Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-01
OF The Late Dr. Holland


The first and only time l enjoyed the
privilege and pleasure of personal Inter-
view with the late DIR. Holland was on the
cars between Burlington and Rutland. VT,
IN the spring of 1861. had heard the
doctor lecture the night before, and with
great delight. Moreover. | had read his
hooks and had reviewed some of them
recurring meanwhile II very tervcnt ad-
miration of both tho author and his
works. His Letters to Young People"
in fact, had been the only volume in that
line could ever tolerate. The average
treatise concerning Counsels "and Ad-
vice :" to the young had always been my
special a3omination. But here was
hook, dictated not so much from the
standpoint of sage as from that. as some
one he's well said, Of ones big brother,
aboundng in wise counsels, and yet, for
The reason Just named, not only readable,
but simply charming.
had, moreover, been greatly pleased
with Miss Gilbert Career and bad
published at some length my view OF the
same IIerc, for tho first time, in our
American literature, was n heroine with
brains-of genuine breadth and strength
Of character; thoughtful as well as loving
and at the same time illustrating the mos
exalted idea of wifehood and womanhood
I remember writing to and asking the
author if he knew of another Miss Gil
bert, adding that if he did l was just the
\ Young man who would be glad to be in
Produced. lie loosely replied that unfor'
tunately he knew of but one Miss Gilbert,
and she was row married and settled.
And so I made bold to introduce myself
10 tho doctor on that bright morning OF
early spring; and all the more as our
family trees had blended somewhere ir
the past-thc writer's paternal grand
mother being Holland, and the name
having been, in consequence, perpotuated
in the family. | once called the doctors
attention to this circumstance; and hi
\ replied that relative Of his, an aunt,
think, took great deal of interest il
these genealogical matters, hut he little
or none ut all.
No sooner did the doctor recognize my
\ name, than, motioning me TO 4 seat besid
him, we were chatting together as famil
4 iarly rs if we had been friends from child
n hood. And can confidently say, looking
back TO it over the twenty years that hav
since interviewed, that that two hours in
terview with Dr.. Holland on the ears be
tween Burlington and Rutland, rendere,
A that one of the red letter days Of my life
Various interests we're talked about. Th
popular authors Of the day were passet
in review, and remember that Dr.. dol
land pronounced cmphatically in favor o
a James Russell Lowell, az the best write
q of English prose on Tho American cont
pcnt.
asked him what WAS likely TO be hi
next literary venture. Wcl," said he
have this very morning been saying t
myself 'Whal next?' And it has occur
red to me that would attempt series {
y essays somewhat after the style OF th
Country Parson.' This parson has p wa
Of establishing an intimacy between hin
self and his reader that is very charming,
and the doctor nstanccd the essay begiI
ming, Il am writing this on the forchca
n of my horse,' etc. OF this notion ne
IN long after was bora "LGssons in Life"
On arriving at Rutland | observed tlli
The doctor obtained his dinner, but refrain
cd from partakins until exactly II o'cloc
"A circumstance revealing the regularlt
II of his habits and the dclicacy Of his healt
even at that comp ratively early period.
Several years after this, having rea
with great satisfaction his "Kathrina,"
wrote him that it was iny purpose to +
view this work in one Of The magazine
and to bestow upon it such approval ar
praise rs its great merits deserved L
replied "On the Wing" saying that fe
n words of cordial and intelligent apprcc
lion once in while would be gratof
indeed-words showing how truly sens
tive he was to the cold, bloodless, rigorol
criticisms to which he had been subjecte
O. When the review appeared he hastenea
write me, and TO tell me how much he ha
onioyed it, and 10 bear testimony TO Il
fact that it was tho first review of Il
poem he had read that considered it fro
the standpoint OF the author.
When the first number Of the nc
!Scribner's Magazine appeared, wro
him to congratulate him upon the al
~ picious inauguration Of his great enterpri
and to predict the success that has sin
been actually realized. He replied, than
ing me for my words Of approval, al
adding that he should send on my lett
at once TO his associate. One feels that
is worth while to exert himself to do no
or to so royal and magnanimous u soul
81 this.
On receiving the tidings, as unwelcon
as unexpected, of his sudden death, l fc
as have thousands of others, not only ii
great and very warm heart had ccas
to beat, but as if lcreaycd OF life-lo
personal friend.
Saxonvile, Dee. /, 1881.
TIE ADIRONDACK WnDERNESs.-
riOus movement is on foot to have t