Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-07
THE QUAKER POET
A Chat with John 6. Whi,tier-some
of His opinions and REM inisssnscs.
From the Boston Herald

A Chat with John G. whi,tier-some
of His Opinions and IL minisssnscs.
tFrom the Boston Heralil
Half way up the main street, well removed
from this uupoetic hustle, came upon a
house that is worthy OF picture. 1t isa
white frame cottage of that box like archi-
lecture so common IN the country villages Of
this section. The centre is two stories hiSh,
with one story wings on either side. Tne
marks Of age are apparent, though every
thing is neat and tidy. Ia app~rs1ce it is
more like the house of thrifty mech mic
than man of letters whose name is warli-
wide Shade trees and shrubbery Gil thu
large yard. which blooms in the sumner with
the checkered green of foliage aud the q nix
and white of flowers hut in this season OF
mist aud mellow fruitfulne,s, al this c)lor
is turned by the pinching hani pf frost, aod
the greeuswsrd is covered with yellow
leaves, harbingers of that season Of which
Whittier wrote:
AMI autumn in his leafless bowers
Is waiting for the wnt.rs sRow,
| A graveled walk leads to the front door
Of the house. and my pull at the hell was an
swered by ,idly dressed lady, with
round, cherry, good-natured face, the poets
niece, believe. She extended pleasant.
welcome. and led the way into c neat little
paror opening from the tiny hail. \ mo-
ment later there entered tall man. six feet
or more high. l should say. He walked
briskly across the floor with elastic step. His
dress was tie plain unptetentOus garb Of
Quaker the dark, high-buttoned yes', the
black cut-away c,at, having just the faintest
suspicion of velvet on the collar and the far
ing of the small ear-shaped lappels. His
face wears that peculiar expression denoting
quiet thought and gentle disposition.
Round and pleasant it is framed in gray
whskers, shaved only from the lips, which
are pressed firmly together. The coun-
tenance il rather serious in composure, bu!
brightens with the interest of conversation.
The dark eyes are set well back beneath
heavy brows, aud the high forehead appears
unusually long by the absence Of hair Gu the
crown of the head. Although seventy-sevec
years old, he has the bearing and step Of
man of fifty. l had heard that lie was fall
ing and was pleasantly surprised to find how
cheerful, entertaining aud well preserved hs
was.
This is John G.. Whittier" inyoluntarily
exclaimed, us he took my hand and shook Ii
warmly.
"Ycs and thee is from PHILADELPHIA
wonder if thee knows any Of my friends,
there Hardly, suppose, for the people
and the city have SO changed. 1t hls become
metropolitan place, and lis distinctive
Quaker features are scarcely percepttle any
more, suppose Even the friends who are
left have changed. The quaint old bulldogs.
l believe are still there-simple monuments.
recalling the characteristics OF The people
who at one time gave the city ito individu-
atty
Whl,tiet's fondness for Longfslow was
everywhere apparent, and when this was re-
marked upon, he said:
"Y,s, we were warm friends. lie was
delightful man and great poet. The last
lime he was here in my house he came i
with Senator Sumner and Mr.. Charles Lam
man OF Washington. We saw little OF each
other during the last few years OF his lif
My health did not permit me to go ahou'
much. Not long bl fore he died, he wrntc
for ne TO come and see him, was no. Alb
to go at once; but, as sion as ! could,
went to him. was too late ho"ever, io-
when reached his house hc was tacn M
able to c any ono, and soon sfter passed
away.
Hawthorne, Emerson, Lonlfeliuw at!
myself were always friends. There were nj
iealousies between US, and each t. Il prida
In the work aud success of the cthcr ""
would exchange notes upon our pr ld1ciions,
an il one SAW kindly notice ci tic other IL
wss always cut and sen, him.
"llavthorne | regarded rs the cr'atsS
master Of the English langnagc. lie Wa me
superior of Addison. / never krcw Lor II al
Of man who could build snch bsallhul
stories in words that The hulnb.e,t could un-
dersiand.
Emerson was not only srfst wli!er,
hut philosopher. Our relations wee very
close. Tie often visited ne here, and l
him. We saw more Of one another than
did I.ongfrlow and l. Emerson has
written some things that will live forever.
. They are "Thc Problem" Each and ALL"
and perhaps twenty other pieces that l could
} name. He had simple, easy way OF VII
ing that gave his work great power. Ny
sister used to say that she liked him better
than any man who came here, because he
1 never talked over her head. That was real
ly his strength"
, The conversation then drifted into tho
methods Of these great writers while al WORK.
MIR. Whittier said
J al was unlike any of the rest, think, for
never had any methods. When felt ike
. it wrote and never had the health nor the
t patience 10 work over it atterward. It.
I usually went as it was originally completed.
Emerson wrote with great care, aud would
e not only revise his manuscript carefully, but
/ | have often heard him say be would fire.
: quenlly rewrite the article upon
Q the proof sheets. Longtellow, isn,
" was a very careful writer. He wrote and rr-
, wro,c, and would lay his work by and thea
h revise il. He often would consult with hi.
c friends t1out his productions before they
n were given to the world He Therefore sent
!, his work nut as perfect as great csre md
v brilliant intellect could make it. was n' I
# so fortul ate have lived mostly secluded
# life with little patience 10 draw upon, ant
e only cw friends for associates. WhA
); writing have done has been Tor the love "'
&c it, have ever been timid of what have
o pcnned. 1t is really q marvel to Inc that
st have gathered any literary reputation frol
&C my projections"
y |