The Portland daily press., 1880-12-20
James Russell Lowell.

IF. H. Underwood in Harper's Magazine for JAN
In person Lowell is of medium height, rath-
er slender, but sinewy and active. His move
ments are deliberate rather than impulsive, in
dicating what athletes call staying qualities.
His hair at maturity was dark auburn or ruddy
chestnut IN color, and his full beard rather
lighter and more glowing in tint. The eyes of
men OF genius are seldom to be classified in Or
dinary terms, though it is said their prevailing
color is gray. Col. Higginson mentions Haw-
thornes gray eyes; while the present writer,
who once studied them attentively, found
them mottled gray and brown, and at that
time indescribably soft and winning. That
they were sometimes accipitral we can readily
believe. Lowell's eyes in repcse have clear
blue and gray tones, with minute dark mot
things. In expression they are strongly indica-
tive Of his moods. When fixed upon study, or
while listening to serious discourse, they are
grave and penetrating; in ordinary conversa-
tion they are bright and CHEEKY; in moments
of excitement they have wonderful lustre
Nothing could be finer than his facial expires
sion while telling a story or tossing repartee.
The features are alive with intelligence and
eyes, looks and voice appear to be working up
dazzling effects in concert, like the finished
artists of the Comedie Franchise.
The wit Of Hosea Biglow is the native wit of
Lowell-instautaneou as lightning; and Ho-
seas common sense is LowelPs birthright too.
When the same man, however, can extempo-
rize chuckling puns, and blow out breath of
poetical reverie as naturally as the smoke
from his pipe, the combination becomes almost
startling. Other men may have been as witty
though we recall but three or four In our day;
some may have had a similar fund of wisdom
mellowed with humor; others have talked the
staple OF idyls and let off metaphors like soap
bubbles; but Lowell combines in conversation
the varied powers of all. His resources are in
exhaustible. 1t is no wonder that he has been
admired, for at his best he is one of the most
fascinating of mep. There is but one compeer
the immortal "Autocrat"-and it would be
difficult, and perhaps impossible, to draw a
parallel between them.
Steele said of lady that to have known and
loved her was liberal education. More than
that the wise and witty converse of years did
much to supply lamented defects in his own
study and training, and perhaps warmed even
late-flowering plants into blossom and fruitage
This also should be said, that every man who
has known Lowell well considers him much
greater that the aggregate of his works. He
alw. US gives the impression of power in re.
serve.
He used to enter upon the long walks which
have aided in making him one of the poets of
nature with the keenest Zest. There was no
quicker eye for a bird or squirrel, rare
flower or bush, and no more accurate ear for
the songs or the commoner sounds of the for
est. Evidences Of this the reader will find in
the Study Windows. But those who have
visited Fresh Pond, Clematis Brook, Love
Lane, or the Waverely Oaks in his company re-
member an acuteness of vision and delight
in every form of beauty of which the essay
gives no conception.
His habits were scarcely methodical, read.
ing, correspondence, composition, exercise and
social converse coming often hap-hazard; vet,
being incapable of idleness, he accomplished
much. His works show the effective use he
hSs made of the intellectual treasures of the
world