San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-01-01
whIttIsr's "Reminiscences.

Bosros, Dec. l4.-John @. Whittier
will quietly pass his seventy seventh
birthday on Wednesday at his below
cd Oak Knoll, in Amesbury. The
gentle and modest poet will rarely
speak in the way Of personal reminis-
cenoe, but day or two ago, when the
mood was upon him, 0 literary friend
led him to review many associations
that every lover of his verses win
delight to share. The story is print
ed by the Herald in the form Of I
| firoside conversation with Mr.. Whit
tier The poet spoks musingly OF
himself as a callow youth when he
first began to rhyme, and OF his first
published poem. ''The Deity, which
appeared in the Newburyport Free
Press when the writer was II years
old. He reviewed his journalistic
experience in Hartford, Philadelphia,
and Washington.
my sojourn in the Quaker City,"
he said, "gave me material for the
poem Pennsylvania Pilgrims.
'Are there not some recollections
clustering about Snow Bound which
have never been published 7" asked
the visitor.
The poet bent his head moment,
and an expression Of sadness crept
into his face, and while was ponder
ing whether had unknowingly touch
ed chord which caused him pain,
and feeling a sense of shame over
the indiscretion, he lifted his head
and said (:
"Snow Bound was written after
two beings had passed away whom
I loved devotedly-my mother and
my sister. 1t is in one sense q me-
mortal of them, and, as I could not
disassociate them from my home, the
poem became o narrative of my early
days in Haverhill. The physician
referred to was my old friend, DR..
Theodore Weld, of whom I also speak
in the prelude to a little poem, "The
Countess, and the young woman is
Miss Harriet Livermore, the daughter
of Judge Livermore. I became &C.
quainted with her while she was stop
ping at DR.. Yields house. She was
highly gifted and eccentric, but very
strong minded and wilful and was
always religious enthusiast. The
Tent ON the Beach describes itself,"
continued Mr.. Whittier, TAT the
time when it was written Salisbury
Beach was almost destitute of houses
So 1 pitched my tent on the shining
sands. My old friends, Bayard
Taylor and James T. Fields, were
with me, and to them I am supposed
to read the poem. I also spent many
summers among the mountain
ranges of Ossipee and Sandwich,
and along the banks of the Bearcamp
and Chocorna. Amid the beautiful
scenery of that picturesque country,
with all had seen Of natures g glory
freshly photographed upon my mind,
I wrote 'Among the Hills" which l
dedicated to Mrs. Annie Fields. I
never had any method about my
work, but wrote when l could.
Many of my poems were composed
in the presence Of my mother and
sister. Their talk seldom disconcert-
ed me. I suppose I can attribute
whatever facility of expression l have
to my journalistic experience, but l
write little now. For MANY years l
have been bothered with headaches,
and lately find that 1 am unable to
labor for more than fifteen or twenty
minutes at time.
at would be useless" he said with
smile, "to write without q head.
One cannot get along without brains.
And yet there are many things l have
written, especially in prose, which l
never shall republish. They refer
more particularly to the anti slavery
agitation. For long time my posi-
ton on that question was different
from that of Garrison. I recognized
that the Constitution legalised slave
holding, and therefore my efforts
were directed against its extension to
the Territories and in behalf of grad
ual and peaceful emancipation in
the South but when war burst upon
us I was with Lincoln and Garrison
heart and soul. I Am proud Of the
part / played in that controversy.
But, as Charles Sumner endeavored
to obliterate all record Of that great
conflict from our battle flags, so 1
desire TO bury in the waters Of obi
Won all the bitter things l said in
that strife. He was q friend Of hu-
manity," MIR. Whittier exclaimed,
pointing to Summers picture hang
TO the left Of his writing desk, "a
noble statesman. pure-minded
patriot, and an incorruptlble man
Massachusetts, censured him for his
magnanimity, but later on MIR. Long
fellow and myself, assisted by Others,
prevailed upon The Legislature 10
reseind its resolution Of blame
-And LongfellovT exclaimed Mr..
Whittier, gazing with admirahon at
the picture OF his friend hanging 10
left Of the mantsl ~What q host Of
recoIlectiOns his name calls up be
was q marvellous man, and - q poet
combined many Of the qualities Of
Byron, Colendge. and GOethe Bot
though be was . brilliant be Wa also
q very careful writer. And while 1
spenk Of kin I cannot hslp thinking
of Emerson, The mystic, some n
whose poems VII hve as lo1g - TIE