New-York tribune., 1890-06-29
THE " RED HOUSE.n
BIRTHPLACE OF THE HOUSE OF THE
SEVEN GABLES
MARK AT LENOX.

| MARK AT LEyOX.
Lenox. Mass, June 2s (speeiaD.-The house in which
! Hawthorne lived in Lenoz burned to the ground
| a few days ago. 1t located on the north shore
! OF sockbridgc Fowl and Old landmark. The
deepest regret expressed by the cotagers at Lenox
that this old historic house is gone Ii the ono
central point whoro the cotagers took their friends
when they came mp to visit them. They pointed with
pride 10 th, little rcd house where Hawthorne lived
from sjG for about three years II here that he
wrote the famous story, The House Of the Seven
Gaties- The house owned by W. A. Tsppan.
who occupied at the time OF It's destruction II
the centre Of literary people at the time Hawthorne
lived here. 1t located that il overlooked soma
Of the finest bits Of scenery in Berkshire including;
Stockbridge Bowl. the bold hills 10 the south and
Baldhcad Mountain, where Hawthorne accustomed
TO ramble and which gave him his inspiration for
ing Tangewood Tales"
Soon after the Iiawtornes arrived here Mrs. Haw.
th0rne wrote 10 her mother: We have begun TO ba
really homesck after such long oyerturn of
pcnates and felt that should never do anything
ever feel rested until in own house and
Mr hawthorne was perfectly weary and waiting
for place 10 be, to think and 10 write that last
he gave up entirely and was cisposed tiia5 was
quite distressed He is better, but not so vgos
Gus as in his former days.
Mrs. Hawthorne also wrote at that time that tho
summer was Mr. IIawthorne's time for writing. and ID
was not until the last of August that he had sufficiently
digcStd the plan Of The House Of Seven Gables"
10 begin upon II. The history OF his writing this
story here, in this little red house. familiar that
II does not need 10 be repeated. The writing desk
upon which he wrote in the Pit,sfcld Atheneum
aid it is treasured one of the most precious relics
in that institution.
IL will be remembered that while Hawthorne lived
in this little red house he often visited by Herman
Melville. who lived in Pttsfeld: also by &. p. Il.
James who came UP from stockbrldse, and By Fanny
hemble. then a resident Of LencX who frequently came
over Oh horseback. Julian Hawthorne was at that
time small boy and delighted in going about the
try, going down to stockbridge Bowl with his father
taking ride in boat and climbing to the top OF Bald
head Mountain. which includes fine views Of the
Catskill Mountains
In one Of Mrs. Hawthornes letters written from tho
little rod house that burned this week. she says
sit down upon the couch and yol Will such .
landscape out Of the window Will charm perpetualy.
for the motion of light and shadow among the
tans and on the lake varies the all the time.
The summer hazes are Of exquisite beauty. Some-
tines clouds hang low the mountainsidc in beau-
iul shapes
Tie front rOom in which Hawthorne wrote. was
left by Mr. Tappln Just the author left IT, There
the mahogany table, there was the chair in which
lie sat-thcre was everything possible that
which Hawthorne had when he wrote The House Of
the Seven GABLES" and atcrward The Wonder Book
and " The Btheiale Romance" Visitors who came TO
the house were shown the room which had a beautl-
iil outlook, and were much pleased To carry away
with them some flowers GemeDtO OF the place.
when the house burned tie inmates succeeded III
ravng the mahogany tib, and also OF the chairs.
Inc table is now IN the LcnOX Library.
Hawthorne evidently not In love with LenOX,
especially in winter. The little red house which
burned The other day was no; a warm house. and he
said day 10 friend ,hat he wished the good Lord
would give him little place by the seaside that he
might not be obliged 10 spend another cold winter
among the Berkshire hills.
some men now living In LenoX remember Hawthorne
when he lived here. Landlord Curtis he remem-
bers him distinctly, and frequently met him when lie
came up 20 the village. lie says that Hawthorne
was quiet, unasSuming man. who said but little, but
struck every a gentleman, and had pleasant
face always greeting every one with kindly word.
Thomas Post the only lawyer in LenoX. says that
he a bog when Hawthorne lived in LcnoX. but 10
remembers him well and frequently saw him. lie
looked upon him great man ard sort OF literary
hero The people in LenoX were al that time talking
abou. the Scarlet Letter. which had just appeared.
some Of the literary people knew that he writing
another story. and when the House Of the seven
all the LenoX people read ii with in
tere>t Others Of the older people remember faw-
thOrnc and remembered seeing him with
kcr a a having an
animated discussion some literary subject The
house where Fanny Kemblc lived is still standing IN
LsnoX and now that the house where Hawthorne lived
T. gone this place will attract still greater interest az
the only remaining spot around which cluster rennis-
cences Of that literary cotee which az that time mads
LenoX famous.