Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-18
A VISIT TO VIM. CULLEN BRYANT's OLD HOME.
Correspondence Of the Stdr.1

tJOTfG6QO1QGIBCS % tftS ost<s
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, NJ ASS.
When we started In the early morning for
Cumminston, VIM. Cullen Bryant's old home,
the weather was OF that most enjoys able sort in
billy country-uncertain. What II those
threads OF mist meant showers to the jewellers
on the far side of the yalley-ShowerS that
might come to us? They seemed now but silver
chords, binding that black cloud to the top OF
Warmers mountain; the cloud itself an immense
cap which it pleased his highness to wear,
while the lesser peaks stood with heads I'M
covered before him. Every possible variety of
light and shade was brought out this morning,
as rain and sun contended for the mastery, bus
the outlook missed one charm-Grey lock being
wholly Invisible. Rather moody and exclusive
he is; retiring frequently behind his curtains OF
cloud. A peak OF $500 feet naturally feels
somewhat above his neighbors.
VILLAGE ON WHEELS.
Passing first through the upper part of Par
Jndgef1eld We note how odd the effect of a VII
lage moving away after supposing itself settled
for life. Fearful to housekeeper is the thought
OF transporting cooking stove and china. WHAT
must 1t be to move a meeting house! Yetwhen
the railroad would not come to the village the
village concluded to so to the railroad, and had
We tine TO follow Its travels We should mark
be decision.
"poes the way lay to the eastward or north
Nard?" asked one OF our party not Strong In the
our driver with p Twinkle q the eye. "Up-
vera the stout horses seemed to say. as they
struck the stage road, over which the mall Is
carried daily 70 the town of Worthington In aa
adjoining county. Not long. however. do we
follow this excellent highway, but skirtlng the
edge OF stony Peru, come by cr9ss-r road into
moIeS donh5 n rsfroad ever inyta #, vet
1t has, apparently, some resources of It's own,
the water of the Westfleld river, (north branch.)
wheels VI two or three manufactures before It
Is allowed to keep us company into West Cum
mington. AT this little settlement Of gray
houses, each yard bright with autumn iov-
erS more work is found for our dancing stream,
and we leave 1t helping make paper, as we be-
gin the ascent OF long hill, directed by the
so many strangers feet last June, when Gun
mington celebrated her one hundredth birth
day. Most OF our party walk up this HUI, to
where, through opening woods, glimpses are
obtained Of fertile nelds enclosed by stone
walls such as one seldom sees In Massachusetts,.
They are made Of slates.soudiy fitted together
and even almost as noor on the top; Though
laughed at for my adjective, | declare them abs1-
lutely poetic as compared with a wall of cob
ble-s tones, which every one admits to be The
most vicious Of all inanimate things.
THE OLD HOUSE.
The house, approached by a maple-shaded
avenue, is irregular aud picturesque, painted a
light gray, with dark trimming. Eyergreens TO
the north form a charming background for u
row Of brilliant dahl1aS, While mere and there a
bed OF scarlet geraniums CLOVIS AZ a1nst the green
III |.
Miss Julia Bryant remains here but litt;e
since Eer fathers death, being at present IN
Europe with her sister, Mrs. Pari,e God win.
The place has been for many years in charge of
MI Dawes. g gentleman seeming to possess as
large knowledge OF theoretical and practical
farming as does his brother, the Senator, OF
law and public life.
Senator Dawes residence is now in Pittsaeld,
but he was born In Cunlntngton, under the sans
roof with VIM. Cullen Bryant. TIE house is
not now standing. the poet left it In early
ruff1 hi fn,-
OF his graz. dfather's household - the 'Slell
Place" 1t was called, and Is the estate Of which
Mr.. Francis Dawes now has charge, and whose
latch. string Is always out, cordial Mrs. Dawes
informed us, TO any one who knew Mr.. Bryant
personally, or admire his writings.
In the long oak-f1niShed dining room Is pointed
out the heavy chair where, at the head of the
table, Mr.. Bry ant always sat at meals, usually
few guests on either side. A tall, quaint clock,
lnlald with different woods, stands against the
wall, the large windows open to the morning
Sun-Only Tbs note as we pass into the library
room seeming specially suggestive OF the dead
poet.
PIE POETS RETREAT.
Here he must have often retreated to find the
quiet for his literary work, which his New York
home denied him. Here he made his translation
OF the odyssey, a volume OF which, In hand
some binding, stands beside his history In one
OF the book cases. Books I'LL the spaces between
the windows; a few rare prints hang on the
walls; on the table, beside map of the county,
lay writing materials unchanged from when he
last wrote. His penmansnip was of unusual
beauty for man so old. In one OF the pariOr5
copy Of his poem on the one hundreith anni-
versary OF the battle of Bennington, found
among waste paper after his de Ath IL is clear
as print and without blot or eraSure.
A rather Striking portrait OF CnaS. Sumner
confron' US as We enter the Sitting room bat
the photographs Of Mr.. Bryant shown US seem
less life like than some which The art stores
have displayed the past year
AN CID house Is like al Old violin: into 1t Is
wrought the music of the past" These words
echo In my mind as we stand in the chambe'3
where lower ceilings Indicate thar, JhoIgn m ID
ern architect has remodeied, he has not entirely
recreated the house OF earlier days Yes"
point; they must do their best With lac build
ing as 1t stood; his childhoods home vas uob 70
be converted into carriage house as the archi-
tecJ urged"
A vase Of delicate grass which the poet speci-
ally admired stands on the mante Of MS sleep
ing room, undisturoed since placed there Jair-
teen J ears ago by young friend. Nor Is lack
ing one OF The most essential elements OF heath
and comfort-a bath room, supplied las all
these hillside homes can be at little eKpense)
with water from the mountain springs. From
the piazza We overlook landscape where SUM-
meI's green is beginning 10 gain sew beauty
from autumh's touches OF gold. yet Of these
"May not the poem be Interpreted as lament
for the shOrtness OF the glorious summet sea-
son among these hills? Why 1t seems hardly
more than breath from roses to blue gentianS
ard winter here is such depressing coming
event casting so long shadow berore.' But
Mr.. Dawes comes to the defence of Cumm,ngton,
giving facts from the meteorological records
kept by him for many years. showing that o.;
this elevated table land, &, 800 feet above the
sea) severe early frOsts are rare; that neigh
boring towns suffer far more from untilnely
''nippings."
Here apples are brought out by Mrs. Dawes
which, not content with enjoying, we are rash
enough to inquire concerning thereby learning
that they are not the fruit of the tree whose
planting has been sung By Mr.. Bryant in MS
perfect poem; the tree therein pledged TO golden
rruitage and hOnOred age being OF other than
Massachusetts soil. How foolish 1t Is to ask
questions! We will ask no more; we must re ally
90; So lingering only for birds eye view from
the cupola OF high building on the Park God
win estate adjoining, (Hrherein we send friendly
glahceS over into New Hampshire 1--WE Did CRATE
full good b. eS to MIR ana Mrs. ID ives and turn
our impatient horses hOmeward. K. T.. r.
EGYPTIAN POMADBs.-Most interesting Is the
reflection how persist enJ IS that human weak
ness which for more than 6 GOO years has re-
wa,ded The skill OF the professors OF cosmetic
art. We know from the Mt5hna that the oil of
roses, and the use OF acid re nedes for the
tocthache, are as old as the oodification OF the
oral law. Nay more, the use In those early days
OF artificial teeth is proved by the debate on
the question whether 1t was allowable TO go out
on tie So bbath with these contffvances In the