The Portland daily press., 1883-11-26
A Chat With Whittier.
The Qnaker Poet Talks About Ha wth orne
LonKfellow and Emerson.

| db kue ldLlcT uOIuC Ill AACcO0AJg WASAO hO
found his host in good health, and more Wig
orous than one would expect from man OF
seventy-six years.. The writer describes the
| home and personal appearance Of Mr.. Whit
tier, who greeted the visitor cordially. His
fondness for Longfellow was everywhere ap-
parent, and when this was remarked upon,
| he said:
| eyes, we were warm friends. He was a
delightful man and great poet. The last
| time he was here in my house he came with
| Senator Sumner and Mr.. Charles Lanman,
of Washington. All saw little of each other
during the last few years of his life. My
health did not permit me to go about much.
| Not long before he died, he wrote for me to
come and see him. was not able to go at
once; but as soon as l could, went to him.
| was too late, however, fo- when reached
his house he was then unable to see any
one, and soon after passed away.
Hawthorne, Emerson, Eonefellow and
| myself were always friends. There were no
| jeaIousies between us, and each took pride
in the work and success of the other. We
would exchange notes upon our produc-
tions, and If any one saw kindly notice OF
the other it was always cut out and sent
| him.
| Hawthorne regarded as the greatest
master of the English language. He was
| the superior Of Addison. / never knew nor
read of man who could build such beauti-
| ful stories In words that the humblest could
| understand.
Emerson was not only great writer, but
philosopher. Onr relations were very
close. He often visited me here, and him.
We saw more of one another than did Long
fellow and /. Emerson has written some
things that will live forever. They are
The Problem Each and All,' and perhaps
twenty other pieces that could name. He
had simple, easy way of writing that gave
his work great power. My sister used to
say that she liked him better than any man
who came here, because he never talked
over her head. That was really his
strength"
The conversation then drifted into the
methods of these great writers while at work.
Mr.. Whittier said:
81 was unlike any of the rest, / think, for
never had any methods. When felt like
it wrote; and neither had the health nor
the patience to work over 1t afterward. 1t
usually went as it was originally completed.
Emerson wrote with great care, and would
not only revise his manuscript carefully, but
1 have often heard him say that he would
frequently re-write the article upon the
proof sheet. Longfellow, too, was very
careful writer. He wrote and re-wrote, and
would lay his work by and then revise it.
He often would consult with his friends
about his productions before they were given
to the world. He therefore sent his work
out as perfect as great care and brilliant
intellect could make it. / was not 80 fortu-
nate. / have lived mostly secluded life
with little patience to draw upon, and only
a few friends for associates. What writing
have done has been for the love of it. l
have ever been timid of what l have penned.
1t is really marvel to me that have gath
cred any literary reputation from my pro-
duetions.
ssMuch that have written. I wish was as
deep in the Red Sea as Pharaoh's chariot
wheels. Much of the bread cast on the wa
ters wish had never been returned. 1t is
not fair TO revive writings composed in the
shadow of conditions that make eAen aceep-
table work impossible. In my early life
was not favored with good opportunities.
Limited chances for education and a lack of
books always stood in my way. When began
to write had seen nothing and virtually
knew nothing of the world. OF course
things written then could not have been
worth much.
s'In my fathers bouse there were not
| dozen books. and they were of severe type.
| The only one that approached poetry was
| rhymed history of King David, written by
contemporary of George Fox, the Quaker.
There was one poor novel in the family. 1t
belonged to an aunt. This | secured one
day, but when had read it half through l
ruao dsc0varad and IL Wae takan aWaV from
me-"
The poet laughed quite heartily as he re-
called those early days and his first attempt
to read something that was more suited to
his youthful mind than the Bible or the his
tory of King David.
my firsG glimpse of poetry was when my
old school-master brought copy of Burns's
poems and read from it at our house. My
first real work was done when George D.
Prentice was editing the Hartford Review,
although had written considerably before.
/ wrote and sent him few things and he
encouraged me. When he recommended
me to take his place, the publishers wrote
me and l went down. / had then seen
practically nothing of the world, and for the
two years remained with the Review, my
greatest effort was to keep people from
knowing how little really knew. 1t was a
providential opening, however, for it gave
me a start
81 wrote continually; but there was no
market for the work. My anti-slavery con-
victions made my name valueless to any of
| the magazines; but strange as it may appear,
| the Democratic Review was always anxious
| for my writings.
"Was there no market at all? No price
| set upon your workT'
"None. inst wrote for any paper that
| would publish my matter, and if Longfel-
| low, Emerson, Hawthorne or myself had
been forced to rely upon the products of our
| pens for our living, we would have wanted
| bread in those days when most of our best
| work was done. To me this is queer
| phase of literary life; to find that the great
| est geniuses that America has ever given to
| literature should have toiled without recon-
| pense and been forced to wait until they
| were old before reaping the fruits of their
| labor. Truly, it is hard work for writer to
| get foothold; but when he does, it is
1 strong one."
The conversation turning upon compar-
| ison of the work of American writer's with
that of foreigners, Mr.. Whittier said:
| cat no time has Tennyson written any,
| thing that surpasses the production of the
| best American poets"
This reference to TennysoI. naturally
| turned the conversation. upon Longfellow's
poems again; and it was apparent that Mr..
| Whittier was very fond, not only of the man,
but of his works. sEyangeline' is fayo-
rite with me,'' said he. 81 think it one of
the most beautiful of poems. Longfellow
had an easy life and superior advantages of
association and education; and so did EN-
erson. 1t was widely different with me;
and am very thankful for the kind esteem
that people have given my writings. Before
'Evangefine' was written l had hunted up
the history Of the banishment of the Aca-
dians aud had intended to write upon it my
self; but put it off and Hawthorne got
hold of the story and gave it to Longfellow.
am very glad he did, for he was just the
one to write it. If had attempted it I
should have spoiled the artistic effect of the
poem by my indignation at the treatment of
the exles by the Colonial government"
Henry Smith, aged 45, a professional thief,