The Portland daily press., 1882-05-24
impairment "reminiscences.

ILL POA OAAAOAAo AbOAL44AAANoCO&4OOo'
An annoyance, not considerable enough
or worthy to be protested against by the
most immediate sufferers from Its persistent
irritation, but which is readily TO be seen
and understood, is the mass of personal an
ecdote and dstasteful, though not ill-meant,
comment, which at once appears when
great man dies. The majesty of grief can
not shut the doors upon the intrusive swarm.
The solemn sorrow is beset with despicable
stings. On the field where fire has passed
rise up Haunting weeds Not long since
have fitting words been said by men who
might speak with understanding of the great
aims, exalted vision and the spirit clear and
spotless as sunlight of poet whose life
made the world more good to live in. But
now there arises hum of undistinguished
voices, each telling its own little story of
some word given and taken, some rich over
payment from the poets hand for gift or let
ter. When this is done for sake of the wide
and tender love that the poet inspired wher-
ever the English language is spoken. no lack
or awkwardness in these "reminiscences
should be noted. tits not always that true
feeling expresses itself auently and fifty.
But in the greater part of these anecdotes
and extracts from letters which are being
published, the evident desire of their writers
is to make themselves conspicuous as in
some sort rejecting light from the poets
personality. They exaggerate, falsify; set
forth the light and courteous expression of
his kindness that never failed, as token
of peculiar intimacy and esteem. They add
to things said, recall with circumstance the
replies which were made to their
frivolous and indiscreet questions. All
this fatters their own little vanity,
but cannot fail to be inexpressibly
annoying to those who were Of the circle of
the poets nearest friends; and to those who,
with less claim upon his attention, received
with grateful reverence the favors which he,
with king ly generosity, gave right and left.
The recognition which he gave to the to-
kens of the loving esteem in which he was
everywhere held, was measured, not by
worth of gifts given, but by his gracious and
inexhaustble courtesy and liberal goodwill,
which met them mora than half way. No
one whose good fortune it was ever to meet
the poet, went away without some distinct
remembrance of his kindness; but the pub
LEGATION of these memories is at this time in
appropriate and discordant. Those who
prize them Alright and merit them, keep
them close in heart, for the hearing of but
few, not caring to cheaper so precious gifts
by setting them forth for public notice.
The immediate cause for the making of
this protest against impertinent and intru-
sive reminiscences-ofte largely imagin-
ary-is the tasteless and frivolous character
of some articles which have already appear
ed in various journals, and also the an
nouncement of the immediate publication of
more than one volume about Prof. Longfel-
low, in which his friends have reason to fear
similar inappropriatenes 1t is fitting that
we of the poets native city, holding him in
highest love and honor, should hasten to
speak against the self-seeking desire of noto-
riety which has led various persons to write
in manner which must jar very rudely
upon the feelings of those to whom the 81
lence of respect and sympathy is far more
grateful than uniting speech.