New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-24
LITERARY PORTRAITS.
Mr.. HOWELL ON SOME OF THE AU-
THoRs OF HIS TIME


LITERARY aE. FRIENDS AND
ship WI By rs RsI Howes irdi Illustrated Octave
YEsTERDAYs WITH AUTHORS. BY James T,
Fields. Illustrated with Photogravure Portraits.
Houghton Miffiin & Co
Mr.. HoweIls's reconections of the American
authors he has known form book of kind
rare enough in our literature The new edition
Of yesterdays With Authors which we bracket
with II above. might seem for moment TO oner
one contradiction to this remark. But M F1eios
first published il nearly thirty years ago. ana
besides. Hawthorne is the only American treated
al large within its pages: even in the long
chapter devoted 10 that author there is much OF
the English atmosphere which saturates the rest
Of the book. Mr.. Howells goes back 10 his early
twenties and discourses Of the derai-gods VINO
then captured his irnagination-and have helo IL
since. Il has been said that American III
erary circles have never created & literary al
mosphere in America. Mr.. Howells has moi peeh
aware OF this. When ne first met hawthorne
lhen lately returned from Europe. the noNehst
appeared surprised his visitors devotion TO
our own great men, and asked me whether
cared as much for meeting them as should
care for meeting the famous English authors.
Mr.. HoweIls sto1tly professed that he cared
much more. and while he now expresses a play
fu doubt OF the sincerity Of that protestation he
nevertheless is faithful 70 the glamour which
enveIoped the celebrities at whose feet he laid
his youthful homage. II was potent for him
then. and that il must have been legitimate is
proved by the fact that il remains potent for
Us II his book
The literary calling led the beginner OF his
earlier DAYS into thorny paths. Even the
sources q Boston were insufficient 10 furnish
forth a livelihood for every lover Of the muses.
When Ny Howels came East from Ohio 10
seek his fortune he met with happy experiences
in the England metropolis, and formed
precious friendships also in New-York. but II
was long before he achieved what the editor of
The SATURDAY. Press described 10 him "a
basis" salaried post lifting him above the
ordinary economic an4leries His Venetian
consulate was E 1airly comfortable interlude,
but II was only al iuIerlude. From the start,
however, he appears 70 have enjoyed the inter
course with men Of Ike enthusiasTns. Which
goes e great way toward softening The asperities
Of career in process # making. and II is this
pIeasanter aspect OF things which he chiefly
exhibits TO his reader. The modest candor with
which he writes communicates an engaging
quality 70 his "reminiscences Nothing could be
more frank and 81 the same time more delicate
the enthusiasm of youth transferring the pro
sale facts Of everyday life-than his celebration
OF The memorable days which witnessed his
earliest encounter with Lowell, Holmes and
Fields He conceals naught Of the boyish
rapture he felt when he sat down 70 dine with
that trtumvirate, but tells with quaint humor
how every smallest detail in the event helped 10
give Il romantic Importance" even the black
coffee. and The -petits verres' OF coguac with
Jumps Of sugar SET fire 70 atop Il was ali a
wonderful and radiant world, peopled by beng
nant authors who deserved the worship be
gladly gave Them He entered il after having
gazed upon il with passion from a distance.
Hawthorne passed him on 10 Emerson with a
card bearing The magic line, I find this young
man worthy" and the derli-gods aforesaid at-
mitted him 70 intimacy which has enabled
him paint them for Us in unconmonly vivid
lines.
At the first encounter with people, he says.
Lowell was apt 70 1sve certain frosty shy
ness & smiling cold, as from he long, high
summed winters II his Puritan race; he was not
quite himself till Re had made you aware OF
his quality; then no one could be sweeter,
tenderer, warmer than he; then he made you
free % his whole heart: but you must be his
captive before h could 90 that" Lowell in
those days as. for hat matter. all his life long.
was by nature 2 bit = disc.plinarian.' and
Mr. Howel.s records how lie was gently cor
rected Tor adding letter TO the name e James
Howe. him q the Familiar Letters" On he
other hand. re takes pains 10 present Lowell
IL his lighter VEN. describes his trying three
times Until ne succeeded IN leaping over fence
con the occasion q this first vis.I), and tells
various other illustrative anecdotes The Pc
nulttnate chapter of this book Is devoted u
further Studies Ct Lowell" which summarize
the friendship Of many years. i IS tulI Of good
things, from which We may borrow this:
II dropped IN upon him il the afternoon :
was apt = md Inn reading the old French
poets. or the plays Of Ca-der0n. or he "TJfyira
Corme9la, which ~ magma ctEnously SUPPOSED
re much batter acquainted with than vas -
cause knew some passages q i by heart. One
dar came in, quoting
20 son. cautaVa. 10 son dolce s:-z-a.
Che marina! n nlezz0 a mar dlSrnago''
less music, and then uttered all MS adors-s1r
snc despair n one word. Damn" he said
and no more. believe II instantly rro-9sA5
Z wax tr2t cay, IS : Ms study Valls with all
their EiStas iIro -he great ttteratu-es cra~~-A5
his soul liberated . q sense q ine1a5le hesj,tv
q the verse Of The "sornoo poeta.
The Autocrar tod NJ. HoweIls. when n said
that he had not YET made the acquaintance. Of
Hawthorne: All. well. don't know taar Won
VIII ever feel you have really ne. him
He is ike dim room, wiki & little rarer Of oar
sonality burning on the corner Of the rrarreI.,
Dr. Holmes was justified Of his doubts The
sketch Of Hawthorne n this book IS ? -riaa
wanting in reality. Holmes himself IS fully
portrayed = remember" says M HoTeus
the delight Henry James. the father Of the
novelist. had II reporting 70 me the trankness
OF The Doctor when he had said 70 him
Holmes. you are intellectually the most alive
man ever knew am, I an said the Doc
tor. From the crown Of my head 10 the sole e
my foot. I'm alive. I'm alive" Il is thus tha,
we See him in the recolIecuons Of his friend. an
image Of the most appealing charm vivac,ous
10 the end No attempt is made here to pre-
serve only "ennoblng and elevatins nsssseas