Morris tribune., 1882-08-10
A Visit To Whittier.


residence, with wide piazza on three
sides of it, close to the roadway but
overlooking an extensive and very charm
ing lawn. The reception room is es-
sentially the authors home-bright,
cheerful and full of pretty things, that
have doubtless been made by pretty
hands. A piano stands in one corner by
the open fireplace, and could imagine
Mr.. Whittier pensiyely listening to the
good music which somebody plays for
him, as there is quantity of it lying at
hand near the fine instrument, by the
best composers. Mr.. Whittier is tall,
erect and somewhat difident, as bach
elors Of his age are apt to be. His greet
ing is cordial, and his fine brown eyes
say Welcome" before his lips utter the
gracious words. Our conversation drift
ed into topic common at the time-the
deaths of Mr.. Longfellow and Mr.. EN-
erson, both close friends of the Quaker
poet, and both Of whom he eulogized in
his peculiar way. Naturally our talk
passed on to the mention of the other
world, and the nearness many persons
experience of their dear ones VIII" have
entered its rest. 81 have never felt the
influence you describe" said Mr.. Whit
tier; ''no one who has passed away
seems near to me now. Life is such
mystery, that do not ask to penetrate
the secrets of eternity-but I can mag
inc that you and others are conscious Of
the unseen presence of those whom you
loved and lost.
'And who are eternally happy
added.
''Well, am not certain about that, he
continued with an expression of abstrac-
toni believe that we may have
troubles there, as we'll as here-if not
the contrast would not be so sweet.
The difference will be that we shall be
better enabled to bear them. Heaven
is place of harmony everything will
be harmonized there"
'Then you do not admire state of
complete bliss?"
''No, why should I, any more than I
like CLANS at high tide"-and after join
ing me in a moment of merriment, he
said:
eve all have times of exquisite enjoy
ment; the more beautiful because so
feeting, and it is for the contrasts in life,
of pain and pleasure, that such expert
ences are priced" Turning suddenly
he asked:
"When are you the happiest9"
s'You will laugh, Mr.. Whittier, but it
is when I hear the first note of robin in
the early spring time"
ono, I shall not laugh, for under
stand that pleasure too.
Then I described the meadows of
Central Park-which he said was all
news to him-and he had not supposed
anyone would go there to hear robins
song. A merry twinkle came in his
eyes as he added:
81 like Boston Common because they
hung some Quakers there once upon q
time"
He remarked that he is seventy five
years of age, and ''poetical illusions
could not be expected from such an old
man." But he seems in very tolerable
health, and his poetic temperament is
still enkindled sometimes.
In vivid contrast to this gentle. sweet
tempered, genial old man, is the viva
cious, handsome and gifted author, Mr..
J. T. Trowbridge, whose "Vagabonds"
has been the delight Of SO many public
ndpriyate recitations. Mr.. Trowbridge
resides at Arlington, also about twenty
miles from Boston, in pretty, cheerful
cottage, surrounded by alawn that slopes
down to little lake. He is q brilliant
conversaionalist, keen at repartee, and
full of anecdote. His story of Horace
Greeley's Observation-Disclosures at a tea
party is too good to be lost. A cake
basket being passed to that gentleman
on such o convivial occasion, he hooked
!, it on one Of his fore-fngers and con-
| sumed Its entire contents. Colonel
! Higginson, one of Boston's brightest
'1ights," resides ct Cambridge. It was
| he who wrote--as you will remember
"The Procession of Flowers" and ssMal.
bone House." He is wealthy, but q
great worker. He is also very handsome.
having remarkably fine curling gray
hair which surrounds and softens his
ford face. He went to New York at the
time of DR.. Hollands funeral, and sat
close to the coffin of his dear friend and
brother author, paying this most COM
mendable respect to his memory and