Daily globe., 1883-08-28
LONGFELLOW.
Some of the Queer Tisitors He Vas Wons
to Entertain

Some of the Queer Tisitors He Vas Wo.s
to Entertain.
prof. Boyesen, in the Christian Union.1
During the Centennial year we were
sitting together one beautiful afternoon,
on his piazza, smoking and talking.
While we were in the midst of our con-
versation observed two men and two
women coming toward us across the
lawn. They were obviously New En-
gland country folks returning from the
Centennial Exhibition. The men had
the slow, deliberate, rustic walk, and
were dressed in ill-ftting broadcloth,
the very look of which made one per-
spire. The women, who were leading
the way, had an appearance of pluck
and enterprise, as if they were deter
mined to conquer the modest difidence
of their companions. Mr.. Longfellow
was sitting with his back to the street,
and did not observe them until they
were within yard Of the piazza. He
looked little surprised, but arose and
saluted the intruders with his wonted
courtesy.
"Be you the poet Longfellow ?"
asked one Of the women, in voice that
was incredibly unmelodious.
eyes, am MIR. Longfellow," he an
swered.
There was an awkward pause, during
which the visitors stared at the poet
with unabashed glances as if he had been
Centennial relic on exhibition.
"Now, how old man might you be ?"
queried the other female, abruptly.
CT am 60 years old, madam"
"Pears to me you look considerably
older," said one of them, looking up
sideways to Mr.. Longfellow's face with
a critical air.
"My looks may belle me. I am no
Oder"
I could not but wonder at the extreme
urbanity with which he answered these
blunt questions, showing no annoyance
in his face and no resentment. And
when, finally, at their request, he con-
Quoted the party through the house, he
submitted with the same gentle courtesy
to a cross examination regarding his
family and personal affairs which would
have tried the patience of the archangel
Gabriel. When, at the end of half an
hour, he returned, apologizing for his
absence, made remark which was.
perhaps, little disrespectful to his late
visitors. =,
"They meant no disrespect to me by
their questions" he answered, with that
beautiful gentleness which was so char.
acteristic of his manner. "Itis perfect
ly proper, where they come from, to in
terest ones self in the personal affairs of
everybody"
"But it must be great Inconvenience
to you," I observed, "to bes frequent
ly disturbed by such excursion1sts.
"Well, during the present year ad-
nit it has been little trying. Never
theless always dislike sending man
or woman away who has come out here
for thepurpose Of seeingme or my house.
OF course [ have to do it occasionally,
but it is always disagreeable to me need
lessly to disappoint any one. Those
women whom you sawarea good staunch
New England type, and I like them in
spite Of their lack Of tact and their alb
rupt manners. They are good, hard
working women, who make good wives
and good mothers. And yet, the other
day, was greatly amused at one of the
same class who came here with large
basket-whether she had anything TO
sell I did not ascertain-apparently for
the purpose of telling me that she had
read Evangeline from beginning to
end, and, she added, 'there bent many
folks can say that am convinced now
that she had no intention of being rude
to me; she was merely awkward and
nervous, and said what she did not mean
to say. I asked her if she had found the
reading of 'Evangeline such dreadful
task. The question seemed to surprise
her she grew embarrassed, and showed
plainly that she had no recollection of
having said anything omplimentary."
JOURNALISM AND WOMEN.
BOSTON aOrrocYoopdoDoa NJ 11,o,J, 10