New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-02
WHITTIER.
THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.

WHITTIER. BY Samuel T. Pickard In Two
volumes Illustrated. Houghton. Mfiin & Co
II may almost be said OF these volumes that
they constitute an autobiography. 50 large part
OF them consists Of Mr.. Whittier's own letters.
and so much OF his life and character do these
letters reveal Mr.. Pickard tells us 1t was 10
the reserved and sensitive poet an unpleasant
thought that the story of his career would some
time be called for. But 1t was prospect that he
was obliged to face and he did So in his last
wears with his usual serene common-sense. lie
gave his bographer many useful suggestions as
10 the accumulation Of material In the shape of
Observation-Disclosures he had none MT. PICK
ard has treated his collections with care more
than reverent-has. indeed. evidently tried 10 90
h,s work as 1t might have been done with the
poet looking over his shoulder. This Is perhaps
not quite the spirit in which brilliant literary
performance becomes possible; but II is one 'hd'
insures a dignified decorum and a painsaking
accuracy.
The story told-somewhat disjointedly-in these
volumes Is that of O Yankee Galahad: of poll
tcian Of high ideals. pure heart and unselhsh
energy: of a poet modest to q fault and strangely
distrustfu Of his own abilities Winters youth
was one Of poverty self-denial. and hard work.
but one of high thinking and Of noble aims Ills
education was meagre. but his intellectual appe-
title was boundess. At nineteen, an ola irieho
writes, he was a very handsome, distinguished
looking young man. His eyes were remarkably
beautiful. He was tall. slight. and very erect;
a bashfnl youth but never awkward Ohuer
a very grave and quiet exterior there was real
love Of fun and keen sense OF the ludcrous In
society he was embarrassed. and his manners
were In consequence. sometimes brusque ana
cold. With intimate friends he talked great
deal and In a wonderfully interesting manner;
usually earnest often analytical and frequently
playful. He had great deal OF wit. IL was
family characteristic The study Of human ma
ture was very interesting to him. and his insight
was keen He liked TO draw out his young friends
and to suggest puzzllng doubts and queries
When a wrong was to be rghted or an evil 10 be
remedied. he was reader 10 act than any young
man I ever knew. and was very wise in his
actlon-shrewd sensible, practical. The influence
of his Quaker bringng-up manifest. think
j; was always his endeavor
to render less
The sum of human wretchedness'
This. say was his steadfast endeavor. in spite
Of an Unborn love of teasing. He was very mod
est never conceited, never egotistic One could
never fatter him. He told very wholesome
and unpala table truths. yet in way TO spare
ones self-love by admitting 4 doubt whether he
was in earnest in jest. The great questions of
Calvinism were subjects of which he often talked
in those early days. He was exceedingly
scientious" Such was the youth who after pub
fishing good many poor verses in various coun-
try newspapers turned 10 editing newspapers
himself and undertook to become practical poll
tician. He did not cease rhyming but he had no
notion OF making that his life-work. for poetry
not daV Whatever
patton he contemplated outside that he found on
his widowed mothers farm was. up to the time
he was twenty-six political one He had been
successful as an editor the leaders Of his party
appreciated his powers. and he determined TO
seek office in his native town and county. II his
intention had been fulfilled. a poet would prob
ably have been lost to his country; but the posi-
bty soon passed away. His friend Garrison
stirred in him the loathing OF slavery which
Quaker he had inherited: he began TO study the
question thoroughly. and his always sensitive
conscience was reused AS an Abolitionist poet
he did magnificent work. for which he was
roundly hated by great many respectable peo-
pie, and his chances Of political preferment were
tossed to the winds We have referred TO this
period Of Whittier's career not so much because
II shows a curously practical phase in the his
tory Of an imaginative writer as because 1t marks
the moment when the rhymer became poet.
The inspiration Of a great aim found expression
in fiery verse that more than anything else. per-
haps reused a selfish and stiff-necked generation
to a sense OF wickedness before the Lord Up TO
this time Whittier's poetry had been. from the
literary point Of view, exceedingly poor stuff.
subject and manner being equally conventional.
He was always ashamed Of his early writings.
Mr.. Pickard records. and did his best in after
life to suppress them. That they admired
by his contemporaries is expressive COM
mentary the poetical taste OF grandfdth-
ers. Now. however, he began to sing In earnest,
strains which seemed to shake in ruin about him
all the fabric Of his young ambitions. But long
years after, he said in gentle counsel to a boy Of
fifteen, my lad If thou woud'st win success.
join myself to some unpopular but noble cause"
1t was not only his ringing verse that made
Whittier a source OF strength to the young
party Of freedom. His political sagacity came to
its rescue when the rash counses of men Of one
idea brought 1t into danger. The poet had the
patience and tact vitality necessary to the con-
duct Of a struggling reform. and he utterly
without fanaticsm. From first to last, says Mr..
Pckard. "he refused to come out from his party
until he had done all that could be done TO in
duce 1t to assist In the work of reform. He would
not cast aside strong man. II he could get ever
50 little Of his strength committed to the cause
he had a: heart. When he entered the field as
an opponent Of slavery, he took with him every
weapon he could handle. and refused to throw
away the ballot. as did many Of his associates.
In an editorial article written in those days he
says: What absurdty is moral action apart
from political! This habit Of charitable al
lowances for men who had capacity for serving
a cause he had at heart even II they sometimes
made grave mistakes. IL shown in his reply to a
friend who was complaining Of party leader
who had been accused Of wrong-doing. Has tlee
found many saints angels in thy dealings with
either political party? DO not expect 30 much
OF human nature He had a genius for coali-
tons and could accept assistance from unfrend-
~ sources in furtherance of n pha n IN ropic OBJ