New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
WILLIAM ELLERY CLAIMING,

the life of Claiming have been prolonged ul'il
that time lac would have reached the one hundteu'h
anniversary of his birth. The present No'uine'
therefore by a writer who brings the enthusiasm
Of poet aud the affection OF friend. rather IMAM
the rigorous methods of biography to the accom-
pishmcnt of his task. has made its appearance AZ
fitting moment. and will form an appropriate pre-
luGe TO the solemn memorial celebrations OF the
ensuing week Nj. Brooks brings forward an offer
inc of singular simplicity, absolutely free from
literary pretenson combining the artess recital Of
his own personal recoectiOns with the more
elaborate triAut from distinguished pens, with no
atteinpt at system or unity but presenting the
scattered pearls of remembrance. instead Oi a VSsuc
of gold and jewels i'll klngly crown Ills volume
however will find tie welcome reception from inc
admirers of DR. Claiming to which it IS nchy en-
titled by the novelty of It's details. ITS variety oi
personal illustration and anocdoe, and lts warm
hearted appreciation Of the peculiar TRAITS OF Tue
iliustTiOuS divine.
The writer makes graceful reference 10 the I"o'
flat he has passed a large part Of his life III the
place of CLEANLINESS birth. and for more than forty
years has been familiar with the scenes with "hch
he was conveIsant in childhood and early youth.
The town OF Newport even within the last hail cen
fury retained the ancient and dreamy features Whch
il exhibited nearly fifty years earlier when Chan-
ningwas boy. The old stone aiIl stu stood almost
on the outskirts Of the town, with hardly any ihng
except few mouldcinE farln-houses to break lac
sweep of open fields between that Oh" landmark ana
fine southern extremity Of the island. The Red
wood Library consisted only Of The small ana hntN
preserved building which now forms its 'front.' The
old Liberty free. a stately sycamore, was s'hl
standing in front of the h0usc of William LliorY.
the Spncr of the Declaration of independence. The
Stiles Meeting house was sill there in its Old Purl-
tan severity OF form. The face Of Nature remains
The same as in the early days of Claiming Inc
Sky and sea, beach and bay with the lovely sweep
OF the inland landscape and near an" ian the hanN
islands have not changed nor " the everlasting
murmur of the ocean and the everlasting rampant
of the rocks Among the relics Of odeu times, the
visitor TO Newport will seek The houNe IN whlch
Channinc was born. II is Il square wooden struc-
lure of two stories. in good preservation, once
scparated only bya garden from the gambrel-rooed
parsonage Of Dr. Samuel Hopkins in the next street,
where the Young Claiming could easily see-1s
he SAWS he did early one Winter moIniug-the aged
Cavinist working at a sermon, and adding some
new link 10 his iron chain of logic. This remark
able divine was the person TO whose influence IN
childhood Claiming. as he WIS accustomed to avow
in after life was more indebted than 10 any other
next TO that Of ms parents for the rel gous I'M
pIessions and impulses which were 80 deeply woven
into the texture of his character
thouehtfulness and tenderness. lie never could
bear the inniction Of pain on animals, and felt a
Keen rang Of grief and resentment at any act of
cruelty toward the smallest creature. Al the same
time he was full of energy and cXuberance OF
spirits blending great boldncss and decision ot pnF-
pose with tender ccnsccutiousness and an almost
SANITY purity 1t is not easy for those who knew
Dr. Claiming only in his later years, to think CT
him as the vigorous, athletic youth racer wrcsI-
l. live raFrrrtG
from which 1t was sometimes necessary to restrain
aim by force hilarious at times in his eayety ana
boisterous in his laughter; the champion of his
companions in many a strait against injustice and
opnreSsion: aiding the David against the Goliath
of a bully; but so it was, before the spirit had yet
grown too strong for the flesh. The same high
spirited boy however. was deeply religious
Among his playmates he acquired the title OF y Inc
little minister" He would 90 through the service
it Is said, with marvellous JUNCTION, summonlns
the congregation to worship with warning-pan
instead of bell But he not only played the
preacher in set and solemn acts By the example of
his daily life he was minister of truth, and mag
nanimity. and righteousness. lie is said to have
combined beauty of person with beauty of charae-
ter He is described having been small and
delicate, yet muscular and active, with very
erect person. quick movement. couutenance that
while sedate. was cheerful and sngularly sweet
smile, which lie never lost through life"
hticish vear, he had nothing Of the boy him
eept the love OF Ply ~ nSs oif sat ns fon p for
lonely Families and gained HIM with his fellows
the title OF William the silent But even III thls carry
period discern III him the predomnance OF thHt
selfcommuuion. sefStudy. and sefreVerence, which,
enlarged ana elevated by the passionate love OF nature
and the vision OF God IN nature formed 80 lnarkeu a
trait his character IN maurer wears Keeping hs soui
serene and steadias amidst al eaEy taiS anq per
inuniOn with the brethren through very communion
with Father Thus was the enid father O. the man
the chd's soul the Of that true nGepcn fence
which means dependence upon 6. that lnaviou s
which respects itself ITS own nature "a trust from
God be guarded and used for MS glory aLd the good
of his children.
In the Autumn of 1894, being then in the middle
of his fifteenth year, Charming entered Harvard
College where he attained high rank as a
scholar. especially in the branches pertaining to
what is sometimes curiousy enough called polite
literature In mathematics he probably ex-
cclled by many of his classmates, but IN rhetoric
and The art of composition, in ethics ana mental
science he had no supericrs He was remarkable
from the first for his command OF pure English, and
his accurate and fluent expression. especially in
TRANSMITTING from the classical authors at the college
JccItations.
The study tha; became and more favorite
passion with yOung CDaDuug as his college iie went
on that OF moral philosophy Ing ieadlng OF the
Of the MAJESTY and might virtue, OF dis.
interested Iecutude, aud Ie sense "i me dgly ana
from tie old Stole OF his native town. HuichesOn ana
Ferguson the two English writers VINO did most 10
sr mn NJ HIS soul that ~ the grandeur OF mans
nature and destiny when was "a be TIE guiding and III
fp,rng genius OF his life. In Fereusons " History OF
(iyii society" chapter which perhaps especial y
attracted and impressed lin was the one on " Moral
Sentiment" IN which the author 80 vigorously c0mb"ts
The Iflifarip doctrine in morality, aud III which Oc
Cus ths striking illustration The foreIgner VINO Ge
leycd that O.hc1O the stage, was enragcd lot th'
loss Of his handkerchief not more mistaken IMAM
The reasoner who impuies any VI The more Nfhehcnt
passions OF men to iho impressions 81 mere pfoh' OF
loss"
10 Uutcbesou's " System OF Moral Philosophy, young
Cuanuiug, may well suppose, MAS drawn not mercy
by the pres niiInent Of finding his instructive seut