New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-29
YOUTH AND LITERARY LIFE.
LECTURE BY COL. THOMAS WENTWORTH
HIGGINSON
FOURTH IN THE SERIES DELIVERED BY PROM.
NENT LAYMEN IN THE REV. DR.
EATON'S CHURCH.

February
Z, was delered last evening by Colonel Thomas Went
worth Higginson on the subject Young Men and the
Literary Life" There large attendance end the
Interest throughout the sXtyfve minutes occupied in
the delivery of the address was sustained and at the
close Colonel Higgnson received hearty round Of
applause At times during the progress Of his
there were manifestations Of approval appreciation
Of what was said by handcappng .or laughter
The Rev. DR.. Charles ii. Eaton pastor of the church.
introduced Colonel Higginson in neat address, in
which he alluded in complimentary way TO the varied
character f the services given TO his country and to
literature by the speaker of the evening. On rising
Colonel Higginson said:
al do not know. my friends how | can re-
taate so effectively upon DR.. Eaton for the lavish
courtesy with which he has introduced as TO dwell
for moment upon subject not always agreeable in
the ears OF younger clerrymen. but. am sure agree
able 10 his. the great and remarkable qualities OF his
predecessor easily stand in the pulpit once
occupied BY DR.. Chaplin, who may perhaps venture
to call my friend, having spent long summers with
him by the seashore, without paying a tribute to the
reputation which fades easily OF a great preacher
and great lecturer whose strength really came from
the fact that there was great humanity behind all
he said
Proceeding to his theme. Colonel Higginson con-
tinued:
In Nation like ours, where literature some
what late into the field among the great forces OF hui
such as II hardly possess in any nation not re
publican In FORM The expression OF this love Of
literature may sometimes be crude In reading the
other day the report OF that most delightful tribute
made by literary 10 another, the address OF Mr.
Curtls his friend. the late Mr.. Lowell could not
but back in memory to tradition there used TO be
thirty years ago. when George William Curtis, to Tie
great credit of the citizens OF NewYOrk was selected
as a delegate TO the New-York Constitutional Conven-
ton. And while there lie happened one day 10 be
waiting In one OF the parors in one Of the alcoves with
OF his fellow members OF the convention, and fell
upon that subject which universally interesting
to human beings than all others together-namely,
themselves and their fellow members. lie listened TO
them, an unconscious, rather an uninention. auditor
in that somewhat rather awkward confidential inter
which we who are temporarily in ChautalIqua
cottages derive 10 the family affairs OF those who
occupy the next room. LaughterJ The members OF
the convention discussed and at last with painful
interest, he found that the conversation was coming
around TO him.
INTELLIGENT ENOUGH FOR THAT.
There is Curtis said one of them lie is an i'm
teligent man.
Yes said the other somewhat reluctantly an In
telncent man.
said the first one: Curtis is a very Intelligent
man.
Yes. yes said the other man. you may call him
ver- intelligent man for literary man. (LaueIter)
ave did not TO hear ii said that Abraham Lincoln
very intelligent man for railspltter, or tl't
General Grant a very intelligent man for a tapner
The literary man is also man and brother, and Willy
should it be surprising that he, like other American
citizens In humble avOca,ions should sometimes exhibit
intelligence also7 daughter and applause
sometimes think, therefore, that WI all the real
sympathy with and ofen enthusiasm for literature
i'll Ameaca, IL is not Away quite Il complimentary
enthusiasm. Ii Is little too much Ike the entru-
slasm tina the Agricultural society sh)w ipr w1at
they cali the Ladies Dcl0runcnt at The Mii'm4
in he Whole building. they devote ther best
modtions 10 the nttle dogs IL worted ana tle niue
eas In canvas and fne cane ame u aer a So
year-olGs and the moving machines lLauehter;l
r snt 10 90 those I'D fashioned bridges You s fd
in Vermont, where everybody who is anybody pays
10 60 over, tut ministers and women are aceustohc'
Now It rs not az all snnge when you look 9houH AZ
be some divided feeling This Nation was not t born
like Greece, with the ioeai state aiways 10 'n ronc
first and, as We know Of Rome, all poetry all n'ef
aturc, for time regarded WIN az rus e,,, could
M, he ' expected TO ave footing; the conditions
wer too stern and the maSnaton 700 seon, 10 b
Ration We're 10 an unusual extent. 70 an extent lo
instance uneQuaed In the older british Gol With
nj cducation coege-bed men, men that biodshI
hem hooks and libraries John Harvard, who was mo-
college bred man of the Church Of England; uu' ,n
T Tes TaS clergy Of Englandohn arvad in the
library which he bequeathed to Harvard ove books hat
OF wc ON then moi only the theology but the litr
Azure Of the human and ' heschys It va. q
cultivated men who settled New Ehsidiu, anu, nc'
~ a less degree Virginia But he contact OF a',u a
70, IN The Colonies was uniavOrabe. II not TO TIE SUB
stance at least the graces. OF II eiaturc o to
Paa9n " T% cer aS1 Of profound Theology All
secondary 10 that
CORRECTING WRONG IMPRESSION
ut was an exceptional class Of cereymeh WI"
founded especially the Puritan common"ea'I9 IN
the common weaths then were more OF icSo i a.,
America It was not therefore, that these men u'u
mo, snnrecate literature. They appreciated thc're'
THE dtfcuy is for us 10 appreciate as mueh aS e'
The that often exists that the Puritan clergy
men set themselves against literature ana e,a -.
q me0ne and ali there was Of literature and science
belonged 10 them. snd they hLed an , a nsnfI 10
The STATE and therefore had the kno"leose usei"' '"
Professor Goodae Of Harvard has lately snowt
that The first Introduction Of the n;'uda I'M he
Harvard came from the love OF scieioe' ,be nS
cause tile clergyman Of tat peUu' oy =, Do something
Tor tncir bodies as we'll their sous ana nc smu,Sa
bis chemistry and got rather .,her formidable
tneoiogy Everything concentrated itself o. the and
Ing Of the clergy The claT Ss Ees Ss WHO
4 iudge opened his court with pray er me eie'sy ,
WHO would become mlnts sap p DpIt Of the same
Thing And when that those men dd nUe i1 h
literature, We say, ony' tha' VIC Wv INV
If YOU reYd for instance, that most entsr@i ,h,i
book OF the second generation OF ene b tonrna, and
books Of Judge samuel sewc you VIII nnu , ma 4,
he no. only did o.-snore poetry eu' ui" W ne law
suit going IL the court ne aw ~pe a woaie nerl
around little copies Of verses. IL thcre ""S ~
ID was always celebrated In song. >, .,o.o . u.m,rk
On one occasion samuel sewell, noticing remark arm
sbls crcumstance at funeral, recorded II III tiis
comnIet-it was uie funeral OF Mrs. Mary Coney
Two Johns two sans, and one good IOn
Bore prudent Mary TO tho tomb
daughter ,.. ,,,,,. ,.tore the vear $500.
terrors 10 death, litigation and courshp h
m The DAYS OF the early Republic PRESIDENT Jonh hoa,
never likely 10 de- because seemed clear TO the men VI
those times that art aud literature DeioheeG 10 sn n
-