New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-18
ER ALDEIcH and HIS HONE ArPoNKAPoG
From The Boston Herald.


Mr.. Aldrich is sometimes asked where his home is.
" In Ponkapog," he replicsr " Yes, know; but
where do you really live is the questioning re-
sponsc the person asking suppOsng the PLACE to be
one of Mr. AldrCh's ingenious Inventions But 1t 10
an Indian word, meaning sweet water, ana the
remnants of the POnkapOg tribe OF humans hYeu
here IN to within comparatively recent period.
PonkapOg is little village just ON the 0ther sue OF
the Blue Hills, in remote corner OF the town OF
Canton only twelve miles from Boston, as far as
distance is concerned, but in its life and cOnnec-
tiOns with metropolitan existence about as remote
as n White Mountain hamlet for the one daily mail
brings the Boston papers not until O'clock IN the
evening and the visits of the butcher, baker and
other caterers to domestic necessities are prlmitiVey
nfrequcnt varying from once TO three times week.
Outside of its Immediate neighbOThOOd, POnkapOg,
until Mr,'Aldrich made it famous, was only known
to few deYOtceS of the rod and gun, who priZed IL
for the excellent fishing and shooting, ami did not
care to make the knowledge of the fact very wlde-
spread. ,, e,o a4s .
beside the road, little before 1T reaches the mill
and is marked by an arbOr-Vitg hedge and two old
buttOnwOOd trees, which, Nr. Adcich says, became
sadly demOTalized by some KIND OF an epldemhc
that some time ago. Killed off nearly all the BUTTON
woods i'm New-England, and, perhaps IN conse-
Guencc, these have become rather uncertain ana
apathetc in their habits, sometimes giving no signs
of life till well along into the Summer, when tney
will suddenly burst into full leaf. This house has
been Aldrcl's home since 1872; lie came mere one
concluded to live here permanently. although nc
had dwelt In the midst Of tho busiest town lie
nearly all his days, 80 that ii seemed queer move
meut from the stir OF the world, .
The house has n plain exterior but inside comfort
and beauty unite and the fine artistic taste or Mrs
AIdrirh Is shown in everything. The house
abounds in open lrepaces, and roaring hieS MI me
roonls with cheer through the Winter. Mr.. Al
drcb,s study occupies the first floor of large l.
built since he has lived there. 1t is most delight
mi room OF considerable depth, the walls entirely
covered with books. and has windows on three
sides filing the place with light even in the gloom
lest weather. AZ the further end IS q vide case,
mcnt lattice- window, the small upper section OF
which is frightened with stained glass In mild
pheasant weather, the opening OF this window seems
Ia make outdoors of the room. The view OVeHOoks
n valley where there Is a fine tTuut-brO0k tiiat
mcgfdcTs all about the nei2hborhond. Blue I'LL Is
i'm full sight and Mr. Aldrich did not have to sir
from his desk for the landscape picture that opens
lie unIC story now appearing in The AtIQR!tc The
Saltwater Tragedy -" The great wall OF pines ana
bcmlocks that keeps the east wind away from SIN
! wafer But that POnkapog Is not saltwater d
very evident and those who are trying. 10 !oCate
thc place will puzzle themselves III VAIN, Tor 10
riurl, town or clty Is intended by IT, ana Stlll-
wafer cmhOd,cs the characteristics OF several New
| Eu0IJnd manufacturing towns when MT. AluIlch
has studied closely for tie purposes OF TINS story
Tho ,tUly is a most cotutortaDle pace, ana y
filed with Interesting objects, nCmentoS ~ trl"hns
and of trps abroad One of these Is brass staUrtt
of tbc Ourpn Of Shcba. sent 10 Mr.. Aldrch' WINE
hc was In Paris, by m American g'hI'Innn NhI,n
| Lp h.d never srcn. The gentleman hnught me
| stntIIrttc i'm Paris and. hearing that Mr. Adrch
! yyus there not being able To find another IKE II
! he had n Duplicate made ana sent TO Mr. Aldrlcl
in tokcn of the pleasure with which hc had READ
hi. " Queen OF Shcha" Among Mr Aldricl books
is a COPY of The Mystery of Edwin brood, three
cbnptrra of which are composed Ot hie aaYahct
si its scnt bv Dickens to irery Saturday while Mr.
Aidrich was editor md marked with Dickens : cor
rrctious i'm the careful hand OF the great novelist