The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-12-26
CHRISTMAS "REMINISCENCES

Rev. DR.. Il. De Witt TaImage Re.
calls Memories OF william Cullen
Bryant, Fenimore Cooper, Washing.
ton Irving and Daniel Webster.
AT Christmastide we all become
meditatlve, and are disposed to look
back more than to look forward. E,-
pecially Is this so IL we sit by coun-
try fireplace, or city CRATE where the
Kind OF coal you burn allows the llames
to gallOp, and shake the shadows up
and down the wall.
In my house on Oxford street, Brook
lyn, in 1876. we had a memora Bile gath
erlng, the memory OF which | still
cherish as among the most treasured
OF my Christmas ieminiscences. Many
ladies and gentlemen were present,
put the most conspicuuus-not because
OF any pretense on his part, but by
sheer force OF elevated character--w
William Cullen Bryant. He did not
much like to be helped out OF the car.
rlage when he came, nor to be hel ped
into 1T again when he departed. He
was the impersonation OF simplicity
DE no doubt knew that he was admired
OF ali, but he gave no demonstration of
that fact.
The evening had nearly passed when
the mayor OF the city made an address
OF appreciation both Of Martin Farou-
har Tupper, the Eoglish poet then
present, and our venerable American
poet. Bryant and Upper, before the
other guests came, had been seated on
the sola, quoting poetry and reviving
"reminiscences. After the mayor, ad
dresses by Messrs. Bryant, Upper and
Peter Cooper and the Rev. Drs. [. S.
Prime, Bowling and others. But had
always been desirous OF hearing Mr..
Bryant reaG one of his poems. | had
J attended the Bryant meeting a year or
| two before in Chickering Hall, New
| York city--a meeting at which the
music was good and the speaking good,
| put there was great lack in it OF Will
liam Cullen Bryant himself His
! speech of response WAS only about
three minutes, while he spent all the
rest OF the evening in doing nothing
except keeping silence and looking
venerable. | thought, Why does not
somebody think of asking the glorious
Old man to come forward and read his
Forest Hymn" or lines to a Water.
fowl" or the Death of the Flowers 2"
But no such thing happened. o. the
evening at my house l resolved that no
such omission should be repeated
sprung my stratagem on him ia the
most unexpected moment. Mr.. Tupper,
at our request, had read a selection
from his own poems, and read them
well. turning to our American poet,
L said Mr.. Bryant, | have aiways
wanted to here you read 'Tnanstopsis,'
and have no doubt it would be great
Joy to all our guests to hear you read
It,. have 1t hear in Griswold's com.
pilation. Will you grant US the great
favor of reading it?"
Bryan blushed like bashful Miss
when asked to play on the piano.
There was evidently a struggle be.
tween his modesty and his desire to be
oollglng. After moments pause, he
said " would rather read anything
than my own writings; but If it will be
OF any pleasure to you | will do as YOU
say" Taking the book, he advanced
to the middle of the room, looked up
at the chandelier and then looked at
the book. Take my spectaces," said
Mr.. Tupper. mo, no." said Mr..
Bryant 81 do not need spectacles /"
The type o. che "a J was rather small,
but he made no heslU>" tion. There he
stood, at 81 years OF age, abou. 80 -u,aa
without spectacles poem he had pub
lished in the North American Review
In 1915, when he was Is years of age
He turnet round and said You will
understand that do not rectte this
from memory, for | am not familiar
with 1T. only re d It," With calm,
slow accent he read on.
1t was a scene never to be forgotten.
1t was 1916 reading to 1876. He did
not hold the book away Off 8s octoge
narlans are wont to do when they read
without glasses, but inst as man Of
30 would hold book. His long white
beard showed upon tho page. AS he
came to the last nine lines his voice
became feeble: not with physical
weakness, tut with suppressed emo.
tion. lad read 1t, and reread 1t, as
everybody else has, until | thought
Shere was no more to get out Of the
closing lines OF " Thanatopsis" but he
gave it new translation that me NOR
able night. Could IL be that had ever
heard it before? The white, over.
hanging eyebrows, the deep-sunken
eyes the great dome OF forehead
above u thin body, the realization that
1t must be the closing hours of the
| strong winter winds that swept round
the house while he was reading, we're
q commentary upon the immortal pass
age, until write them here under the
half.delusiOn that no one has ever seen
or heard them before:
$50 live that when thy summons
comes to join
| The innumerable caravan that moves
To that mysterious realm where each
shall take
His chamber In the silent halls of
death,
Thou go not like the quarry slave at
night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustained
and s00thed
BY an unfaltering trust, approach thy
grave
Like one that draws the drapery OF his
couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant
dreams.
We never saw him again. We said
Good night" till under other skies we
shall say Good morning" could not
that night help thinking OF the frst
Time saw Mr.. Bryant. It was in the
days OF my boyhood, at Tripler Hail.