New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-27

.,ious consideration ftom the eN'o"N'
1,,le mare than a discutsive magazine "''N'
rlitied by broad margins and large type 'n'D '"0
rrorort,ons of book. IL Is seInl-plos'"P'''"''
s.mi.critical but while it Will annse Io'S"'o
:, IN Furnish but little important materai u
= W.. hin,rrsrhers and critics Most interesting
nerhaps 10 the literary reader IS MT Oh"e'"''u >
limit of IovelPs early intellectual nurture /"
RI s;xtcentb wear the poet entered Harvard Wuero
b;s rank in scholarship was not matter Oh P''"''
He he's himself said that he read almost eVerS'n"s
excc,t the text books prescribed by tue '"'o'''
Travels. romanccs. poems and plays he deVou'0"
mathematics he had-likc many other INC" " a.
acinative genius-an invinclble roPus"'NO0
FIRST writing was in the poetic form.
=, 20 s,ranqe tn recall in these days the l'Shoh al
which Hosea Biglows INST ehuSioh WAS IoV''' -
1916. Politicians thought the poem n@' ""N
xnlg,r. clergymen considered IL OidSP"o'"''''
so,pe of the abOtionsts even ala not qu''' "''''N
sta,d H. When Charles Sumner saw the VerScS III
Tbe Boston Courier he said to tnend; HIS
yankee poet has the trae spirit. He puts the cas-"
od,o,rablv I wish however, he could have use'
GOOD Fn0,ishw The verses concerning the OpllouS
of the eminent John i. Robinson went aOod' IlAo
The famous refrain from Pinaforc." Mr.. kooihs'h'
Mr. Underwood says. was q rehLed anu s1uu'o"'
man. unhappily on tie wrong SIDE OF moral qu0'
ton and was not little annoyed by MS va"
emlneuce' There is ludicrous though perhaps
mythical story. that he went abroad 10 get ""' VI
hearing the sound of his owa name as soon as TIC
landed at Liverpool however, and got to Dis ho'e''
he heard child in an adjoining room Idly SINGING
Ire listened. Yes. it was trne the detested refrain
had got across the ocean. II was
John p.
Robinson he
that the baby-rufian was trolling. He sailed to
Z 4 VI
looking at the ruins of the works of the Iemplars
he observed party OF English not far distant and
presently another infantile voice sang:
But John f.
Sez they didn't know ever thiu' down in JUDGE"
Mr.. Underwood has pleasant recollections OF
Lowell as University lecturer. Tue poets pro-
nunciation is clear and precise and the m"duia-
tons of his voice unsudied and agreeable; but liz
rarely raised hand in geSiculation. and his voice
was kent in its natural compass. e" He read like
one who had something of Importance to utter ana
the lust emphasis felt in the penetrating tone.
There were no oratorical climaXes and no pitfalls
set for applause. But the woghty thoughts, the
earnest feeling, and the brilliant pOetcal images,
gave to every discourse an ndescribabe charm.
No professor was more popular With his classes
Students speak of him always in terms OF admira-
ton and love-
The first recital of Lowelrs magnificent Com
memoratlon ODE on a summer afternoon ut Har
vara had an overpowering effect on the poets
audience. His face, always singularly expressive
WIS on this occasion almost MISUNDERSTANDING
asIf with an inward light Scholars and soldiers
alike were melted in admiration and tears. AS
the people were dispensing" says Mr.. Underwood,
a fresh looking active and graceful man of middle
age in iautless attire, met the poet with an out
stretched hand. There hearty greeting on
both sides. 1t was not the formal touch OF
cloved hands but an old-fashODed energetic
shake and il was accompanied by spontaneous,
halfarticuated words such as the heart translates
without a lexicon, while and misty eyes met
each other The newcomer was William w. Story,
The SCULPTOR and poet. when did you come over
Il landed ut Boston this morning. 1 hal heard you
were TO read poem; there was just time TO make
The trip. and here am. And so yOu have come
from Rome merely to hear me recite an ode Well,
ii is just like you"
Mr.. Underwood in the course of an elaborate de-
scripton OF the poet, says;
In person Lowell is of medium height, rather
slender but sinewy and active. His movements
are deliberate rather than impulsive, indicating
what athletes call staying qualities. His hair at
maturity was dark auburn or rudy chestnut IN
color and his full beard rather lighter and more
glowing in tint The eyes OF men OF genius are
seldom 10 he classified IN ordinary terms. though 1t
IL
rnson mentions HawthOrnes gray eyes; while the
present writer who once studied them attentvely,
1ound them notified gray and brown. and at that
time indcscribably soft and winning. mat they
were sometimes dcGpityal we can readily believe.
JoWeips ewes in repOSc have clear blue and gray
tones with minute dark mOtthngs. In expression
they are strongly indicative OF his moods. When
fixed upon stddy, or while listening 10 serOus dis
course they grave and penetrating; Ii ordinary
conversation they are bright and CHEEKY; IN mo-
uients of excitement they have a wonderful luStre
Nothing could be finer than his facial expression
while telling story or tossing repartee. The
features are alive with intelligence; ana eyes
looks and voice appear TO be working mp dazzling
ELECTS III concert, like the finished artists OF the
Coincide FrancaIse.
Iowel-instantaueous as lightning; and Hoseas
common Is LOwelPs birthnsht, too. When
me same man, moreover, can eXtcnporlze chuckllug
nuns or blow out breath Of poetlcai revere as
naturally as the smoke from his pipe the conbIna-
lion becomes almost marvellous. Other men may
have been as witty, though We recall Dnt three or
four IN our day may have had similar fund
OF wisdom mellowed with humor; Others have
talked the staple of dys and let OIL metaphors like
sOap-bubbies: but Lowell combines IN conversation
the varied powers of all. His resources are mex
haustible IL is no wonder that he has been adj
Inlred for at his best he is of the most faScnat
ing of men. There Is but one compeer,-the I'M
mortal Authenticated 1t would be difficult and
perhaps impossible 10 draw a parallel between
Steele said of a lady. that to have known and
loved her was liberal education. More than one
man who enjoyed LowePs society found that the
wise and witty converse of years did much to
supply lamented defects in his own study and tram
ing and perhaps warmed even late-flowerlng plants
into blossom and fruiage This a so should be sand,
that every man who has &nown Lowell well con
siders him much greater than the aggregate OF his
works. lie always gives the impression of power
in reserve and OF the probability Of still higher
achievement.
lie used TO enter upon the long walks which have
aided IN making him of the poets of nature with
the keenest zest. There was no quicker eye for a
bird or squirrel a flower or bush, and no more
accurate ear for the songs or the commOner sounds
of the forest ..
His habits have been scarcely Northumberland
ing correspondence, composition, exercise and
social converse coming often hap-hazard, yet.
IL, he haa - hI.I