New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-24
EMERSON AND LONGFELLOW.
A PAPER BY MRS. JULIA WARD HOWE.

A PAPER BY MRS JULIA WARD HOWE.
THE SECOND MEETING OF THE NINETEENTH CEN.
TURY CLUB.
The Nineteenth Century Club held its second
meeting last evening at the house of Courtlandt
Palmer in Gramercy Park. Mr.. Palmer is the presi-
dent of the ASSOCIATION. and at its first meeting two
weeks ago, delivered lecture, in which he stated
the scope and spirit of the club, which was or
ganized in November. Mrs Julia Ward Howe read
paper last night, entitled "Reminiscences of En-
erson and Longfellow." The meetings are held
sem-monthly, and James Parton has promised to
prepare paper on rhe Coming Mans Religion
Henry George on Ireland and the Problem Of Rent"
Parke Goodwin on Capital and Labor" Professor
William G. Sumner. of Yale College. on SOCIOLOGY"
and the Rev. Dr. J. II. Rylance. rector ofSt. Marks
Protestant Episcopal Church. on Cooperation"
1t Is also the purpose of the club to have persons
well informed on special subjects, such as music
and art read papers.
In conversation with reporter Of THE TRIBUNE
last night Mr.. Palmer said " The motto OF the
Nineteenth Century Club Isl Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good Without holding any
theory of Its own, it Will aim to give
fair hearing to every theory that
is being intelligently propounded in
this act,vc-thoughted age. Each speaker will
have his views subjected to courteous criticism In
the debates which Will follow the lectures thus
each topic will be presented before the cluD ana its
guests in the most all-sided and cosmopolitan
manner. The founders of the club especially de-
sire that it should be, regarded as
neither conservative or radical o.ia doo nf
liberation in its widest sense. 1t IL simply an at-
tempt to bring the American love OF fair play into
the field of thought" -
Among those present last evening were the follow
ing persons Mr. and Mrs. Brayton Ives Mr.. and
Mrs. homas Hitchcock Mrs. +. A. I. Barnard, the
A4a nd. IL. lnHya
Barrett. Mr.. and Mrs. H. J. WoolSey. the Rev
and Mrs. G; "; Ballou, Mrs. Barry. Mrs
n. n. 2chermerhorn, Mr., and Mrs jordan l.. Mott,
Miss Holt Or. and Mrs. Welsoe, Mr.. and Mrs. Jack
!. Schultz, Colonel Frederick A. Conkling Mrs.
John Sherwood, DR.. Darauit, Mrs. Burton \. harr-
son. Mr., and Mrs. ID: g. CrOly, Dwight Il. Olmstead,
Jonn How, Miss Breeze. Mir. and Mrs. Charles
l. f. MeagneI, Miss Emma Lazarus, the Key. Dr.
c. GottheIl, Mrs julius Catlln Mrs. Charles l..
Perkins, F. g. Warehouse Bayard Tgckerman'
Edgar h. Saitus Edwald Tuckerman Potter, DR..
and Alrs. X. IL. Derb,, aud Mrs. Lawrence Jerome.
MrS. Howe was introduced by Mr.. Palmer as "a
woman who had taken "a step in advance oil her SIS
per was prepared, Mrs Howe said. to be read last
summer before the students OF ladies seminary IN
estern Newly ORR. IL consisted OF personal rem
iniscences OF Longieilow aud Emerson, Win seec-
tons from their writings and an estimate OF their
influence on tho present generation. he Rev. III;
SchurmerhOrn Dr. Balault, Colonel Conkln9 Rud
Mr. Wakeman spoke briefly after the paper, aud re-
ireshments closed tho evenings entertainment.
The paper was In part as follows;
Iungirllow moved among tho great minds IN litcra
ture with the ability OF equal He wrote with ease
but did write easily Ho nad true appreciation OF
the past, but kceniy alive the needs Of TIE pres
ent AT the time when u was tho custom both North
and South sick ut the idea OF the emancipation OF
negroes lie Joined he little army IN defence or the
slave. 20 wnicA Channing. Bryant PhpO, Garrison ard
Emerson already belonged. Dir LougieuOw was lover
Of Europe but he loved and wrote about hts native
land ius writings ale pure, and white should be the
marble wuich Is used to conference.-the hun
looked FOR the gst time tue face " his brother
poet, In speaking OF Mr.; Emerson, we |
cclcbuty, for / remember wlcu was much laughed |
at made hs acquaintance forty or more years ago,
railway stat on, IA crowded around hardwood |
hre. We were introduced by mutual friend, ana Mr.
work which she doing among the women OF Boston.
/ Mt tuat time Jealous Calvnis and mad much to
smiled ami said that an angel would have much |
more influence on earth than u demon. But my |
easily turned from my early teaching; There
was that hogs sSc,s, np n9epion ent
novelty OF the careful use OF lanBdAge He did not coin
new words. but It seemed to II he TOOK Old |
New England siHpences aud shlings OF language and
rosIauPcd tnem Oy ns vigorous thought iea1sre Of
his his high estimate OF trutn. lie was 50 truth
LOVING he tell uniruth, ana none knew
the devices OF the world better tan he IL
MOI PROBABLE that great genius viii repeat itself
in day. One OF tie qualities Ia bis life, which is
lniiaDe' - that oil gsnnna ness hnoW myself SAID
air. Emerson was believer IA absolute perfection, |
Iudencss oil reform satisfied hin. lie touched |
fasty its weak spO ana alsty, instead OF tunDnng
over la unsgntly mass, made = |
dc erential bow and departed He uttered |
hts divine music. and those VINO Beard could listen II
they chose, but no forced song Still his
wa not The isolation ~ indifference After President
Lincoln ssued his ialno1s Proclamation, There was
puJlc needing held IN Boston, al which Emerson spoke.
Wac thure aud recall bis manner ana much mat
he said. anger at thoHe who held human beings
bondage the anger Oi IN angel lie was fOud OF the
poorer classes ana Was loved by tue Tusucs OF his
shJOrAoud. LousieuOW and Emerson eaCn LOST
enid ana each mnac hs sorrow the subject or poem.
recall peasant evening sue.t In parOr IN Bca-
con-st., where 1 invited 10 hear Mr.. Emerson
read from his own poems. lie would
preface some " thom BY saying: My |
daughter Ellen likes THIS" or Ny wife IA fond Of this"
or once in wne, This Is ono OF my layOrtes." IL
was great pleasure 10 listen 10 lm. II seeued like
prayer without tue amen ~ would sometimes
rebel nj ais reading. wAntei the other wOrd INST
some u the lines, out Thought then OF tho nesife had
wDeu Dchsld tue Venetian palaces to attack them
Win a HcruDDug brush. could Dy changing the order
OF some ot MI. Inc4sous words nave made the poetry
more conservative perhaps, out less impre5sble. Uu-
A "a many literary uuCu, Emerson took greater
Ioymsut n his reading literature OF the past ages
than ia Lis wiring would not lose single sentence
lLt ue eyer wrote. what gem 10 hs remark that " 10
day IA "A king IN dryuise." Ino two great have
oe but witn The words OF OF them NAY conclude
our paperi - -, -,,
may fuu a. ~ 4. "a