New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-12

"A GLIMPSE OF TIE AUTHOR.


TO the Editor Of ghe IribWae,
Sir: 1t was in the summer Of 1877 that the wr''o'
found himself standing on the little ypecoysreo p'r'p
of the Alcett house in Concord Ness, pNssaS
faced lady opened the door, and proven 70 !" ~s
Alcotts elder married sister, tho Neg" % tne 'i''S
hood in Little Women
Soon the author herself appeared snd "'.h re-e
suunc greeting made the caller ut home ~ persAD
Miss Alcost was tall aud impressive. hoT poe'ss
40 no, do ,usce TO the wonderfully klnd ana Pa'c"'
expression of her eyes. They seemed, a. MIS- n,o"n
ing has written to keep the secret OF HAPPY ,'oA
abe did not TO speak" HOT iorc"o""
and benignaBt. the face being i'iie ions' VIVA ="
cxn,css,on of strong purpose about the mouth.
To one who enjoyed her friendship there was nothing
In bsr manner 10 conflict with her character Is sho
herself drew 1t under the guisc OF "Joe' In t'ne
Women only II softened and chastened oy age
She was kind hearted and super sensitive; ambitious
fond of children avesse to fashionable life ana con-
yeu,ional society,"" and she possessed Keen sense
OF fc ridiculous which often provoked her smile when
she wished to look grave.
As we talked her father, the lAte Bronson Alcott,
entered with Professor w. 7. Harris Mr. Aicott
inoulrcd with much unfeigned interest as II were
his newly adopted son. as to what my aims and tastes
WERE and after a brief examination OF this sort, said
q few words that took to DO OF an approving char
acter and then offered Inc IN apple
Miss Alcott smiled at this and told mo later that
10 offer q little. gnarly apple was the evidence
n Mr. Aicott's h CHEST esteem and confidence Luckily
am fond of apples end SO Instead Of taking the fruit
gingeriy, fell TO muuchinS 1t aud showed my sp-
prec on Of the compliment bestowed upon me.
Nr. Acott's devotion to vegetable diet 10 wen
known / only judge of Its effect On hiinseI as
wilton in his eountenance, which distinctly remem-
ber and which seems to me to have been ono OF tho
most benevolent looking II was one oil the
and most delicate In skin and color for man Oh MS
axe that have ever seen. lie was then la the m"st
buoyant spirits and moved about and talked VIII the
spirit vi boy.
Miss Aco;t said in her drol way thai she was
weary OF the School of Philosophy, then in the mn
hide of pros pcrty that 4: had got one could not
~ around the corner TO tho grocery without meet
ng or 3ostling . philosophers. so although hao
some partly TO visit that symposium, she ordered her
pony aud phaeton and vita not little school boy
feeling OF hoolcyS naurc, We "cut" the convoea
ton of the muses. and drove sbont the town OF Con
cord AS started we met Emerson. With long,
gray hair lifted by the breeze and those wonderful
oyos shaded toy a broadoiim hat waking Win NE
daughter Ellen to the school, where he was to read
from his essays. Some msgiVhg AZ missing TINS
treat NE, but IL couid not last nider the
constant entertainment afforded by the exploring VI
Concord with so good guide -,
Ia AL her egsaton tnere WAS only the desire
TO entertain and Ia speak the best WORD she coua
Of whatever person the scene moment brought up
lhe orCbalu house." formerly the home III the Al.
cots, used that summer as the home of he school
Of Philosophy. Only 10y what seemed impairment
Importantly could get her to speak OF hei sell AS
We lassci IL she alluded TO her old literary dem
I'm the attic and the many gay pranhs she had Piao "a
theie In a neighborng bank, sine confessed
to dug holes and made mud pes resmahs II a.
visible proof of the reality of her happy chahood
The ConsOrd Library, started aud sustained W men
such as Mr. Emerson and Mr. Alcoti, hal evidently
q strong hold interests Regarding her hte airy
life Miss Aicott, Of afe years, ways SAID she couiu
find inspiration Ia Concord It's Sleepy phefe
and sad memories not the material ohL of winch
TO weave bright, healthy stories for children 90 she
sought house in Boston or its suburbs IN The winter
and spent much Of her summers al he sea shore quo
did not enter actively into the social lie OF BOSTON,
though she occasionally seen at houses IKE Mrs.
Julia ard Howes special occasions OF literary
interest. Shc visited this city but rarely, but was
cordially welcomed by small circle Of Devoted friends
Tho constant IMPRESSIONS OF affection that came 10 ncr
from children all over the country we're gfaelu W h.
She ALWAYS had moro orders Tor STORES
than she could undertake, and the constant call lor
manuscript doubtless FASTENED and aggravated her
nbyslcaI She dolized by her ncpheWs
and nieces, and the care OF one OF me ta,ler. ,no
daughter of Mrs Mary Acot Nerok h.d
the Amy, Of Little women"l, doubtless aided
for years assuagc her grief at the death OF Dor
favorte sister death that came while the latter was
nurS,,nc her art studies abroad. She loved TO have
children beside her and her stories are largely stnoes
from life. She always thought II would be spiehud
thing TO take charge OF homo for boys IN winch her
hosIltal experience would have served her Is well
As natural taste
Among authors she had few Acknowledgement;
Goethe and ThOreau being among them. Emerson
would be immortal; but she sensible Of the charm
Of her poets only giving the Concord sage the high
EST place She once seriously woOed the muse her
self though only a few fugitive poems OF hers nave
great mist AXE" she wrote few years ago, 10 pup
fish ones poems while young, as we ger ms)ndgcd
and discouraged before we have done our best
have followed my own advice and am now forty-
five sncb verses she has published have sfrnck
Q popular chord. G. II. Z.
New York, March 10. 1893.