, 1879-10-30
About Boston Literary Men.

1t is said that Lowell may be home
again before long. His wife, whose
very serious Illness was reported early
in the Summer, is still in delicate health,
and his friends say that on her account
he may soon resign his position as Min
lister to Madrid. He also, as is well
known, dislikes the monetony of his
place and the pettiness Of many OF his
duties the present. Mrs howell is the
poets second wife. She is a niece Of
Ex-Governor Dunlap, of Maine and is IA
native of the old college town town of
Brunswick. She has some talent as an
artist, sketching from nature, but more
as foriculturist and to her taste and
skill is largely due the, beauty of the
poets. home in Cambridge, which is so
widely known as Elmwood. " Mrs.
Lowell has many friends here, and the
reports of her continued illness are heard
with real regret and concern. Lowell
will be sixty years old in February.
If he is really coming home, the liter
ary friends who contemplate public
dinner to Holmes, lin the early Winter
in celebration Of his 10th birthday,
which occurred last month, might well
hold off while longer and celebrated
two events, the birthdays of two poets,
with one grandSdemonstration. Lowell
is expected to bring home with him ma
terial for new literary work. The other
famous men who give so much to the re-
nown of Boston are not idle Longfel-
lows work is not yet done, and some
thing new from him may be expected be-
fore very long; Holmes is busy with
that famous gold pen, which has already
done so much and such noble service;
Whipple is at work in his quietstudy in,
that .unpretending little brick house Of
his on quaint and picturesque Pinckepy
street; Emerson is said to be very fire.
quently in the Atheneum these Autumn
days with book and pencil; Aldrich lin
gers at Lynn by the sea at the Summer
house of Henry L. Pierce, finishing his
new story which will make its appear
ance this Winter or earlier; and Howells
is at his new home at Belmont, at work
on his new novel or story which
is soon to begin in the Atlantic.
This hone Of Howells has never yet
been described. i 1t is eminently the
home Of a man Of taste, culture and re-
tinement. The house stands on high
ground and commands remarkable and
extensive view. 1t was designed by the
famous Newport architect, McKein. 1t
is built in the so-called Queen Anne's
time, colonial style. The first story is
OF brick, and the second is shingled with
California redwood. Alinost as soon as
built the house had a really venerable
look, and the effect was soon heightened
by profpsion Of Japanese ivy growing
up, hixuriantly over the bricks. The
house is surrounded by broad, generous
verandas; that on the northeast side is
built out and covered and here in the
past Summer the hammock has swung.
From this verenda, which Howells calls
the "qusrter deck" magnificent view
is had. Attractive and peculiar as is
the outside of the house, the interior is
most picturesque. There is a wide hall
and broad fight OF stairs leading there
from to the floor above. To the left of
the hall is sitting or reception room;
from the right, looking out on the
quarterback" is the dining room.
Further on, TO the left, beyond the re-
ception room, is Howell's study. This
is finished in colonial style with panels,
Arched alcoves, and the book cases and
furniture are in keeping The writing
desk is in the middle Of the room, and
in plain view Of the conservatory, with
its brilliant flowers rich plants and
musical fountain, which opens from the
study. Few workers with the Den. in.
deed, are 10 favored in their surround.
ings Ss this editor Of the nineteenth con.
turyl No wonder his best work hAs
been done since his residence here The
Lady Of the ArooStook vAs oompls,sd ia
this magnificent study, Nad the new
work is progressing in the same iEispir