The Portland daily press., 1895-03-11
WHITTIER AND THE YOUNG.
The POETS Discouraging Experience
as an Editor.

Considered up to the Mark by a Poet to
Whom Whittier Submitted It-How
Fall of Eastern Railroad shares Affect
ed His Autograph.
of his youth to young friend Of his.
H lie said in the beginning or his career,
when he was only about 81, he was put
temporarily in charge of a leading news
paper. l think it was in Hartfo ii,
writes Frances C. Sparhawk in the
Youth Department. OF the Chicago In
ter Ocean. The editor was to be absent
few weeks, or months. During his
time there came about a most unprece-
dented crisis in public affairs, and the
young editor was left to grapple with a
difficult question which in some way
affected slavery or to pass over the mat
ter in silence, as, possibly, the perma-
nent editor would have done, and as
would have been the more prudent way
III looked at only in the present time,
and were one without an ideal of life
and its duties and without patriotism.
DGO GbSnGo "a GllS Jliu0 was d cap
which in no wise fitted the young poet,
gifted as he was with judgment which
later often guided public men who
sought out his advice. His soul was on
fire with earnestness, and his conscience
that grand conscience which the brand
ing iron OF time never seared-was alive
with instincts Of national righteousness
He burst forth in an editorial which one
is safe Ii thinking must have been fine
as it certainly was stirring. The editorial
appeared. And the next morning APP
peared in another paper, from famous
pen, the most scorching criticism of this
editorial and the most contemptuous
comments upon the literary ability of it's
author, with the suggestion, forcihly
made, that he had better go back to his
bench, since it was plain that writing
was not his vocation. The young man,
fresh from home, modest as the truest
greatness is. suscepti BILE to praise or
blame as the finely attuned nature of a
poet must be, was overwhelmed by the
ridicule cast upon him. He writhed I'M
der it, and it came near being the turn
ing point of his career. But genius is
like love; many waters cannot quench
t, neither can the floods drown it; and
at the time that Whittier told the story
his ma me was known over the world and
that of his once famous critic had long
ago fallen into deserved oblivion.
1t may be that this experience added to
III d. 10
pirants. for his hopeful words and his
helping hand held out to these are too
well known to need comment.
To a young friend who spoke to him
with admiration of that beautiful poem
of his, The Pipes at Lucknow" he con-
he had hesitated about it and sent it to
another poet. not now living, for his
criticism. The said poet had write n
him back word that it was not up to the
mark. But after having kept it awhile
the consciousness within himself, sit
does move, though" was too strong for
Whittier, and, fortunately for the world,
he sent it to his publishers.
His scorn of deceit and his sense OF
humor were fully reused by an offer that
was once made to him by man old
enough to have known better-and who
could be young enough not to have known
better9 This man came to him and pro-
posed that they should go into literary
partnerhip. The unknown would write
the poems, Mr.. Whittier would put his
name to them, and the two would share
the profitsi But even here the poet was
the deceiver that the world would not be
gulled by dross for gold "Thee are
minister of the gospel" he said to him
"Now, does thee think that such thing
would be right?"
Among all the great personaees whose
autographs have been sought after none
gave his with more kindness and COM
prehension of the attitude of the asker
than did our Quaker poet.
A young lady WHO had never seen him,
and whosneither had, nor was likely
to have any opportunity to proffer her
request unless she made such opportun-
ity, yet resolved to secure his autograph.
Feeling that her request, ii written,
might be consigned to the limbo to
which in later years, some of the letters
which the poet had no tune and strength
to answer and which had no special
claim, were of necessity sent, she de-
termined upon another line of action.
The poet himself told with infini tie
amusement how she entered upon the
campaign, and the result.
1t happened one delightful autumn
day when lie was on his way to the
mountains. Whe sunshine, the brilliant
| colors of earth and sky, the nectar OF
the clear and baln1y air, all acted upon
| his sensitive nerves and brought a keen
| pleasure which prepared him for the en-
joyment of any amusing phase of hui
man nature that might come in his way.
! The ladeued train drew up at junction.
AS MIR. Whittier alighted from his car
and with the alertness OF movement that
almost to the very last distinguished
him made his way toward his exchange,
young lady forced her way through the
crowd which was pushing and rushing
on all sides.
Are you Mr.. Whittier" she inquired
breathlessly.
! The poet assented.
"1hen won't you please write your
name in my album" And she held out
1 1 ~ ny,