New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-13
SKETCH OF MIR LOWELL'S LIFE.

James Russell Lowell was Dorm at NdmoIIus''
Mass. on washington's Birthday 1919. lheoe
patriotic associations alone ought to have maze
him q tvpical American. and there was, moreover,
the best colonial blood of New-England IN his
veins. Percival Lowell emigrated from BRISTOL
ENGLAND IN 1889. and settled in Newburg, Mass,
and his descendants were of mark in the an
nails of New-England for two centuries. One OF
them, John Lowell, the poets grandfather IN
serted in the constitution OF Massachusetts The
words All men are created free and equal ana
when the clause was adopted he demonstrated 50
SUCCESSFULLY the unconstitutionality of holding men
in bondage under these terms that slavery was
abolished in that State The Rev. Charles Lowell
the father OF this eminent American man oil
letters, was for many years pastor OF the Neeu
Church, Boston,, and was endowed WIN ROBUST
intellectual qualities The mother was remark
ohle for refinement of taste and vividness of
IMAGINATION. The birthplace of the poet was q
colonial mansion near Mount Auburn Cemetery
built before 1867 1t had been the home of Ell
bridge Gerry, one of the sgners of the Declaration
OF independence. The Boston pastor purchased II
and greatly improved il, surrounding 1T with elmS
and pines 1t commanded view of the river
Charles which is often referred to in Mr.. Lowers
verse The poet died in the house where he was
born with all the tender associations OF his boy
hoods home sweetening and meIowlng MS ola
age. The youngest of family OF hVe he was the
net If q bappv household, conspicuous for hOmely
virtnes contentment and animation OF spirits
The quiet dignity, measured conversation, ana
studious habits of his father contrasted strongly
with the keen wit and sprighuy talk OF the
mother who had strain of genuine Celtic o'oOd'
Mr. Lowell in his mature years always spoke
most afectionately of his mother, TO whom he was
largely indebted for his own store of imagination
In lar AT
qualities were seriously impaired and one of his
hest poems, "The Darkened ROOM" is filled with
the pathos of her affection.
Mr. Lowell was educated at Harvard College,
where he took high rank in literary studies. be-
ing also the class poet when he was graduated at the
age of nineteen This class poem was illuminated by
flashes of brilliant wit and satire. In consequence
of his Incidence at college he was subjected to a
brief period of rusticatiOD, and was sent 10 COn-
cord, where he made tue acquaintance OF Emerson
and the tranSccndentalistS. Some Of the social
vagaries of that brilliant group pleased has fancy
and the class poem was devoted to the humorous
aspects of the movement This was the future Hosea
Biclows introduction to academic scenes. There
was better satire than in this juvenile work;
but in later years the poet honored his alma mater
with his noblest work. the inspiring Commemo-
ration Ode The class poem not read III
consequence of his suspension from college. but 1t
was printed and served TO stimulate his aspirations
for success in literary career. Among his school
mates at the Wells Classical School in Cambridge
and his friends at college were William Story,
r. w. Higginson. Charles Devens, Rufus King,
G. B. Loring and E. A. Washburn.
The career which Mr.. Lowell prematurely
marked out for himself was not one for which he
was intellectually fitted This the law. lie
entered the Harvard Law School and was admit
IIa mad nj n
Boston, and afterward compiled a record of his
brief practice in story, My First Client" lie
married a woman of genius in 1914, Maria White
through whose influence he abandoned his PROBES
sion and devoted himself TO hteTatuIe and TO the
Abolition cause. His first volume of poemS pub
lished in 1s4l, was entitled " Years Life. and
was filed with premonitons of undevelopedaGcnius
lie made futile attempt to establish magazine
known as The Pioneer" Robert Carter being his
associate. Only three numbers were published,
although Mrs. Browning, Hawthorne Whittier and
Poe contributed to it. In 1874 appeared second
volume of poems, "a Legend OF Brittany" with
sonnets to Wendell Phillips and GiddingS, and un-
lnistakabe evidence of interest in the AntiSavery
Cause In the next year he established his repu-
tation by writing " The Vision of Sir Launfal, in
what has been described frenzy of creative
impulse. This exquisite poem was the product OF
forty-eight hours of continuous labor and mag
NATIVE excitement during which he could neither
cat nor sleep. II remains TO this day perhaps the
most popular of his poems instinct with genius
and refinement of delcacy, although severer critics
must always prefer the majestic movement and
grandeur of thought OF tie Commemoration
Ode"
In literary criticism, of which he was to become
one of the great masters in the English tongue,
Mr.. Lowells earliest work was series of papers
bcgm in The Pioneer" and subsequently, pub
lished under the title Of Conversations With Some
Of tie Old Poets" 1t formed the groundwork fol-
his lectures before the Lowell Institute during the
winter of 1854 and Of his lectures IL Harvard
University. where lie was appointed Professor OF
Modern Languages and Beiles.LettTcs in $50 as
tle successor of Longfclow. lie qualities him
self for this academic work by TWO years study
abroad mastering Italian, French and Spanish, anC
becoming one OF the greatest authorities III Pro
vencal poetry. This was second Journey his
first prolonged residence abroad being in 1851
when lie made a profound study OF Dante anc
Italian literature. His wife died In 1898. durine
the interval between these journeys
The death of Mrs Lowell, occurring almos
simultaneously with birth in Longfellow'
family. inspired the older poets beautiful verse
entitled - The Two Angels. Her influence owe
her husband had been strongly eAeted In direct
ing his devotion ~ literary studies ana lhVlgor
ating his political opinions. BY nature lie wa
both INDECENT and conservative. lie had III
fathers indspostion to take the issues OF LIE an
politics with undue seriousness. His wife had sa
at the feet of Margaret Fuller and was fairl
afame with reformatory zeal Her beauty ant
gentleness had inspired his earliest verses when h
was studying Blackstone. Her interest IN III
youthful poems increased his ardor and ambition
and after marriage her own radicalism was leave
acting upon the conservatism of his character
the earlier editions of his poems her verses wer
coupled with his own, and were both graceful /
form and strong and womanly in tone.
IL L o,rnl.s ANnrlr n satirist hernn N