New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-21
MAGAZINE LITERATURE.
LoNGFELLOw's SPIRITUAL LIFE.

o. r. FrOfhiHghnm IN The Atlantic
During the war he made no public demonstration,
nor was quoted either in defence or in reprobatlon
of any public policy yet his loyalty was never
called in question nor was TIE course o, as
even n little way beneath the surface found an en-
thnsiasm for liberty as hearty faIth IN Justice as
firm confidence in the final issue rs loIty. as any
cOmbatant could desire. In c0untiy where thero
was no national church, no generally accepted 10TH
of religious worship or observance, ana Wncro' con-
se0nently. Theological opinions were VehemenIy
dohated he kent his religious thoughts to himself;
but he was an honest friend TO liberty vi InYu!iy'
and associated himself with those VINO put 10 sln-
cerely into practice. He was no cOntIoversiaIlsI
no eectary. Religion, with him, was an anair OF .?
the heart rather than of tho intellect and ior us
part he was content to believe reasonably ~ ohe
time the Roman Catholics claimed hlm as DeinS ol
their communion. finding justification In certain
generous words that came from MS pen III PRAISE ~
some cathedral lite OF holy custom But IL was
merely n touch of sentiment n spark OF that Droau
poetlc feeling which Recognized beauty uhder az
forms of ritual. He was poet, anu ne was rollB-
ious that is the whole secret. religious IT, IT,
former he certainly was not could not Oe ne
could not be n partisan or poleInlc But shali 10
he reckoned against him that he abstained from
dogmatic assertion, anu yet nelu by MS conticI'oo
thar he was silent yet devOut non comm lttal yet
worshIpfull Most of the dissent about US Is N
difference; most of the dumbhess ls denial II he
aid not speculate at least lie did not quarrel lie
uounce OF sit down in sullen discomfort. lie was
neither optimist nor pcssimist but "a submissive
disciplc The gale that blows from GOD we must
endure, toling but not replhIhg' nc says Ill h"'-
anagh"
It is a common remark that longlellow was sim
gularly fortunate; that Proyidenee treaten MN
with indulgence and spared him the struggles ana
disappOntments which attend the lot OF iDost III
erary men. Hence, add some, faith to him was IN
necessary and all expression Ot 1t was sentimental
unreal literary. But to say nothing OF such alilic-
tons as are so tenderly limited at IN oIces OF the
Might" the multitude have yet To learn what tney
have to endure who along with success, popularity,
honor and worldly competence. are endowed WIN
sensiveness OF conscience and tenderness OF heart
IL II be true that opulence bears more heaVIy on
talent than perjury does, Ii Is equally true tlat re-
sponslbility entails more misery than ton does
misery in the form of regret. uneaslness. dsSats
faction sense of weakness failure illdesert, not
to sneak of mutitudinOus demands that can De
neither met nor dismissed. questions that can pe
neither answered nor put aside In spite OF case
Longlelluw labOrcd Success stimulated nm 10
toll praise made him modest; popularity threw
him back on sclf-knowcdge; privilege kept MN
mindful of duty; honOrs educated hun Ill charlty /;
aud the perpetual presence OF world ulleu WIN
pain drove him TO the bosom of divine love. Con
ditions which might have encouraged q heiIcohcc
scious to think this the best possible order Oh
things and morbid man 10 regaId 1T rs the worst
possible simply rendered him submissive anu
thoughtful Perhaps he did not choose to thinK,
being constitutionaly ordained to feel put 1eellg
is rs impOrtuuate Us thought whoever III Worll
like this maintain still heart Is quite as much
to lie marveed at rs ho who can preserve CAIN III
tcllect To outward seeming Mr.. LOnglell0w was
a prosperous man. TO wha; extent this IMPRESSION
of him was due TO his own cquablhty no one VIII
ever know. That he endowed with hlghly
sensitive nature, that i'll consequence OF possessing
il he enjoyed and suffered kecnly, we do know from
his writings not only in verse, but also IN prose 's
well original. selected Tor translation from tie
writings of others. After all. temperament counts
tor a GOOD deal in this matter of optimism or pes
siInism, and the poetic temperament is exposed 10
the severeSt strain. The poet must either De porn
with child-like heart. which Is proof against the
shocks of fate, he must earn his cOmpoSure by
Ia rd discipline of Will. In the hrst case we admire
III the last we vcnerate, him. In which category
our poet stands is yet TO be revealed when his Lie
shall be laid open.