New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-06
LoYGFELLOWS QUEER IISITOAS.
Professor Boyescn in The Christian Onion.

Professor B0yeScn IN The Christian Onion.
During the Centennial year we were sitting to-
gether, one beautiful afternoon, on his piazza snOk.
ing and talking. While We were III tie midst OF
our conversation / observed two men and Two
women coming toward us across the lawn lhey
were obviously New-Engand country folks return
ing from the Centennial Exhibition. The men had
the slow. deliberate rustic walk and were dressed
in ill-fitting black broadclOth, the very look VI
which made one perspire. The women who were
leading the way, hal an appearance of pluck and
enterpris, as if they were determined TO conquer
Longfellow was sitting with has back to the street
and did net observe them until they were within q
ward of the piazza. He looked little surprised
but arose aud suted the iDtrudeIs with his wonted
Be YOU the poet Longfellow ~ asked one Of the
women, IN n voice that was incredibly unmelodlous
AYES, am Mr.. LongicllOw," he answered.
There was an awkward pause, during when tno
visitors stared at the poet " th unabasned gances
as If he had been Centennial relic on exhibition
snow how old man might sou be- querea
the other female abruptly.
am slXty-nlne years old, madam .
"'PeaIs to me You look consId ably Older SNi
one of the men, looking mp sideways TO Nr Long
fellows face with critical air.
MY looks may belle me. ! am no older" .
| could not but wonder at the extreme urOanty
with which he answered these blunt queSuons'
showing no annoyance III his lace anu no tosohE
ment. And when. finally, at their inquest, he coz,
Quoted the party through his house, lie suOnI..ou
with the same gentle urtcsy TO a crosseAamln.-
ton regarding his family and personal ahars winch
would have tried the patience oil the aIcnauEoi
Gabriel When at the end of half an nour nc Ie-
turned, apoogizing for his absence, l made re- =.
mark which was, perhaps, little disrespt0""i '"
his late visitors. ..,os
"They meant no dsrespcct to me by their cues
TONS" he answered, with that beautiful 7, :;
which was characteristic OF his manner. -. ~
perfectly proper. where tEey come from 10 hs''''
ones self in the personal affairs OF eyeryoou!.
But it must be u great inconvenience 70 you, oh
observed {" To be so frequently disturbed ny SUI"
eXcursionists." .-..h.s
"Wel, during the present year | admit II , nss
been little trying. Nevertheless, AWAY u,,n me
sending man or woman away who mas como n ri M
here tor the purpose OF seeing me o. my
course have TO do IL occasionally, but IL - ,ne
dsagreeable to me needessly 10 dsappobs 81" .y,ch
Those Swomen whom you saw are eouv D, Heir
New-England type, ana like them III Spo ~ ara
lack OF tact and their abrupt manners lnVy ;ves
good, hard working women. who make g1V ' rss
and good mothers And yet, the otheI u'll aama
greatly amused at OF the same class wi % snr-
here with large basket-w neither sue I h"1 for The
thing 10 sell did not ascertain-appaieh.Y nngs.
purpose OF telling me that she had reao HaaJJsd
line from beginning 70 end, ana, 'I am con.
there bent many folks can say ina. tta,a,er of
WINGED now that she had no intention nsa,d and
being rude to me she was merely avn" cav I
nervous and said what she did not meh, :. yanoe.
asked her if she had found the reading % eened TO
line such dreadful task. The question OH showed
surprise her; she grew embarrassed anu aid
plainly that she had no recollection OF hA'i"e
anything uncOmplimentary." -, tina sane
IL was, as TAI as | can remember, w w, a voung
occasion that Mr. LongfellOw told me Oh S,vro,e
man from some hore in New-Englaud w vonng
to him. saying that he was IN love Mn.rr;n;ion OF
lady whose pane was given, and desS sa writer
whose appearance also sg9olned: t lime 70 tho
had been dovoting himself for long .i"b rt she
tas, of winning this young ladys affection pnt a hs
had 80 far given him no ENCOURAGEMENT; ; AM but
had arrived at the coDcl fusion that Nr Lang.
poetry would fetch her. Now, wouIu 1T writo
feIIow whom he understood 70 be poet ~ ths
some suitable stuff for him that would appeil him
Young lady's heart. aud would he hIst i 81 this
know how much he charged Tor . pOo mnd a httlo
kind Whether MI Longfelow burlesqueua Us but
This incident in relating Il unable 70 say rom
from the gravity of ibis manner, and stl o' exag-
his temperamental happiness for DuiIesq"pI hui oc-
geration / concluded that the incldeh' ""N
CURED exactly as he repartadl IT,