The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-16
AN HOUR WITH L0NGFELIl0W.
By LORD RONALD COVER.

is appreciated by the Americans hearing that had
made acquaintance. and consequently lasting
friendship. with Sam Ward Tor as his friends. who
are legion both in the Ola and New World, call him
Uncle SAM wrote that to know the aforesaid Sam
Ward in itself "a liberal education." Those Of
my readers who have been at the Brevoort House.
Fifth avenue. New York. will require to be re-
minded of the invarable Kindness and courtesy that
all Englishmen experience at the hands of Uncle Sam.
and for such have not had the privilege of making
his acquain lance only say that the they
go to America and do so the better for them.
had been taken by sam Ward to days racing
the at Jerome Park. four miles drive
out of New York. prettier race course never
but my acquaintance with is of limited
kind. and dare say Goodwood would be reckoned q
finer jerome Park is in valley, admirably laid
out and planted. serpentine course winds in
and out of the plantations. The stands smart
those Of Longchamps. and much more comfort
able
A pleasant. idle day closing in; the last race.
a steeplechaso, had been rum won and lost and
making ready to return to town Uncle Sam
suddenly remarked that could not think of leaving
America Il was going in couple of days back to Eng.
land) without paying Longfellow a visit.
Nothing would give me greater pleasure" re-
piled; 'but how to get to Boston, ten hours
railway journey. visit Longfellow and return to New
York, to-day being Wednesday. and my boat sailing
Friday
Nothing simpler" Uncle Sam responded. "Wa
will leave New York might by the o'clock train,
breakfast at my club in Boston tomorrow morning,
drive 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 go
you must time to start on Friday morning for Eng
land"
The same night after dining at that best Of res
taurants, Delmonico 81 passed in Pullman car.
and found ourselves at seven the following morn
ing in Boston-the most English looking town in
America.
On one side of park. which is not unlike st.
James. street lined with handsome private
dwellings and clubs that made one half think one
had been suddenly transplauted to Piccadly In one
of these clubs the Somerset). most luxurious place.
breakased only can i'll America or Paris for
here every meal study, and this was empatically
square one. Then We drove over to Cambridge.
pretty town of villas about four miles from Boston.
q short distance Of the house met Longfellow.
walking with ono Of his daughters. Although had
only seen that good gray head once before. and
that ten years ago, l recognized him even sooner
than did my companion who however, lost not
moment in embracing his old friend. for Sam Ward
and Longfeuow have been fast friends half century
or
! If asked to describe Longfellows appearance.
should compare him to the ideal representations Of
early Christian saints and prophets. There is kind
of halo of goodness about him. benignity in his ex-
precision which associates with St. John when at
Patnos he blessed his followers and brethren say
ing. Little children. love another. Longfel
lows house has historical interest attaching to it
apart from its being the poets dwelling for it
here that Washington had his headquarters after the
battle of Bunker's HILL and the room which tradi-
ton says occupied by the General
| curiously enough the same which Longfellow
first inhabited When new new neds sa professor
pectng that this house then let to various dodgers.
would one day be his. In this historic chamber ION
the second story the earliest of his poems were writ
4 ten; here the TRANSACTIONS from old Spanish and
German poems were made. and here his "Outre Mer.'
throughout the world OF literature, penned. The
building. which is known as Craigie House from the
eral Of the Northern Provincial army is unlike
| Tn character TO many an old mansion about Chiswck
| or Richmond of the time of Qneen Anne or George
The grounds In which it stands said to be beau.
tiful but nothing of them, for our visit being
necessarily very short one made one not inclined
when once in the poets study to leave it.
the gardens Of Armida close at hand; but on enter
ing and leaving Craieie House l noticed some fine
old trees. venerable enough to have given shade to
| Washington and to have dropped their leaves at his
| feet more than century ago.
The wallis of the entrance hail lined with
wainscoting and the staircase is Of dark old oak.
On the landing stands ancient clock. that must
should think. bring one of the best known OF Long
| fellows poems into the mind Of every visitor. AL
most nvoluntarily seeing it one repeats the lines
| on 1.-The Old Clock on the Stairs.
/ The poets study is the right and the ground
floor; this also rejoices i'll ancient wainscoted
| walls. Here modern decorations. no modern
| wall papers, no new-fangled furniture; above the
chimney piece is placed one OF the circular diminish
| ing mirrors that our grandparents liked well:
| this is crowned by golden eagle with outspread
| pinons but whether the bird is mathematical Of
| America not cannot tell.
The poets study table-the anvil on which so
much precious ore has been hammered out-occu-
pies tho middle Of the room. 1t is Uttered with.
books and papers. The latest arrival saw from.
| Europe was the new edition of Swinburnes Poems
and Ballads" German and French literature are
well represent tied, well English on the welllle
shelves Of the bookcases that line the walls OF Long
| fellow sanctum
elderly man in long frock coat. HIS hands placed be-
hind him. This is said to be the best likeness OF
tons and friends Of the poet Had the power that
| the late Nassau Senior possessed to such an
extraordinary extent OF being apie 70 remem-s
interesting account than this one fear u.s. bug
not having it must be content with merely record
| ing that for upward of an hour l listened to as
| pleasant a conversation as ever remember to have
heard between these old friends. Mr.. Wards dow
| of recolections and "reminiscences Ii amazing, ana
Longfclow. although great talker. proved himself
to be what is almost rarer) capital listener.
Longfclow spoke as II his journe. ings we're over
~ If he should not return the Old World his I'M
pressions OF his travels in Europe, the first
ago. are pleasant ones. There are certainly
few places in Europe which could DO
| more attractive the poet than his homo in Massa-
chusotts ongfeIlow has had the fortune OF be-
ing thoroughly appreciated in his own country and
| probably, would have been the career of Byron. OF
Keats or of Shelley had 1t been thus with them. 1t
would be presuInptuous for me, and out OF place:
| to do more here than allude to the universal
popularity Of Longfellow's works wherever English
is spoken; believe it is not an exsegeration to-
tuat MS Works Iloic poPuiai muse ~
! any other living poet What child is there who has
| not heard of Excelsior or of "Evengeline, OF
| miles St,.ndish' of "Hiawa thar What songs
/ more popular than "The Bridge and II Know
Maiden Fair to Sccy' OR who, after reading thu
psalm of Life or the Footsteps OF Angels. does
not feel little less worldly little less earthlyf Tho
world indeed. adoep debt III gratitude to Henry
] Waisworth Longfcllow.
Bidding me note the beauty of the autunnal tints
that make America in the fall look as IL r~inbowsf
were streaming out of the earth. Longfellow pre-
scnted with goodly sample OF the red anu golden
leaves of the previous autumn, which although dry
and faded. still glowed like gems; these leaves
brought away with me, and they now form garland
round tho poets portrait; precious souvenir OF
| that morning passed at Crzlgie House.
Many years ago Cardinal Wiseinan alluded 10 Long
fellow in words that bear repeating.
| ''Our hemisphere" said the Cardinal, "cannos,
claim the honor OF having brought him forth, but
he still belongs to us for his works have become a.
household words wherever the English language is
spoken. And whether We are charmed by his
i ~. III. nAl....