The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1880-04-15
LONGFELLow's REstDENCE Al CAM.
BRIDGE.

Few private houses In the Uuited
States are so well known as the residence
OF Henry Wadsworth LonRiellow so often
has IL been described by aileetionate anti
quarians and enthusiastic pilgrims. II is
not only the home Of our most celebrated
poet II also snrpasses In historic interest
any building in New England, with the
exception OF Fanenil Hall. Its age com
pared with that OF other Cambridge
houses is not great. II was built In 1867,
by Col. John Vassall, firm loyalist,
who fled TO England In 1775, his property
in Cambridge and Boston having been
confscated. Its next occupant was Col.
John Glover, bold little Marblebead
soldier, who qnartered some bis troops
In the spacious structure. When Wash.
ington rode into Cambridge, on Sunday,
June 2, 1775, he was greatly pleased with
the appearance Of the house, and having
had il cleaned, he established himself
therin during tho same month. Martha
Washington arrived at the house in De-
cember, and Washington remained M 1t
until the following year. The southeast
room on the first floor Washington took
for his study, In which the councils Of
war were held during the stay of the
commander-in-chiei in Cambridge. He
slept just over head, always retiring at .
O'Clock. The spacious room behind the
study, which Mr.. Longfellow now uses
for his library, was occupied by Wash.
ington's military family, as rule apretty
large one. A Generals military family,
in English psrlance, comprised his whole
staff. Washington was not averse TO
certain amount Of Official splendor, and
was luckily rich enough TO carry out his
whim In the matter Of making bis assist
ants part OF his ordinary household.
TrumbnlI, the artist, complained, rather
salcasticfly that he, for one, could not
keep bis head up IN the magnificent soci
ETY. OF the house. now fousd myself,
he ayersed, In the family Of the age, sur
rounded at his table by the principal off.
GERS Of the army, and in constant inter-
course with them. II was further my
duty to receive company and do the hon.
ore Of The house to many Of the arst peo-
pie OF the country. But Washington was
thrifty aud frugal personally; aud bis
generous maintenance at his own cost Of
a sort OF court was Of great service TO the
cononial cause. The owners of the house
after thereyoiution were Nathaniel Tracy
(whom Washington visited for an hour
in 1882 Thomas Russell, aud DR.. An
drew Craigie, Talleyrand and Lafayette
slept In 1t and ia 1888 Jared Sparks COM
meDced to keep house within its historic
rooms. Everett aud Worcester The leIi-
cogrspher also occupied 1t for time,
and Mr.. Longfellow took mp bis abode
in II In 1887. Al first be merely rented
room ..eslsblisbing himself iu Wsihing-
toms southeast bed chamber. Here be
wrote Hyperion and Voices Of the Night
In the dwelling, In one room and another,
hiuDhk hli uib DOphrf hafS TUG NWN Whthh
date from bis Bowdoin pr0fessorship,
have been produced. Longfellow had
not long been an occupant Of the house
before be bought IL. Its timbers are
perfectly sound. The lawn In front ia
neatly kept, seross the street there streib-
es green meadow As far As the banks OF
the Charles, boagal BY the poet 10 pre-.
serve bis view. Mr.. Longfellow himself,
a. be draws near 20, is iine picture Of
beu,ilnl manhood. II has been remarked
by Bis friends that his health bas much
improved since be delivered bis poem,
Morituh sslalsmus, at The 50,h auniyer.
sary fof bic graduation. Aud al Cam
bridge, down to coal hssvefs snd bod
carriers, reysrs him not oDlY as poet
but a. 4 KIDD aud gentle mar.