Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-01-28
DR.. HOLINESS HOME.


NhhibrlN-c IOet.
? On a dreary Sunday last spring,
V received a note from DR.. Oliver Wel
I dell Holmes, saying: Come to So
me ut any time after two O'Clock tC
, morrow, sunday, and | shall be mo,
happy to receive YOU" SO, shortl
after dinner, | went to the vcnerabl
autocrat's residence on Beacon street
an Uncovered house with Il look q
hospitality about it,, even from III
exterior. ushered into 4 reception
room, which appeared like Il retire,
physician 5 office, we sent up our card,
and presently a slippcrcd tread wa
heard upon the broad staircase, an,
DR., Holmes appeared, He was gray
haired, with kindly, warm sparklin!
eyes overhung by large, p%rotrudin.
eyebrows. Stretching forth his han,
to my friend, he said: Il thank vol
for this compliment then shaking
hands with mn, he suggested going up
stairs into the library. At the head o
the stairs, a tall, old-fashioned clocl
licked. At the right of the stairs wa.
the entrance to the library, a larg,
coy room with two desks, and larr,
bookcases and shelves filled Will
ancient and modern volumes.
We walked to the bay-window-
rather a river window since it over.
looks the Charlcs-wherc the autocral
pointed out the objects of interest in
Cambridge and along the water front,
and spoke of his interest il the swift
tide He complained of Il barn
next door, which had been painted
a very conspicuous yellow, but spoke
kindly of his ncighbors who had dis.
posed of thcirdogs upon his stating that
their barking and whining disturbed
hlm' As we sat talking, he showed
us his three sand-glasscs-a quarter, n
half, and an hour glass-and explained
that when he had especial work to
perform, he turned all three, and as
each one ran out, he would COMPARE
the work he had accomplished with
the quantity of sand run out, and it
proved that he did a great deal. I re.
ferrcd to a three minute glass for cook.
Ing eggs. With a twinkle in his eve h,
said that a "thrce minute egg" was too
much for him, and turning to my com.
panion, remarked: you are n youno
housekeeper; you ought to know how
long to cook an egg. Come, tell us?"
lie then added that he liked an epo
cooked just long enough to coapulate
the white and to slightly stiffen the
yelk.
The portrait which suggested the
poem "Dorothy O. hangs on the wall,
the canyas married by the thrusts of the
British bayonets during the revolution.
Near it hangs a very old painting of i.
Boston divine; and there is a well done
statuette of the autocrat himself, which
he apologized for saying that he never
thought it poor enough to put
away, A revolving bookcase stands
at one side of the room. 1,
contains his W works in green cloth
and books particularly useful to him.
among which are the Bible, Millions
Poems, Shakespeare, Rogct's Thesau.
rus Bartletts Quotations and Il small
dictionary.
The same quiet sensibility present
in his writings is noticed in his speech
and although he appeared cognizant OF
his own celebrity, his egotism was n
charm-a sort of contcnted pride.
Neither robust nor delicate, he seemed
strong more by care than by constitu.
ton mature gave him Il good outfit
and fortune has favored him at every
step in his career" Although nearing
his fore score years, his intellect is as
vigorous as in his prime, as may be-
seen in"One Hundred Days in Europe"
OF which he spoke, saying it was n long
trip for so old n man, and although he
had a good time he became so fatigucd
that he was still resting.
He thanked us again for our visit,
and as we closed the door, he called out
from the head of the stairs in Il CHEEKY
voice; "Good-bye!" The next day we
passed him hurrying along from his
house, closely buttoncd up against the
chill east wind that scuds about the
Back Bay and the Midland. | then
thought how grand il would be il
another score of years could be given
to this good and great man.-Epoch