself " q liberal educa-
tionW Those Of my readers who have been
at the Brevoort House, Fifth Avenue. New
York, will not require to be reminded OF the
invariable kindness and courtesy that all
Englshmen experience at the hands Of Uncle
Sam, and for such as have not had the privI-
lege OF making his acquaintance, | can only
say that the sooner they go to America and
do 80 the better for them.
! had been taken by Sam Ward to see a
days racing on the new course at Jerome
Park, q four-mile drive out of New York, a
prettler race-course l never saw, but nv ac-
quaintance with race-courses Is Of a limited
kind, and dare say Goodwood would be reck-
Oned q finer one. Jerome Park is In d yallav
admirably laid out and planted A serpen.
tine race-c0urse winds In and out OF the plan
tations. The stands are as smart as those OF
Longchamps, and much more comfortable
pleasant, idle day was closing In the last
EdGf " SbttpLttIlHsb DbeIl run. won anu
lost, and as we We're making ready to return
to town Uncle Sam suddenly remarked that
could not think Of leaving America II was
going In q couple Of days back to England
without paying Longfellow visit
Nothing would give me greater pleasure"
replied; but how is one TO get to Boston,
q ten hours railway Journey visit Long
fellow and return to New York, to-day being
"Wednesday, and my boat sailing on FridayY'
I'VE will leave New York tonight by the 10
o'clock train, breakfast at my club Ia Boston
tomorrow morning, drive over to Longfellow
at Cambridge, catch the midday train and be
back In New York tomorrow night; that will
give You time to pack up. and as go you
must time to start on Friday morning for
England"
The same night after dining at the best Of
restaurants, Delmonco's). we passed In n
Pullman car, and found ourselves at the
following morning In Boston-the most Eng
lish-looking town in America.
On one side of a park, which Is not unlike
our St. James, runs street lined with hand
some private dwellings and clubs, that made
one half think one had been suddenly trans
planted to Piccadilly. In one of these clubs
lthe SOMERSET, most luxurious place, we
breakfasted as only one can in America or
Paris; Tor here every meal Is study, and
this was emphatically square" one. Then
we drove over to Cambridge, a pretty town
Of villas about four miles from Boston where
lives the greatest Of American poets Within
short distance OF the house we met Long
fellow, walking with one of his daughters.
Although | had only seen that good gray
head" once before, and that ten years ago.
recognized him even sooner than did my com
panion, who, however, lost not moment in
embracing his old friend, for Sam Ward and
L0ngfellow have been fast friends half cen
fury or more.
III asked to describe Longfellow's appear
ance should compare him to the ideal repre- |
sensations of early Christian saints and |
Thnrl 10 L. dnfp al, ~
about him, benignity in his expression |
which one associates with st. John when at
Patmos he blessed his followers and brethren. |
saying. Little children, love one another
L0ngfelloW's house has historical interest /
attaching to 1t apart from its being the poets
dwelling, for it was here that Washington
mad his headquarters after the battle of Bun
ker's Hill, and the room which tradition SAYS
was occupied by the General was curiously
enough. the same which Longfellow first In
habted when, o new-fiedged professor at
cambridge, he lodged here in 1887, little ex-
pecttng that this house, then let to various
iodgers, would one day be his. In this his
l0ffc chamber ION the second story the ear
Hest OF his poems were written. here the
Tansiations from old Spanish and German
poems were made, and here his SQUIRE Mer,"
Inc first series Of the poems that made his
name known throng bout the world Of litera-
known as Craigie House from the name OF
iormer proprietor, once apothecary general
q the Northern Provincial Army Is not
Unlike IN character to many an old !
mansion about Chiswick and Richmond
q the time Of Queen Anne and George L.
/, Ihe grounds in which it stands are said to ,
pe beautiful, but | saw nothing of them, for ,
OUT visit being necessarily very short one |
maae one not Inclined when once In the poets
study to leave ii, even were the gardens Of !
Armida close at hand; but on entering and 2
saving Cralgle House noticed some fine old :
49,, venerable enough to have given shade
Y Y, washington and to have dropped their
caves at his feet more than century ago.
The walls of the entrance hail ara iinad
WIN wainscot1ng and the staircase Is of dark Il
od OAK. On the landing stands an ancient J
v VOC that must, should think, bring one Of i
~ ~ pest KNOWN Oh Longfeliow's poems into y
we mind OF every visitor. Almost inyolun- {
sarlly on seeing 1t one repeats the lines On G
The Old Clock on the Stairs" 9
The poets study is on the right and on the u
ground floor; this room also rejoices In an 8
Gent wainscoted walls. Here are no modern n
aecorations, no modern wall papers. no new Q
lsngled furniture; above the chimney-piece il 8
paced one OF the circular diminishing mir d
Tors that our grandparents liked 50 we'll this =
y y crowned by a golden eagle with outspread i
pslhlons, but whether the bird Is mathematical d
o a, America or not cannot tell. v
The poets study tahle-the anvil on which L
y much precious ore has been hammered .
the middle Of the room. 1t is
uttered with books and papers. The latest
At
G eon OF Swinburne's Poems and Ballads
uerman and French literature are well repre- a
ssesnted, as well as English on the well-filled
Rsssives OF the book cases that line the walls II
II Longfellow's sanctum. 81
!, by the side of this table stands Statuette y
II an elderly man in long frock coat, his r
! hnus placed behind him. This is said to be Y
II pest likeness of Goethe extant. On the q
~ are portraits of relatives and friends OF g
poet. Had the power that the late Mas q
Pr, Possessed to such an extraordinary p
ny, OF being able to remember and set IL
~ " conversations, should write more In u
Efsefsuhg account than this one fear is; but, d
EAaylng it, must be content with merely a
oLHulng that for upward Of an hour | lis q
Nv % as pleasant a conversation as / ever n
Raainper to have heard between these old o.
I'M. MI. Wards TOW Of recollections and VI
taiscences Is amazing, and Longfellow,
a af Z no great talker, proved himself to
w Is almost rarer-a capital listener. bt
pgieilow spoke as If his lourneying were
81 r. Il ne should not return to the old =