New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16
EMERSON ON EDWARD EVERETT.

From Historic Notes Of Life and Letters IN MASSACHUSETTS,
ia The Atlantic
There WAS an influence on the young people 1T Jnl
the genius of Everett which was almost comparable
to that of Pericles in Athens. He had an lnsplra-
ton which did not GO beyond his head, but when
made him the master of elegance. IL any OF my
readers at that period III Boston or Cambridge
they will easily remember his Radiant beauty Oh
person of classic style his heavy large eYe mar
BILE lids which gave the impression OF mass winch
the slightness of his form needed scnptured lips ;
a voice of such rich tones. such precise ana perfect
utterance that although slightly nasal, II was the
most mellow and beautiful and correct OF all the
instIuments of the time. The word that he spoke,
in the manner in which he spoke II, became cur
rent and classical III New England. He had great
talent for collecting facts. ana Tor bringing tnoso
he mad to bear with ingenousfecty on the topic oil
the moment. Let HIM rise To speak on wnatOccaslop
soever a fact had always just trsnsplred which
composed, with some other tact well known 10 inc
audience, the most pregnant and happy GOMEZ
deDce Ii was remarked that Tor man VINO threw
ont so many facts he was seldom convicted or
a Dunder. He had a good zeal OF special learning
and all was available tor purposes OF the hour. IL
was all new learning, that wonderfully LOON anu
stimnlated the Young men. 1t was so colby and
welphtiy communicated from so commanding
platform-as If in the consciousness and consldrra
ton of all history and all acknowledgement WIN
so very simple and austere beauties Oh expression,
and enriched with so many excellent IMPRESSIONS
and significant quotations that, though nothing
could be conceived beforehand less attractive or
indeed less tit for green boys from Connecticut
UamnsbIre and Massachusetts,, with their unrlpe
Latin and Greek reading, than exegetica discOurses
IN The stvle of Voss and Wolf and Ruhnken. on the
OrDbc and ante H0merlc remalns yet TINS learning
instantly took the highest place 70 our Imagination
in our unoccupled American Parnassus. All BIS
auditors felt tho extreme beauty and dignity OF the
manner and even he cOarsest were conten'cd 10 90
punctually to listen for the manner, when they bad
found out that the subject matter was not Tor th en-
In the lecture-room he a0staIned IRON all ornament
and pleased himself with the play oil detailing
erudtlon IN Style OF perfect simplicity lu me
nuni (for he was then clergyman) he made
amends TO himself and his auditor Tor the seiidenIa
of the professors chair and, still with an nfanine
simplicity OF manner, he gave the rehs 10 MS noilu'
quaint and aiiiueDt fancy.
Then was exhibited all the richness OF a rhetoric
which we have never seen riyaed III this country.
Wonderful how memorable were words made winch
were only pleasing pictures, ana covered no new
or valid thOughts lie abounded III sentences, IN
wit in satire, In splendid alluslon, In quotation
impossible 10 forget, IN daring Imagery, III par
able and even in a sort OF delying experiment OF
his own wit and SKI II in giving an oracular weight
70 Hebrew or rabbnical words-teaIs which no
man could better accomplish, sucn was
his self-command ana the security OF his manner.
All his speech was music, and with such variety aud
invention that the ear was never tired. Especially
in quoting Milton, and with such sweet incubation
that he seemed TO give as much beauty as he Dor
rowed aud whatever he has quoted Will be re-
membrred by any one who heard him with Id
s.naraole association with his voice and genius.
He had nothing III common with vuganty and III
trinity, but speaking, walking sitting, was as
much aloof and uncommon as n etaT. .
liz was notthe intellectual or the moral principles
which he had To teach. 1t was not thoughts.
When Massachusetts was full OF his lame III was
NOT commended that be had thrown any truths into
circulation But his power lay in the magic OF
form IL was Ill the graces OF manner, IN a new
n.rception of Grecian beauty, to which he had
onened our eyes. There was that finish about
TINS person which is about women. and winch
distinguishes every piece of genius from the
works of talent; these last more or less
matured in every degree Of completeness according
10 the time bestowed on them but works of genius
IN their first and slightest form are still whoes In
eyery public discourse there nothing lett for
the Indulgence OF his hearer marks OF late hours
and anxious unfinished study but the goddess OF
grace mad breathed ON the work last frsgrancy
and glitter.