The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-03-24
OR. HOLMES HOME.
Peeps I.ss ths HsasL. 81 the Cssisi dia
Cambridge rest.

On 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. aud I shall be mos,
happy 10 receive you So. shortly
after dinner. I went 10 the venerable
autOcrats residence On Beacon street.
an iyy-coyered house with look of
hospitality about II. even from the
exterior. Ushcrcd into reception
room. which appeared like n retired
pby-iclan'- office. We sent up our cards,
and presently - slippered tread was
heard upon the broad staircase, and
Dr. Holmes appeared. He was gray
haired. with kindly, warm sparkling
eyes oyerhung by large, protruding
eyebrows. SlretchAg forth his hand
to my friend. he said: IL thank you
for this compliment. 'hcn shaking
hands with me. be suggested going up
stairs into the library. At the head OF
the stairs, a tall, old-fushioned clock
ticked. Al the right Of the stairs was
the entrance 10 the library. large
coy room with two desks, and large
bookcases and shelves filled with
ancient and modern volumes
We walked ~ the bav-window-
rather a 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 ia the swift
tide. He complained of barn
next door. which had been painted
n very cOnspicuou. yellow. but spoke
kindly Of his ncighbor1 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-gla,ses--a quarter. a
half and an hour glass-and explained
that when he had especial work To
perform. lac turned all three. and ~
each one ran ont. hc would compare
the work hc had accomplished with
the quantity of -and run out. aud IL
proved that he did "a great deal. re-
fcrrcd to n three minute glass for cook
ing eggs With u twinkle IN his eye he
said that "thrrc minute egg was too
much for him. and turning 10 my COM
panion, remarked: You are young
housckccpcr; you ought To know how
long TO cook an egg. Come. tell us''
He then added that he liked an egg
cooked ~ long enough to coagulate
the white and To- slightly sliilen the
yclk.
The portrait which suggested the
poem dorothy @ hangs on the wall.
the canvas marrcd by the thrusts Of the
British bayonets during the revolution.
Near it hangs u very old painting Of \
Boston divine; and there is a well done
statuette Of the autocrat himself. which
he apologized for saying that he never
thought il poor enough 10 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. Millions
Poems, Shakespeare, Roget's Thesau-
rus, Bartlett's Quotations and small
dictionary.
The same quiet scnsibility 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 good outfit
and fortune has favored him at every
step in his cureer.' Although nearing
his fore score years, his intellect 10 as
vigorous rs in his prime, as may be-
seen in"One Hundred Days in Europe"
of which he spoke, saying it was long
trip for so old 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 buttoncd up against the
chill east wind that scuds about the
Back Bay aud the Midland. | then
thought how grand IL would be il
another score of years could be given
to this good and great man. Epoch.