New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-18
EMERSON on Az Old NEW-EYGLANDER

From Letter by Dr. Sprague published By TIE Obserer
CONCORD Oct %, 1913.
| My DEAR SIR: 1t will be easy. as it is grateful. to
me TO answer your inquiries in regard to Dr. Rip
| ley; as | still have by me some sketches which
attempted of his character very soon after his
decease. Indeed. he is still freshly remembered N
all this neighbOrhOod lie was a man so kind and
sympathetic, hls character was so transparent, and
his merits 40 ineligible to all observers, that he
was very Justly appreciated in this community. Tie
was natural gentleman dandy, but cOurtly,
bOspitable. manly and philosophical his nature
social, his house open to all men, ! remember the
remark made by an old farmer, who used to travel
thlther from Maine. that no horse from the
Eastern country would 90 by the doctors gate'
Travellers from the West, and North, and South
cOuld bear like testimony. His brow was serene
and open TO his visitor, for he loved men, and he
had no studies, no occupations, which company
could interrupt. His friends his study aud TO
see them lOosened his talents and his tongue. In
his house dwet order, and prudence. ana plenty;
there was no waste and no stint he was open
handed and lst and geneVus. lngrattude and
meanness IN his beneiciares did not wear out his
compassion; he bore the Insult, and the next day
his basket for the beggar, his horse and chase for
the value of dollar as well as another man. yet he
loved to buy dearer and sell cheaper than others.
lie subscribed to all It is no reflection on
Others to say that he was the most pubcsprted man
IN the town. The late Or. Gardner. in funeral
sermon on some parsblOner, whose virtues did not
readily come to mind, honestly said, lie was good
at fires" DR.. Ripley had many virtues, and vet all
will remember that even in his old age, If the fire
hell was rung. he was instantly on horseback with
lie was never distinguished in the pulpit as a
writer OF sermons, but in his house his speech was
| form and peTtlnence itself IOu felt, in his pres
| ence, that he belonged by nature TO the clerical
| class He had a foresight, when he opened his
| mouth, of all that he would say, and ne marched
straight TO the conclusion. In private discourse
in debate in the vestry or yceum, the structure of
his sentences was admirable-sO neat. so natural
terse his words fell like stones, and often though
quite unconscious of it. his speech satire on
the loose, voluminous, patch work periods of other
speakers. lie sat down when lie had dUne. man
of anecdote. his talk in the paiIOr chiefly
ratve. ! remember the remark OF n gentleman
who listened with much delight TO his OnyersatiOn
al the time when the doctor was preparing to go to
Baltimore and Washington, that "a man who
could tell story well company for kings
and John Quincy Adams" With a very limited ac-
quaintance with books, his knowledge was an ex-
ternal experience, an Indian wisdom, the observa
ton of such facts country lite for Learly
tury could supply. He watched with interest the
garden, the field, the orchard the house and the
barn, horse, COW, sheep and dog, and all the
mon objects that engage the thought of the farmer
He kept his eye on the horizon, and know the
weather like a sea captain. The usual experience
of men-brth. marriage, sickness, death, burial
the common temptations, the common ambitions,
he studied them ALL and sympathized so well in
these tnat he was excellent company and counsel
to all, the most humble and ignorant. With
extraordinary states of mind, with states of enhn
siasm enlarged speculation he had no sympathy
and pretended to none. He was very sincere, and
kept to his point and his mark was never remote
His conversation was strictly personal, and apt to
the person and the occasion. An eminent skill he
had in saying difficult and unspeakable things; in
delivering to a man or woman that which all other
friends had absaned from saying in uncOvering
the bandage from a sore place, or applying the
geons knife with trnly surgical spirit Was "A
man sot, or spendthriit, or too long time
bachelor or suspected of some hidden crime, or had
he quarrelled with his wife, cOllared his father
there any cloud oil suspicious circumstances
in his behavior, the good pastor knew has way
straight to that point, believing himself entitled
to full explanation; and whatever relief to the
conscience of both parties PLAIN speech could effect
sure TO be procured. In all such passages he
justified himself to the conscience and commonly to
the love OF the persons concerned. Many instances
in which lie played "a right manly part, and &C
quilted himself as o brave and wise man, will be
Ion z remembered. He was the more compeen to
these searching dscOuTses from his knowledge of
family history. He knew everybody's GRANDPA ther
and seemed TO talk with each person raj her as the
representative OF his house and name than as an in
dividual. In him has persisted more local and per-
sona anecdoto of this village and vicinity than is
possessed by any survivor. This intimate knowl-
edge of families, and this skill of speech, and still
more his sympathy made him incompatible in his
parochial visits and in his exhortatons and prayers
with sick and suffering persons. He gave himself
up to his feeling, and said the instant the best
things in the world Many and many a felicity no
had in his prayer, forever lost, which deied all
the rules OF all the rhetorcians. He did not know
when he was good IN prayer or sermon. for he had
no literature and art but he believed, and there
fore he spoke.
He was emnently loyal in his nature and not
fond Of adventures or innovation. BY education
and still more by temperament, he was engaged TO
the old forms of the New England Church. Not
speculative but affectiOnate; devout, but with an
extreme love of order. he adopted heartily, though
in its mildest forms. the creed and catechism of the
fathers, and appeared modern Israellte in his at.
tachment 20 the Hebrew history and faith 1hus
he seemed in his constitutional leaning to their re-
ligon one of the rear guard of the great camp and
army of the Puritans; and now, when all the old
platforms and customs OF the Church were losing
their hold in the affections OF men, 1t fit that he
should depart fit that III the fall Of laws, o loyal
man should die. Yours with great respect.
X. w. EMERSON.