St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-06-28
James Russell Lowell.

James Russell Lowell was born Febyu-
airy ~, 1919, at Elmwood in Portsmouth,
N ii. lie has never made his home In
any other than the house in which he WIS
born. he is the youngest of family of
five children. His father and mother, DR.,
| Charles Lowell and Harriet Spence Lowell,
were both intellectually very strong. His
mother chad great memory, an extra
| ordinary aptitude for languages and a
passionate fondness for ancient songs and
ballads" He and his brother were nur.
tured with romances and minstrelsy.
The old songs were sung over their
| cradles, and repeated in early school days,
until poet love and taste-foreign gratis
In many mlnds-were as natural to them
as the bodily Senses" In his sixteenth
year Lowell entered Harvard College and
graduated in the ye&r 1888. His record as
| a student was not among the best He
says he read everything except his text
books. He took the law course and opened
an office in Boston, but soon gave up the
profession for literature ga Years
Life small volume of poems, was pub
| llshed before his twenty second birthday
he and Robert were associated together as
| editors of the Pioneer. The life of the
| periodical was only three months. In 1915
conversations on some of the old Poets"
was published another volume of poems
| in 1913, containing several directed against
slavery, 1.-THE Vision of Sir Launful," ga
Fable for Critics." and the ''Biglow
Papers" The latter were satirical essays
in dialect poetry" directed against sla-
very and the war with Mexico These
essays have wide popularity, both in
America and England. He travelled in
Europe in 1851-52, resting for consider
able time in Italy. He succeeded Long
fellow as professor of modern languages
and literature in Harvard College, in Jan
uary, 1866. He spent another year in
Europe, chiefly at Dresden, fitting himself
for his important position. For five years
1857-1S62), he was editor of the atlantic
Monthly, and nine years 1883 1872, of
the North american Renieac Quarterly.
Many of his miscellaneous writings have
appeared in these two magazines. His
second series of Biglow Papers appeared
in the atlantic. The prose works of
Lowell consist of the ''Fireside Travels"
and three volumes of essays, published in
1870, 1871 and 1878. Of these the one en-
titled my Study Window" will be found
most interesting to general readers. The
other two are entitled ''Among My Books
and are of purely literary character.
Many of his ESSAYS have appeared in mag
azines and reviews, and have not as yet
been reprinted. The two volumes, "Among
My Books" and the one volume, my
Study Window" cover a wide range of
thought and observation, but all present
the unmistakable individuality of their
author. "My Garden Acquaintance" ga
Good Word for Winter" and "On Ger
tain Condescension in Foreigners" are all
in similar tone to his first essay. For
pure irony, the last named has never been
excelled New England Two Centuries
Ago. is the most powerful historical essay,
in which he gives an excellent sketch of
the Puritans and Pilgrims. Lowell is
great in prose, poetry and criticism, but
his poems are the chief source Of his
fame. He is without doubt humorist
and wit of the highest type. He IS, low
ever, not excelled b. many as q serious
poet. His rank will be undou otedly
among the master writer's of the nine
teenth century.
Lowelis first marriage occurred Deem
Der rs, 1874 His domestic life at Elm
wood, like the peace that passeth all I'M
derstanding, could only be described in
smile. 1t was ideally beautiful, and
nothing was wanting to perfect happiness
but the sense of permanence. Mrs. Lowell
was never very strong, and her ethereal
beauty seemed too delicate for the climate
of New England.
Mrs. Lowell went to Europe in 1851.
They spent most of their time in Italy, re-
turning to America in the autumn of 1852.
Mrs. Lowell died in October, 1858, on the
same day that child was born to Mr..
and Mrs. Longfellow. Lowell's poem,
1.-The Two Angels" commentaries the joy
and sorrow of this autumn day. Mr..
Lowells second marriage occurred in 1867,
to Miss Francis Dunlap, of Portland, Me-
They visited Europe in 1918. Lowell is
not a politician, but he has been minister
to both Spain and England. "His recep-
ton IN London was in the highest degree
fattering to him and a matter of just
pride to his countrymen."- and
School Visitor.