The Portland daily press., 1899-10-28
LoNGFELLow HOUSE.
AHouss Fan OF Bc.usifui Old Fsrni'
ture and Pictures.

The following description Of the Long
fellow house Is from club paper written
end read by Julia p. Stevens Of this
city:
"Fcr more than three years I have been
a ret tent of Portland, and not until re-.
Gently was aware the cid L1nefsilow
house.. on Congress street, adjoining the
PEBBLE House. was open to visitors.
Upon learning that IL was, friend and
myself quickly awaited ourselves OF the
opportunity Of seeing the early home OF
Americas sweetest poet.
"f3y an unft rsuDate mishap Mr.. Long
fellow wus not born In this house, but In
q hous, on Fore street owned and occu.
pied by his uncle. and there be lived
the first three months OF his life. Of
seven brothe 8 and sist rs, the Others
vera all born In the Longfelow house on
Congress street
"The house is a three story brick build
ing 1.-THE first brick house IN Portland).
sitting tnck from the street couple oil
reds with the door In the middle with
many small windows, and thres large
elms in front The house IL l15 ears old
and built by the maternal grandfather,
Gen. Peleg Wordsworth. The grounds
in the rear extend to Cum berland street,
END have all tbess many years teen In MIR.
Longfellow's family.
"Our knock, on the old brass knocker,
was answered By trim maid who bade
us enter. We were ushered Into the oil
family sitting room. Ihere We stood
within three rods Of Port,and's busiest
street, q part OF the world but not of 1t.
"Soon refined, educated Lady who
has charge Of the house entered. ont be-
gan TO tell us Of the many interesting
things. Nearly everything In the house
is very ancltn'. The beautiful old hand
carved mahogany chairs, tables, tofas
and sideboard that ara in this
room, ami the uiotures on the wall. all
took our time for n Wills. / sat in Mr..
Lonpfellow's favorite cha,r-in fact. l
think sat la every chair-but no inspi-
ration came to ne On the mantle Is an
old clock Of colonial style, still ticking
rs merrily and faithfully as enc hundred
years ago Beside 10 is a silver watch OF
English manufacture worn ny Lon2fel-
lows father, and by himfelf, and each
of his brothers at some tine during their
livss
"Over the sofa In a little frame is n
picture Of Nit. Lonefellow's three daught.
era; which MIR. Lonofellow called the
Morning Glories.' A more beautiful pic
tuie in all it's simplicity l have never
seen. Directly over this picture hangs
one of Mr.. Longellow. 1t IL n copy Of
painting bys his son, Ernest, which
hangs In the old Cragie house In Cam
bridge. The family consider 1t the best
of MS many pictures.
"ws next went into the dining room,
The dining table Is of solid mahogany
with spindle legs, and set with the old
fashion blue ware. Neirby, built into
the wall, IS n cupboard full of the same
and other rare old china. Between the
front windows is pier table with two
at elves; on the lower ono stands q Wash
ington pitcher in a perfect stats of pres
ervatlon. There are a few antique rugs
on the floor. Over the piano Is a por-
trait of ar. Longfellow's father, who
was the first representative Of Maine to
Congress from this district. Over the
door in the rear ball hangs three old fire
buckets bearing date OF IS 3. 10 the left
of this hall Is the room that Mr.. Longfel-
low used for his study. Here Ia the desk
en- which he wrote Rainy Day He
looked from the window, into the gar
den. and on the vine and 'Inouldering
wall, as be wrote tie verse; The lamp
under which ne wrote the romance, Hy-
perion, hangs in the room. 1he door at
the end of the hall was opened aud We
were allowed to walk out into the gal
den, and pick piece Of the vine as q
souvenir. We reveIently re-entered the
house feeling so grateful for being al
lowed one glimpse of the enchanted long
ago. and passed out again into the
world"