The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-21
A STROLL TO ELMwooD.
BY Prof. J. B. Herner.

N@O---~--
Turning toward the setting sun, we
left Harvard Square; and stroillng along
the mile of paved streets and modern
palaces, reached Elmwood, the birth
place and homo of James Russell Lowell
the poet. A promenade along the outer
edge of the enclosure, which is marked !
by fence half hidden with lilacs and !
clematis, and we enter the old lash
oned gate, where we obtain the hrst
full view of the historic mansion. On |
our right and on our left, everywhere,
ar. trees and shrubs and vines distrlb
uted irresularly over closely Fhaven
lawn that skirts away as tar as the eye
can see through the densc foliage.
Aud it is all precious to us These
plavts harc yielded their flowers which
tie mother plucked and fondly arranged
for the boy study. This vile spreading
elm was set out ny tac elder Lowell; that
acacia. by Asaaslz, who loved 1t; that
spruce by an adnirins prince; and that
chestnut was planted and fostered by the
poet and so on through the gardeners
Inventory. All these were placed here
for the poet, and he was ours; hence
they are ours 50, and we love to lin%er
among them.
The. Mansion, which is st: ucture OF
colonial times. st lnds before us as mute
witness of the generations of patriotic
fathers and mothers and children who
have grown older and wiser and better
under its slleltering roof, and then III
their turn so.emnlv and silently passed
away. 1t was built i'll 1860, and has ever
since been the home of American
nobility, and it's memories are dear to our
people Did l say, the home OF Amer
lean nobility since 1863? No; yes. This
patriotic family gave Elawoot over to
the government in I775, aud Ii was used
during revolutionary times as an Amer1-
can hospital, it Is true; but 1t was still
the home Of Americas nobility. Nations
have persisted III day, but the family tree
of the Lowelis, planted l.: Colonial days
survived the revolutionary period, -four
ished in the national age of the republic
and made Elmwood a noted home Of
classical poetry, and patriotic song.
Whv should not this be home OF pa
triotism and poetry, since everything
lar,und and about it indicates that Cam
brrige Is the great school of PATRIOTS n
an poetry? We have just passed the
Charles on whose banks s:anda the stee
pled church that signaled the midnigh
ride of Paul Revere; under yonder elm
, Washington took command of the amer
ican forces; there are the ceneterle
peopled with the good and the great wh'
died for freedom; beyond is the hons
of Lonsfellow, the father of American
literature; and a thousand other IN Il
ces.-among which is Harvard, the firs
: university of the Anericas,-all E;1
: toric, all patriotic, all p'-:lc.
In response to u stroke or t." "t TIA
old. Ashione sn,''ke5. the door swing
o3cn. A glance within reveals the libra
i nv, ,,l- IT, K, the tobacco knife, the pipe
: aud such other things as were common
y in the Hones of the Eastern poe;s- Pant
y tlngs, mirrors, statuary and souvenir
from representative men and countrle
of both continents adorI the rooms at
l halls If the palace. All the appoint
: mants are such as would especially &C
It minister TO ,.e- comfort and pleasure
r a pla.l old man, who, as poi'she
S scholar, had won distinction i'll the un
V versities of New England; who, as
r. gifted poet, evolved themes that ran
l. among the classics of the age; and wht
D. as citizen, kas been honored IN e*er
,e quarter OF the globe; and yet was SO SIN
IS ple in the habits of llis life that VIXEN
is became weary at the end of his Journe.
h h. tarried at the foot of a hill, and cho:
is for his last resting place spot IN tt
o. shale of an elm, where now stands
ar old slab-the plainest in all the gre
cemetery.
20 The home was like the man; for VIII
- the home was IN the world of nature ar
G art, Lowell was in the world of poet
ID and critical study 1t has become pa
~ of his own life; therefore everything
if been held sacred and left undisturbe
e. that we may know more of the poet, Il
re- better understand his art, and cor
he closer to the man. No one need ha
told us this, for it is one of the thugs t
-. visitor feels without knowing why. '
are Interested in all that we see, beco1
engaged IN this and that particular
~ je:', forget something that has tax
-, place, aad thea heedessly cast abo
- thnxing that he has just comP'et
The Vision of Sir Launfai' or son
>. other classic, laid aside his pen, a
- stepped oHt And we take up the
T, desk seemingly fresh from his finse
:. -, 1d the conversation glide. along VIII
w. lnger a little longer. uncon$ctou
-, ava ting him to step in again. Thus
=, visit moves along until late hour, VIII
i'll the absence of the Poet, we are gl'
the parting hanl of his grandson;
we take a farewell glance at the home
tall the most cultured American that
ons praced the court of Saint James.