New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-25
BEyRY WADsToRrH LOYGFELLOW.

The fact of Longfellow's death will come
home to hundreds of hearts with sense OF per
soual loss and bereavement. The lOVable quality
in his writings, which was the natural and
spontaneous reflex of the gentle tenderness OF
his nature. had endeared him not less rs a man
than as a poet To read him was to know
him. and, as Hallecl said of Drake, to know
him was to love him so that his readers were,
in fact. bis afIectonate friends. The read
ing of Longfellow was like sitting by the
freside of a sympathetic and cherished
companion. The atmosphere of his works
has the refinement and elegance OF a sump-
tuous and well-ordered library but also it has
the soft tranquility and smiling contentment
of a happy home.
To anyone who ever was, in fact, privileged
to sit by the treside of the pOeT, the thought
that he is lying there in death is almost in
conceivable, and brings with it an overwhelm-
ing solemnity. No man ever dilfused around
himself a more radiant influence of life and
cheerfulness and vigorous hope than LOngfel-
low did, beneath his own roof. He was not,
indeed, demOnstrative person he did not
overflow with eftusiOn, or cover by bolster
Gus heartiness the absence of sincere wei
come. But he Il er failed TO do the night
thing in the right way, or to say the night
word at the right time. He was thoughtful
for every one who approached him. He knew
by unerrng intuition the ways Of true grace
which flow out of true kindness. He was en-
tirely frank and simple, bearing himself always
with gentle dignity, and speaking always with
quiet sweetness that was inexpressby
winning. With youth in particular he had
a
understood all its ardOrs and aspirations,
its c0nfusions in presence of the mys-
teries of life, Its embarrassments amid
unfamiliar surroundings, its craving for recog-
milton, its sensitive heart, and its dream-like
spirit. "The thoughts Of youth are long,
long thoughts To the last day of his life he
carried this mood of youth; and no one ever
heard from LIS lips word of satire or dis
cOurasement. His first and greatest impulse
was sympathy. In domestic life this displayed
itself in a constant, unObtrusiye sOlicitude for
the comfort of all around him, and in a thou
sand little courtesies which equally adorned his
conduct and cOmfOrted his associates. In his
writings it is the lambent flame of every page.
Yet there was no element Of inspdity III
his character. If he preferred always to see
the most agreeable side, and to speak always
the most agreeable word, it was not that he
was blind to defects, or assiduous to please,
OF insincere, or acquisitive of popularity.
When occasion required it he spoke his con-
victions, whether acceptable or otherwise
fully and firmly, and he could rebuke injustice
or ill-breeding with cool censure that was
all the more implacable for its calmness
and reserve. He never obtruded his schOl-
arship but if the drift of conversation carried
him that way, he tinted his discourse with
many shining ray of knowledge and many
a colored flash of anecdOte, with citations
from wide range of books, and with pecu-
Lar, dry, half-veiled drolery that was kindly
nischievous and delightfully."- pungent His
tolerance was neither weakness nor an arti
flee: it was the outgrowth of constitutional
charity and tenderness toward that human ma
tlre of which he possessed 50 much, and which
he knew 50 well.
Those who remember him IN early years say
that he was remarkable for personal beauty and
for the perfect order aud refinement of hIs life
and manners. From the first nc seems to have