New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-17
WHITTIER'S BIRTHDAY.
A SYMBOLIC GIFT FROM A NEw.Yopr
FRIEND

TO ne Editor Of The Trfbuns
Sir: Tomorrow, December IL, how many fai,h,,,
souls viii send nortiward and eastward tepoe.
thoughts and blessings TO John g. whstierl Hon
many Of US would willingly mark his birthday vii.
good gifts, well as with good wishs were 4, NJ,
so d."cut to choose appropriate and grateful Offer.
ings for a man Of simple tastes, but Hqu'se sens.
bties At all events. most Of US nut BE- content "a
send the good wishes alone Well tho are the sour.
good gifts which neither moth nor rust can corran,
with such invisible offerings that I,edest house a.
Amcsbury Will be filled TO Overlooking io-morrow
But one friend seems to have con.Aned Ia charm.
ing way the material and the Idesl In birthdav
tribute to the poet. Mr. Herman Marcus Of this eity
who at his country seat on Lake Wnnepesauke " H.
has frequently entertained MI Whittier has pIepared
and sent an Offering which Is abeautIful example "A
the giver's refined artistic taste, Curlousy enough
it is painted dream and thc story as received
1t from Mr. Marcus is tnls When, early In tho pas,
summer season, he reached his mountain paradise
he found all nature, LAKE, earth and sky 80 dvinely
fair that he perhaps bound TO think Of poetry
and poets. Certain it is tlat dins the first nights
sleep here he had vivid vision Of his noble friend
Tie poet he says, u him smiling In bis peculiar
gracious way, and bcapng In his hand an elegant
portfolio of red morocco. 81 want to show thee
beautiful gift have ,eccvcd' lie said, and opening
the portfolio, showed the picture of graceful golden
y I
base could be read tie legend May In the smallest
part thy sorrows b. concealed, and all the rest lie
oiled with Joy to overfowlng.' Waking from th,
peculiar dream Mr. Marcus resolved 10 reproduce /,
in art as a birthday Offering; real, though more
poetic than practical, perhaps.
few DAYS since had the pleasure Of Inspecting
and taking notes on this unique gift which Mr..
Marcus calls - May Dream The golden vase is
pure Greek in form. and exceedingly delicate in iu
proportions. The handles swans necks the body
amphora- shaped, tapcrs down. finely autcd, into a
point and is poised on a graceful support The base
bears the legend | have quoted, and across that
smallest part run passion flowers, emblems Of
sorrow The body of the bears fine has relief
a lovely floating fgurc-the Muse Euterpe, holding
on one arm rich bunch Of goldenrod.
while the other is stretched forward, to offer
the inevitable laurel crown Of great poets
something which our modest poet would decline, Il
he could. Around the neck Of the vase is delicious
wreath Of the trailing arbutus, and at the base
luxuriant spray OF ivy-symbo suppose Of constant
friendship. All these flowers and leaves are exquisite,
" painted and the portfolio OF red Levant morocco,
richly yet dantly gilt. is also work Of art Tho
dedication Oh the first page is done IN gold, veun
Beneath dividing festOons Of laurel are the dabs
" 1907" 1852 and beneath them stand December
leaf Whittier on his eighty second birthday AZ.
leaf of rich white silk, then the golden vase Itself 90
the whole. no devout monkish Oh llumnator could
Nothing about this charming gift was 70 me 80
touchngly suggestive were the flowers. That
golden rod was TO me rod of enchantment. waving
up memories pheasant and mournful 20 the SOUL
| knew il as the flower much loved
of old by Mr. Whittier and his poet
sister Elizabeth" Saint Elizabeth 10 me
and many others. When used visit them In Their
quaint, quiet Amesbury home, ! remember that y
our rides and rambles she always kept keen lookout
for that homey yet naughty flower that Seepue Of
royal october. ,..,
At the time OF my first visit, Mr.. Whittier mad an
other sister living near and the dear mother true
Quaker matrOn, stately. yet gracious, was SCH mo
sweet soul and centre of the home
1t is hard, after many years 10 realke mat ct
the group which used to gather on the porch o. the
Amesbury cottage in fragrant summer twlhsht OF
about the little open fire in the library on chilly
September evenings only We two remain not N sum,
mer. or I'm early autumn, yet not quite sn0wb ound'
amid the disappontments disillusions and fastfsll
ing bereavemenis Of LIES winter time | still
cheeriy greet my great friend on his blessed birth
day, and he who sung Of
1.-THE truth 10 flesh and unknown
That life is ever lord Of DEATH
And love never lose its own
will, l know, cheerily receive the greeting.
GRACE GREENWOOD.
New York, Dec. 49, 1889.