The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-01

Nichols, was not lacking in deep spirituality
In one of his later poems we find the express
| sion of his creed. 1t is
the simple thought
BY the great master taught.
And that rcmaineth still:
Not he chat repeateth the name
But lac that dOeth the wi !.
He held his religious faith a, he held his
| opinion of men and things,no as matters for
| controversy. hut as genuine convictions
charitably formed, firmly held and consis-
| tently lived up to.
| OF the impress which Longfelow had made
| upon his own generation, it is difficult to
measure the full value and extent. His
| quarter OF a century of work as professor of
modern languages in two of our higher insti-
| buttons of learning. enabled him to give an
Impulse TO many minds, the effect of which
IS still felt. His contributions to American
| literature were timely and important. He
brought from his European studies and ira
vel the elements which were wanting to its
| growth, the spirit and traditions Of an older
| civlilzation and an atmosphere of ripper and
| broad culture That our American litera-
| ture has thrown aside its provincial dress and
| has early attained recognition beyond the
| sea, is largely due to the influence which
| Longfellow exerted on its early growth
His labors in German, French, Italian and
| Spanish literature we're pioneer work for
American scholarship. They prepared the
| way for greater tlings and brought in
their train results winch are now seen in the
| more generous culture and varied scholar
| ship of our own day.
HIS anti-slayery poems show that he was
not lacking III the courage of his convictions,
and that he was stirred BY acts of deep wrong
| and injustice Yet his was essentially gen
| tie nature, one which would suffer wrong
| rather than intiict it, one which found little
pleasure IN the fierce poemics of life, but
| genuine satisfaction in acts of kindly cour-
| tesy and beneyolence. His was not an ex-
elusive aud narrow spirit which could not be
| toucned by the sorrows of our common hui
dc icate, nay, almost w0manly. He ignored
| none OF the common experiences of life He
had tasted its strange mixture of Joy and
| sorrow: The burdens of our race he bore
| upon his heart, and gathered into his broad
humanity the varied phases of our check
ered lie In the presence Of the mysteries
which hem in the cycle of our lives, his was
reveTent but courageous attitude. His
| Poems breathe the spirit of lofty resigna-
zion which INDUCES in no wild defamation
| OF grief, but, sustained by a faith, which fall
| tiers not when tested, bows his head before
tne storm and resolutely takes up his load
human sorrow! How gently he touches the
chords of human feeling and soothes
the wounded heart with words of
consolation alton such only as the heart
can utter, Wherever the English tongue is
| spoken his lyrics have become household
words. He has entered into every home as a
gracious presence voicing its joys and sor-
/
cheer. "As no unwelcome guest" he has
been received, repaying its hospitality with
illustrations OF gentleness and peace, lifting
the downhearted, soothing the distressed
life.
His philosophy of life has no uncertain
sound. With him 'life is real and life Is
earnest, and the grave is not its goal" He
tations The present IS alWays '", with
us pressing us with its duties to
be performed; the future lies before
US, with its dangers and opportuni-
summed up in the motto Of Hyperion
LOOK not mournfully into the Past, it
/ comes not back again; wisely improve the
Present; 1t is thine; go forth to meet the
shadowy Future without fear, and with
manly heart"
| Such as this motto indicates. was his life
eincere manly, courageous, steadfast to its
Ideals, constant to the end. In this busy
world OF the nineteenth century, with its
bustle and whirl, its strife and contention.
its mad pursuit of wealth, its feverish ex.
element and unrest, he lived his life. I'M
moved by all 'vain pomps and shows" un-
tainted by envy, greed or unworthy ambition,
serene, pure and courageous spirit, whose
verses partake of the character of the man.
strong, simple and harmonious. Who shall
measure the value of such life, so rounded
ana complete, so perfect in all its relations
| OF husband father, citizen and friend?
1t was my good fortune to be present at
| Bowdoln college on the fiftieth anniversary
| of his class and to hear him deliver the poem
prepared for that occasion, a poem which
| one of his eulogists has called 1.-THE grandest
hymn to age that was ever written" The
scene has left picture upon my mind that /
love to recall and contemplate-a picture of
old age OF rare dignity, serenity and beauty,
accompanied with charm Of speech and
graciousness of manner which held the lis
tener as in spell.
Into the poem was compressed the gathered
wisdom OF long, and fruitful life. Its
ing with the theme. With what tender and
manly feeling did he greet the classmates of
fifty years before, with what generous words
Of announcement and praise greet the youth
who were about to enter the race, what
grand and impressive tones he uttered as he
touched on some of the solemn themes of |
life, with what calm philosophy did he face |
the mysteries of death, with what earnest |
ness proclaim the opportunities of the pre- |
sent.
"For age is opportunity
No less than youth ITSELF though in another dress
And as the evening twilight fades away
Inc SKY is hled with Stars, invisible by day."
The poet himself has left us, but the fra |
GRANGE of his life remains. Those who have |
known him personally will soon follow, and |
another generation will know him only in |
his works But in these his fame is secure, |
for he has written himself into his poems |
and his own verse is his most fitting eulogy: |
.He the sweetest Of all singers,
Beautiful and childlike was he,
Brave as man is, soft as woman,
Plant as wand of willow,
Stately as deer with antlers.
All the many sounds of nature
Borrowed sweetness from his singing;
All the hearts of men were softened
By the pathos of his music;
For he sang of peace and freedom,
Sang Of beauty, love and longing;
Sang OF death, and life undying
In the land of the Hereafter
For his gentleness they loved him.
And the magic of his singing"
T I'll
Portland has accomplished the purpose of its |
organization. Its work Is now done. 1t only |
remains for me as president of the associa- |
tion to formally transfer to the chief magis- |
trate OF our city the custody of this statue, |
which perpetuates the memory of Longfellow |
and adds new interest to the city of his birth. |
1t is the work of one of Names gifted sons. |
and the cunning hand of the sculptor has |
with rare fidelity and success reproduced the |
manly grace and beauty of the original.
genius of Longfellow, future generations |
will come to pay their tribute Of homage and |
respect to the poet and the man. So long as
this statue shall endure it will stand as a |
silent reminder of the value of pure and |
untarnished life. of noble endeavor directed |
to worthy ends
Mayor Chapman, IN behalf of the city, re-
sponded as follows:
MAYOR CHAPMAN's REPLY.
Mr. President. members of the Longfellow
Statue association, ladies and gentlemen
1t is with feelings of profound appreciation
and gratitude that !, in behalf of the city of
Portland, accept at the hands of your associa-
ton, this artistic memorial of her most distin-
guished son, and officially commit it to such
sacred municipal custody as shall henceforth
serve as protection against wanton injury,
or the too despoiling ravages of time.
For the bestowal upon our city of so ap-
propriate and welcome a gift, no words of
mine can render adequate thanks, nor will
mock the opportunity with any such attempt;
and yet feel constrained to offer some pass
ing compliment not only for the worthy mo-
tive which prompted your association, but also
for the uniform wisdom which has character
lied its methods. Animated with the exalted
object of commemorating the sublimest ac-
compliments of poetic genius, in a MASTER
piece of art you followed not the too
prevalent opinion that such priv
ilege is the exclusive prerogative
of wealth, but encouraged the CO.
operation of every person whose sympathy ac-
corded with your purpose; and to- day. it is
source of exceeding satisfaction that this statue
has been erected not by the generosity of
devoted few, but through the glad offerings OF