New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-30
MEMORIES OF LONGFELLOW.
LETTER FROM WILLIAM WINTER.


TO fhe Editor OF The tribune
SIR: The least of us who have recolectons of
such man as Longfellow may surely venture, now,
TO add them TO the general stock OF knowledge,
without mourning the reproach OF intrusveness.
My remembrance of him goes back to period about
thirty years ago, when he was professor IN Har-
ward University | had read every line he had then
published and such was the affection he inspired,
even in boyish mind, that on many summer
night walked several miles. to his house, only to
put my hand upon the latch of his gate.
which he himself had touched. More than
anyone else among the many famous per-
cons whom, since then, il has been my
fortune to know, he aroused this feeling of mingled
tenderness and reverence saw him oten-waiKlhg
inthe streets of Cambridge oHooiDg overthe books,
in the old shop of TcknOr & Fields at the corner OF
Washington and School-sts-, in Boston-long before
was honorcd with his personal acquaintance
and observed HIN closely--as youth naturally
does the object of his honest admiration. His
natural dignity and grace. and the beautiful re-
fnement of his countenance, together with his
perfect taste in dress and the exquisite simplicity of
his manners made him the absolute ideal of what
poet should be. His voice, too soft, sweet, and
musical, and like his face, it had the innate charm
of tranquility. His eyes were blush
gray very bright and brave. changeable under
the influence of emotion las afterward, often
saw but mostly calm, grave, attentive ard gentle
The habitual expression of his face not that of
Eadness and yet it sad. Perhaps ii may be
best described as that of serious and tender thought
fulness. lie had conquered bis own sorrows thus
far but the others threw their shadow over
him-as he sweetly and hunanely says IN his pa
ghetto ballad of "The Bridge" One day after he
had bestowed on me the honor and blessing of his
friendship which, thank God, / never LOST he
CHANGED to stop his carriage just in front OF the old
Tudor Building. in Court-St., Boston, to speak TO
me and remember observing then the sweet, visit
full. half-Sad, PARKWAY look in his sensitive face
and thinking he looked like man who had suffered,
or might yet suffer, great affection. There was a
strange touch of sorrowful majesty and prophetic
fortitude commirgled with the composnre and kind
ness of his features.
twas in April. 1854. that l became personally
acquainted with LongfellOw, and he was the first
literary friend | ever had-greeting me rs young
aspirant in literature, and holding out to me the
hand Of fellowship and encouragement. He allowed
me to dedicate TO him volume Of my verses pub
lished in that year, being the first of my ventures.
They were such bad verses that hope shall never
see them again. yet he tolerant Of them, because
he knew the sincerity of heart aud ambition of
spirit that lay beneath them. and. in
his far-reachng charity and prescience, he must
have thought that something good might
come even of such a poor beginning. AT
all events, where others were cold, OF satirical.
or conte1aptuous, he kind and cordial, and full
OF cheer. few words in coInmendation of some of
these verses had been written by n. p. Willis and
the paragraph happened to come in his way. He
was sincerely pleased with it, and can hear now
the gentle hearty tone in which he spoke of it. turn
ing to Mrs. Longfellow. who present. and say
ing. with an obvious relish of good will There is
great deal of kindness in WILLIS nature" Thus
a little trait but il is of little traits that the great
est human character is composed. Goodness gen
crosby and large hberalty of Judgment were, In
his character conspicuous elements. Ills spontane-
Gus desre-the natural instinct of his great heart
and massive phosophic miDd-was TO be helpful
to lift up the lowly to strengthen the weak;
10 bring out the best in every person
20 dry every tear and make every pathway |
smooth II saying but little to say that he never
spoke a harsh word. except against injustice and
wrong. He was the natural friend and earnest adj
vocate Of every good cause and right idea. His
words about the absent were always consderate and
gentle and he never lost practical opportunity OF
doing good.
For the nfrInities Of humanity n was charity
itself and he shrank from harShness IS from posi-
tive sin 4" Ii is the prerogatve OF the poet ne
once said to me, III those Old days to give pleas
ure; but IT is the critics province to give pam" lie
had indeed. but a slender esteem for the critics
even "a y11llent and hostile critic as his assailant
nnd traaucer Edgar Allan POe-Of whom have
heard him speak with genuine pity. His words were
few and unobtrusiye, and they clearly in
sicated his consciousness that Poe mad
grossly abused and maligned MN, DuC
instead Of resentment for injury. they displayed
snlv sorrow for IN unfortunate and haii-crazed ad-
veuary. There was a little volume OF Poes poems
an Enslsb e1ition-on the library table and at
,a,t of tbi. was prompted 10 ask Longfelow If
". had ever personally met him-"because."
aid eff he had known you, 1t is impossible ne
could have written about you III such manner.
He answered that ne bad never seen roe, ana tna'
the bitterness was, doubtless. due To depioraoie
literary jealousy. Then, after pause oi musihe'
y. a5ded very gravely: My works seemed to
Give him much trouble, first and last but Mr.. roe
Is dead and buried and | am alive and still
xritirg-and that is the end of the matter. l
never condo scended to answer Mr.. Poes attacks;
and would advise YOU now, at the outset OF your
literary career never TO take notice OF any attacks
that NAV be made upon you. Let them all pass
H. then took up the volume OF Poe' and' turning
Che leaves particularly commended the stanzas en-
titisd " Fo, hnnieE and 1.-The Haunted Palace"
Then sti speaking of criticism, he mentioned tne
Great number of he wspaper and magazine arucies
about his own writings that were received Dy him-
sent apparently, by their writers. loon a' 'no
first few lines he said and if find that the ar
tiolo hs ,oen written in apleasant spirit, read 1t
fbrorgb. lint If | find that the Intention Is
90 wound. drop the paper into my hre
and 50 dismiss H. In that way one escapes nuch
annoyaucer b. this lesson the present WRITER mas
nbnndantly profted, these many yeaIs-Sc1iceS
ever having even looked at newspaper III "hioh
he had the slightest reason to suppose ne might liu
ms name and writings the object OF attack ana nc