Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-06-10
Familiar Poems.
HOW LoNGTELLow WROTE SOME oY HIS
roPUIAE TAvoIiTEs.

NAuClG. Journal o. Education.
Longfellow's poems are as familiar 10
all instructors - the language Of the
school room. Every school boy read,
and declaim> them. Every teacher,
Ike every preacher. quotes them. We
once passed sn evening with Prof
Longfellow. during which he gave an
account Of the origin Of his mos; popu-
lar poems. We will give the history Of
those which are common to the Read
ers' and Speakers
The palm Of Life Is probably the
best known u these numerous school
poems. 1t was written on Summer
morning in 1883. lie was Young man
then, full Of aspiration and hope, and
the poem was merely an expression Of
his own feelings. He regarded it as
personal matter-like an entry in ones
journai-and for long time RETAINED
from publishing it. Mr. Longfcllow re-
lated that. on returning from hi- visit
10 the Queen, an English labOrer step
ped up 10 the carriage aud asked TO
shake hands with the author Of the
Psalm OF Life. ut is one Of the
hes: compliments I ever received, said
the Democratic poet.
Longfellow's study isa repository OF
the beautiful things Of the past; souye-
Mrs, bus,s II noble friends, mementoes
Of departed pcets-Tom Moorc's waste
paper basket. Colcrilge's inkstand. q
piece Of Dante's coffin. In this study
stood an old clock, with the colorings Of
age, rising from floor to ceiling. II
numbered the hours In which his hes,
poems were written. Il was the old
clock on the stairs.
The Wreck Of the Hesreru." was
written In ls3a, At midnight. A yio-
lent storm had occurred the nigh, be-
fore; the distress and disasters at 80,
had been great. especially along III.
capes II the New England coast. The
papers OF the day were full OF news Of
the disaster. The poet wa. sitting slone
IN his study late at night, when the Wis
ion Of the wrecked lIesperus came
driiling on the disturbed tide Of thought
into his mind. lie went to bed. hu,
could not sleep. lie arose and wrote
the poem, which came into hi. mind bv
whole sianza'. finishing them jus, a.
the clock--lhe old clock on the stairs
was striking three.
Sir Walter Scott SAYS that he was lei
10 write the Somunce Of "Kcnilwor,h" .
because the frst sianza Of Mickle'. IA.
nous ballad Of "Cumnor Hall" haunted
him.
The dews q Summer night did an.
The moon, sweet regent Of the sky.
silvcred the tower. Of Cumnor Hall.
And many an oak that grew thereby" 1
Longfellow SAYS that he wa., a. ne /
thinks, led 10 write the Wreck OF .hs /
llespcrus' because the words Norman
Woe, - which were associated with the
disasters a, sea, seemed to him 10 lndi..
cribably sad.
"EXcelsor' was written amer receive
Ing letter from Charlie. Sumner full OF
lofty sentiments.
"Hiawaiha' owes much of 10. story
and the embcllishmcnt OF musical In.
dian names to the rcscarche. Of school.
craft. Abraham lie Fort. an Ononiaga
Chief, who was supposed graduate Of
Geneva College, furnished S,hoolcfan
with the Indian tradition Of Hiawalha.
You may hnd Il IN "Schoolcraf,." part
Ill, page Sli. and In the same volume
YOU may fnd the Indian vocabularies
from which the poet enriched his verse.
The poet has added much to the origi.
nal tradition.