New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-22
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
Concord Correspondence chicago Tribune.

Concord correspondence
An old man with large eyes, prominent nose, and
o,vkvard carriage nav often be seen shYlY steal
Ing into the School of Philosophy, just after me
bcginning of the lecture. Passing through {he
eise ION tiptOe he Seats himself III huge ear-IaD
chair at the left Of the platform. The lips OF the
Sphlnx are sealed, and their peaceful expression
and the far-away look in the eyes would seem 20
indicate that the discussion gong on mas NOT sum-
njent interest to draw him from the calm JOY OF
reverie But the way in which he leans for ward
now and then TO catch the tones OF an ifdlstLhcS
sneaker and the prOmptitude with which certain
IittIe red spots appear on his cheeks whenever a
personal allusOn or quotation IL maze, snow that'
after all he is listening with respectful attention;
Emerson has a noble propensity to overrate the
works of his contemporaries He has such sub
lime faith that the coming man Will eventually
arrive that he is always on the LOOKOUT IQr nim'
and finds his John the Baptists in eccentric Tho
reau and uncOuth Whitman, IN whom so many see
only insanity And especially does MS unaffected
humility place Ian exaggerated estimate upon the
works and words OF his personal friends Ihoreau
was an original genius, and his mother used to say
WHY how much Mr. Emerson talks like
Henryp Some people are nnklnd enough TO SAY
that the boot was squarely on the other foot. and
that Thoreau was only a parody OF ms great
friend. While such statements are grossly unl ist,
owes much TO the friendship OF Emerson, who NOT
only gave him warm encouragement and unstlnted
praise, but made himself peeun1stlX resR9nsI1ie
In order that Walden and The Week might
be given 10 the world by hesitatng publisher
Emerson house was throwni open last Sunday
evening. and parlQr and study ana nan We're n p
osophv Mr. and Mrs. Emerson whose quaint,
sweet face and simple, old-fashioned attire tsng-
gested TO ore lady that She might have Just
stepped III the May6owerm hustled around, shal<
ING hands and arranging chairs for tAe guests;
Tfen Mr. Emerson raped upon doorJamo anu
said Some of our friends have something to say,
to us. and we shall be glad 70 have them begin
Mr. Claiming Mr.. Alcott. Miss Peabody ana
Professor Harris did most OF the talking. Mrs
Emerson made a single remark, but the host TOOK
no part whatever. NJ, -.
The seventy-seventh birthday of Mr.. Emerson
occurred recently lie feels the weight OF ears,
and, though nc walks about briskly. his memory Is
falling, and he Is often thrown into pathetic con-
fusion by his treacherous faculty. IL seems very
difficult for him to grasp new name. Joseph
Cook called upon him Just after Moody ana sankey
bad been In Boston and he inquired OF his visitor II
he had been attending the Mosely ana sqKeY
meetingsp He never appears IN publie without
his faithful maiden daughter Ellen, who has The
face of a saint and the garb of Quakeress-, she
has charge of his manuscripts, and when asked a
few days ago what lecture her tather PROPOSED 70
read before the school. replied that she bad not
decided She intlmated Furthermore, that she
might put veto on his lecturng at all