The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-22
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.


Literary Friends and Acauaintanccs.
Mr. W. d. Howells is never more delight
ful than in his literary essays. He has
the qualities that especially belong 90 the
writer of essays-a calm. equable tempera-
ment, a contemplative tendency with a
habit of close observation. a sense Of humor
everything deep seriousness and the insight
born of sympathy. In presenting his recol-
lections and studies OF the group OF Ameri-
can authors with whom he came in contact
during his early years I'm Boston ne has
made a valuable contribution 20 American
literature. not only because OF his theme
and the new light thrown upon noted men.
but because OF the charming manner OF the
telling. He writes OF a group OF men most
OF whom were much older than he. and
I'm his attitude toward them is the gentle
Difference and respect due from younger
friend. In no way does he put himself for
ward, yet his own pleasant personality
pervades the pages In a way that ADDS
greatly 10 their attraction. In giving
glimpses of the men he knew he ur.nten-
tionaly makes himself known in even a
more distinct way than In his novels. one
who had known nothing Of him outside
would here get the impression OF him as
kindly philosopher aware of the foibles or
human nature but tolerant of them. look
ing on az the world In half amused way.
conscious of the depths UNEMPLOYED, but
unwilling TO add TO the common stress by
sounding them: preferring rather TO spend
his gifts for the wholesome pleasure or
those looking for diversion along stony
road. a passage I'm his paper on Oliver
Wendell Holmes has an applicability 10
himself as we'll: Speaking OF Holmes
work he says: II have loved IL as L loved
him. with a sense OF its limitations which
Is by no means censure OF It's excellence.
He was not n man who cared TO transcend;
he liked bounds, he liked horizons, the
constancy OF shores. II he put 10 sea he
kept In sight OF land. like the ancient navi-
gators. He did not discover new cont-
nents. and | will own that 1. for my part,
should not have liked to sail with Column
bus" Mr. Howells has discovered no new
intellectual continent. but he has made
more attractive the paths of the old one
In one of the chapters he gives this glimpse
Of himself before he entered the charmed
circle in Boston and when he was still a
newspaper man in Ohio:
IF there was any one i'm the world who
had his being more wholly in literature
than | had in 1860 l am sure l should not
have known where TO find him. and doubt
If he could have been found nearer the
centers of literary activity than / then
was or among those more purely devoted
TO literature than myself. / had been FOR
three years a writer of news paragraphs,
book notices and political leaders on a daily
paper in an inland city, and do not know
that my life differed outwardly from that
OF any other young Journalist who had pc
gun l had in country printing office
and might be supposed TO be looking for
ward to advancement in his profession or
in public affairs But inwardly IL was al
together different with me. lnwardly
a poet, with no wish to be anything
else unless in a moment of careless afiiu-
ence | might so far forget myself as TO be
n novelist. l was with my friend j. j:
Pratt the half author OF a nttle Voiune OF
very unknown verse. and Mr.. Lowell had
lately accepted and had begun 10 print In
the Atlantic Monthly five or six poems OF
mine. Besides this had written poems ana
sketches and criticisms for the Saturday
Press of New York. long forgotten but
once very lively expression of literary In
tention in an extinct bohemia or that city,
and | was always writing poems and
He visited New England and New YORK
soon after this. only as visitor and
the privilege of seeing the celebrities whom
he came later TO know so well. The nrst
two chapters in the volume treat or the
impressions made made upon the YOUNG * N maY
York and its literary group is Of especial in
terest because IL has been less frequently
told. Boston having been literary Mecca
TO which many pilgrims Travelled, AFTER
wards telling the story of their expert
ences 1t was four years after this before
Mi Howells, as assistant editor ca a..
Atlantic Monthly, became
Boston circle: in the meantime he had
served as consul to Venice and had writ
ten Venetian Days: His last chapter
dealing with Cambridge Neighbors opens
thus:
Being the wholly literary spirit l was,
when | went to make my home in Cam
bridge. do not see how | could We'll nave
been more content II had found rnySel1 IN
the Elysan fields with an agreeable eter-
nifty before me. At twenty-nine, indeed,
one is practically immortal, and at that
he off N 4 "a
nitv i'm which | had nothing TO do but 10
read books and dream or writing them, III
the overflow of endless hours from my
work with the manuscripts, critical notices,
and proofs of the Atlantic Monthly. As for
the social environment, i should nave been
puzzled IL given my choice among the elect
of all the ages TO find poets and scholars
more to my mind than those still In the
flesh at Cambridge in the early afternoon
of the nineteenth century Iney are now
nearly all dead and can speak OF them IN
the freedom which Is death s doubtful FAVOR
10 the survivor; but if they were sui awe
| could say little to their offense, unless
their modesty was hurt with my praises.
This is a charming chapter Among the
nejghbors mentioned are Prof. Boyesen,
Prof Childs, Louis Agassiz, Henry James
sr John Fiske and Richard Henry Dana
The hook has eight chapters, or DIVISIONS,
aud II is impossible to specify one as haV-
ing a greater degree OF interest lhan an
other Each contains "reminiscences OF men
who, whether little or well kho"ns az
riinnses of the manner of life at the time
"a simplicity of living which has aiready
nassed-and gives pictures of people and
piaces so vivid that they become at once
almost as much a part OF the readers men
tai gallery as if the experiences had been
his own. A chapter is given each TO Holmes.
Iongfellow and Lowell, his relations with
all these men having been evidently those
of intimacy so far as young man may
become intimate with men so mucn older
Altogether the work is most satisfactory.
II is a book to read from cover TO cover,
then to dip into again and again; a BOOK look
to have as permanent possession. ihS
volume is GEOGRAPHICALLY handsome and
numerous illustf atoms add to its attrlc-
tons. published by the Harpers.
with the Mission to Menetk.