New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-30
"REMINISCENCES OF EMERSON
LETTER FROM C. P. LATHROP.

10 the Edttor or The Tribune.
SIR. II hammered to me to he often in Concord
furinc the last ten years of Mr.. Emersoas ife and
10 converse briefly with him few times. Without
Violating the privacy TO which was thus admitted,
think may recall few things that bear upon his
character and tastes One OF the first occasions on
(which met him was the commonplace one of a
ride IN the train from Concord to Boston, when we
aalked about Brook Farm and Socialism 1t does
not seem to be generally understood even now that
Emerson was not an associate in Dr. Rpleys eA-
pertinent. He spoAc to me of it purely as an out
slider an occasional visitor, but showed dclca'e
sympathy for the aims of the community ana re-
GREETED its failure. But he distinctly stated ms pe
lief that that failure did not disprove the feasloS
of some reorganization of society on a solho Nii''
similar cooperative plan. " 1t has not yet been 1uuy
tried" he said /" 1t needs to be done on "a larger
scale What gathered was that he held firm 1alth
in some sort of refined communism, higher, purer ana
moro commemorative than any the world mas yet
seen or that any profeSSedly soclaIlstlc scheine'
alike that of Fourier or St. Simon, has outlined;
one that should preserve tho family relation ana all
that is holy in human life, while introducing
greater equity in the condition and relations OF
men than our present social constitution allows
That was in 1872 and heard no expression from
min ON the subject afterward. believe, however,
that there still exists in manuscript lecture on
Rrook Farm which he used TO read TO small audi
ences in private houses: and this may yet see the
Tight In connection with ii a curious incident oc-
rurred when a book of my own was going through
the press in 1876. At the same time new edition
of Emerson's prose works was IN process OF stereo-
typing mt the same place-the University Press,
Cambridge; the FORM type and style OF his VoIuneS
beino nreciSely similar to those of my own humble
book In the latter chapter on Brook RAM
some of the pages of which were accidentally sent
10 NJ E,nerson with his proofs, Tor correction.
aeenp the pages of the exact size ana
the type Just the same as In the rest
of the proofs he inferred that in some way
his old ESSAY ON Brook Farm which he had care
fully kept from publication had strayed into the
printers hands and was TO be included III the new
edition There ensued some excitement at the
press and TO nv astonishment was asked how it
happened that had Incorporated part OF MT Elher-
SONS lecture (which till then had never heard of
with nv chapter. OF course l was quite unable to
explain how | had done it, But the next day re-
ceived note which, think worth 10 me the whole
of nv book put together it was kind and graceful
apology from Mr. Emerson himself for any annoy
nnce which his mistake might have caused me. l
should never have dreamed of his taking time and
trouble thus to consider a mere beginner.
This courtesy. however, was Characteristic and
habitual with him. Well do recall memorable
Dune day when after drive from Cambridge
st the moment in its early summer freshness, we
halted before the square, whitsh house screened by
q few tall pines at the fork of the Lexington road,
md spent delightful afternoon in its simple home
like vet somehow magical interior. We had failed
10 arrive at the hour Of an engagement for early
dinner there but a hoSpitable rejection was soon
spread for us. and the master of the house-famous
nmonc the foremost literary minds of the CEN
fury, yet as unpretendlng aS IL he had Decn
an obscure gentleman living retired IN
modest observation-disclosures a decanter to
the table and with his own hand poured
into our glasses rare golden sherry; we still seat
ed as his guests and he standing to serve us, with
n chyalrOus attention exquisite $50 came OF help
thinking as that Of the Black Prince when at
tending his royal captive after Pocuers; for
though we were not royal, he knew that we were
weak beside him. l may seem to eXaggerate TINS
little incident but not TO anyone VINO ever ob-
served the blending of noble dignity with utter alb
sence of personal pride which marked the demeanor
of this extraordinary man even when performing
the slightest actions. 70 show his complete ina
bility 10 rate himself as the world dd-hiS child
like unconsciousness-the remark may be noted
here which he made when. persuaded by his family,
he was sitting for his portrait to be reproduced in
q magazine. He said with puzzled air and the
utmost gravity: "Why do they come to me for
portratl | should think if they want picture
loncfellow." After our luncheon he took me
into his study, where he showed me
Some of his books; among them, Taylor's Plato and
volume of Plotnus. In the latter he pointed ont
the essay on Providence, for which he said he had
found hut few readers, although it WAS much too
good TO be neglected" He also spoke little about
the religious books of the HindOos: their mythol-
ogy, he declared was more wonderful than
the Greek. but nevertheless, "a little excessive"
"It is very interesting ne added. Ito study these
earlier CaristaniGes." Then lie asked me if priced
Herbert in q way that plainly indicated the high
value he set upon that poet. We clOseted in
the study and | thought afteTward that possibly
he wished to give ME a chance to refer to some
manuscript poems had sent him though very
likely he had forgotten them. (Ihey have since, al
ter being printed, been consigned to ObllvlOn) Bu
I felt very much as ucine did on making his pill
grimage 10 Goethe Being ushered into the presence
of the man he had wished so much to
see he found himself overawed, scarcely able to
nriculate: all his ideas forsook him. and finally, in
despair he observed that the pums along the road
from Jena were exceedingly good Probably my
detached phrases that day were of the plum order
I did not aude to my poems but L am enthusiast
enough TO believe that the silence of the master
before whom stood was of more avail to me than
much announcement or acute condemnation from
men Of another type. What want to say chiefly
about this talk the library, Slight as my memo
randum of it NAV be- that ii lett the impress
SION of great spiritual depth under the few actual
words which derived from! nearly every sentence
ever CHANGED to hear him utter. And so strong
was the effect of his presence and manner, felt
that when lac touched his hand to u book or COM
mcned on one he was laying upon ne. young
devotee TO literature, some sort of solemn charge
and responsibility to well. far as
an for highest things.