Huntsville gazette., 1888-02-04
DR.. HOLMES HOME.
Peeps Into the Haunts of the Genial Old
Cambridge Poet.

Cambridge Poet.
On a dreary Sunday last spring. |
received note from DR.. Oliver Wen
dell Holmes, saying: "Come to see
me at any time after two o'clock to-
morrow, Sunday. and l shall be most
happy to receive you" So, shortly
after dinner, l went to the venerable
autocrat's residence on Beacon street,
an UNCOVERED house with a look Of
hospitality about it. even from the
exterior. Ushered into reception
room, which appeared like retired
physicians office, we sent up our cards,
and presently a slippered tread was
heard upon the broad staircase, and
DR.. Holmes appeared. He was gray
haired, with kindly, warm sparkling
eyes overhung by large, protruding
eyebrows. Stretching forth his hand
to my friend, he said: Il thank you
for this compliment, then shaking
hands with me, he suggested going up
stairs into the library. At the head of
the stairs, tall, old-fashioned clock
ticked. At the right of the stairs was
the entrance to the library, large
cozy room with two desks, and large
bookcases and shelves filled with
ancient and modern volumes.
We walked to the bay-window-
rather river window since it over
looks the Charles-where the autocrat
pointed out the objects of interest in
Cambridge and along the water 'front.'
and spoke of his interest in the swift
tide. He complained of barn
next door, which had been painted
a very conspicuous yellow, but spoke
kindly of his neighbors who had dis
posed of their dogs upon his stating that
their barking and whining disturbed
him. As we sat talking, he showed
us his three sand-glasses-a quarter, a
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. l re-
fcrred to a three minute glass for cook
ing eggs. With twinkle in his eye he
said that a ''three minute egg" was too
much for him. and turning to my COM
panion, Remarked: "You are young
housekeeper; you ought to know how
long to cook an egg. Come, tell us?"
He then added that he liked an egg
cooked just long enough to coagulate
the white and to slightly stiffen the
yelk.
The portrait which suggested the
poem dorothy O." hangs on the wall,
the canvas marred by the thrusts of the
British bayonets during the revolution.
Near it hangs very old painting of a
Boston divine; and there is 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. 1t
contains his own works in green cloth
and books particularly useful to him,
among which are the Bible, Milton's
Poems, Shakespeare, Roget's Thesau-
rus, Bartlett's Quotations and a small
dictionary.
The same quiet sensibility present
in his writings is noticed in his speech,
and although he appeared eognizant of
his own celebrity, his egotism was a
charm--a sort of contented pride
Neither robust nor delicate, he seemed
strong more by care than by constitu-
ton. Mature gave him 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 n"One Hundred Days in Europe"
of which he spoke, saying it was long
trip for so old a man, and although he
had good time he became so fatigued
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 CHEEKY
voice: '.Good-byer' The next day we
passed him hurrying along from his
house, closely buttoned up against the
chill east wind that scuds about the
Back Bay and the Midland. l then
thought how grand it would be if
another score of years could be given
to this good and great man.-Epoch.