New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-18
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS ON EMERSON
From Harper's Haon-ine.


The sincerity and serenity of Emerson's character
| were unsurpassed The freshness and glow of his
interest in life were perennial. With a sober ten
derness of regret he said to friend who congratu-
lated him upon his SEVENTEEN birthday, Yes it is 2
little sad to me, for count to-day the end of YOUTH
In no other sense than the lapse of years. however,
| was it true That auroral freshness of soul
which is the distinctive charm OF youth I'm
| ger2d when even memory somewhat failed. How
long il is since have seen your he said at Long,
! fellows funeral to friend whom he had aceosted
just before But he said IL with all that heartlness
of sympathy aud expectation which, in the golden
| prime OF his life, when he was in many ways the
| most striking and original figure i'll his country,
made him greet every conner as If he expected TO
| hear from HIM n wiser word than had yet been
spoken. youth fascinated by this simple gracious
| ness of manner declared that Emerson greeted the
most ordinary persons like King of Spain recelv-
| ing an ambassador from the Great Mognl Inc exI
pectancy of his manner implied that every man nad
| some message to deliver, and no bent himself to
! hear.
But his shrewdncss Of perception was exquisite.
He did not take drosS because he hoped for gold.
His reproof was sure and nclsvc as the stroke OF
| delicate Damascus blade. When a young man;
| hearing Emerson say that everybody ought 10 read
| Plato followed his advice, aud read he thought,
with the audacty of youth, that he detected faults
III Plato and wrote an essay To set them forth. Ie
| asked Emerson TO read il, and when he returned it
| TO the youth Emerson said pleasantly, My boy.
| when you strike at the king you must xiii him."
One day he sat at dinner with distinguished COM
| pany OF statesmen He was by far the most famous
| man ut tue table; but he mOdestly followed the
| conversation, turning from each guest who spoke
to the next, with the old sweet gravity Of earnest
| expectation. Whom ali the notable company had
| gone, guest who remained said TO him; saw
| you taang with the English Minister. He Is q
brilliant man, and hope that yOu found him agree
able" "A very pleasant gentleman" replied Elmer
son; but he does not represent the England that
know
Despite this sharp apprehension, however Elmer
son was sometimes unable TO mad any charm III
writings which have apparently taken permanent
place IN Literature ne could see nothing interest,"
he once said, " am like man who thinks that he
sees gold at the bottom OF stream. He reaches Tor
it, but his hands come up cold, with little common
sand IN Them" The waywardncss and disorder OF
SneilcyG lite may have troubled HIM. But this
would not nave affected his intellectual Judgment.
Ills acute intellect WAS Suprcmely independent anu
absolutely courageous.
lie was deeply impatient of doubtful and half
hearted Americans during The war. " They call
themselves gentlemen, believe" ne SAID or Ger
tam persons, and in tone which showed that ms
LOFTY and patriotic honor lnstincilvely and utterly
repudlatcd the pincbeck claims OF educated feeble
ness To bear " the grand Old name of gentleman"
lie summed nOtOuety but h, had the instructive
desire of every artist and oil all genius for audi
ence. When Il friend asked HIM OF a young man
whose literary talent hdd seemed To HIM to promise
great achievement, Emerson said " He does moth
lng anu doubted nus genius when saw that he
did not seek hearing.
Emerson himself wLs very susceptible TO the power
OF me OratOry. No man ever praised more warmly
the charm of Everett in his earlier day. When
Webster delivered MS eulOgy upon Adams and JET
fersOu III Faneull Hall, Emerson teaching III
Cambridge, and hcbard H. Dana, jr, was O1e OF ms
pupils. Ine dag before Webster spoke the teacher
announced that there would Dc no school upon the
morrow, and he earnestly eXhOrted his pupil, not TO
lose tho memorable opportunity oI nearing the
great orator. Dana was OF an age to prefer hSmng
10 Oratory, and stroed oil with his line to the RIVER
where lie passed the day. When school was re-
sumed, Mr.. Emerson with sympathetic interest
asked him If he had heard Webster. / he fisher,
han ashamed, reluctantly owned his absence En-
erson lOOked at him with regret and almost pam,
and said to him, gravely: My boy, ! am very
sorry you have lost what you can never recover,
and what you will regret TO the last day OF your