New-York tribune., 1903-06-09

tinction both and of absolute simplicity
OF affectation he was Incapable, though his an-
diences did not always think so when they be
held him cropping amid sheaves of manuscript
for the passage most to his mind Perhaps you
had TO come into personal relation with him
in order to feel how genuine he was ana now
sympathetic.
He began to talk at once on the subject he
supposed nearest TO the mind of his new ac-
quaintance. L quote but sentence. a sentence
which had in the substance of a volume:
You are studying the law. 1t is a fine subject
and when you know the law you will have
good equipment for your life work. But do not
let il be the only thing Keep your mind open
Read Plato Later, we sat in the parlor he
to alcove, took down volume and
put it into nv hand. Il introduce you" he
said, Ito one of the greatest and one of the
least known Of modern English writer's" 1t
volume of the Imaginary Conversations"
Of Landor. When l asked about Colerdge he
answered, "I don't think Coleridge quite what
you want, beyond the Table Talk and the best
Of the poems. He spoke of his visit to him, but
added. He talked mostly of matters that would
not interest you Then he proposed q walk,
and took me through the famous Concord woods,
and discoursed of Nature, Of Thoreau, who
came closer to her than most of do" But
every word he said betrayed his intimacy,
not only with Nature in the large sense, but
with details: with trees and birds and all the
rest He was at home in the woods, but did not
insist that you should prefer them 70 the houses.
In London society, many years after this, he
seemed equally at home but always with the air
of one assisting at a spectacle which he under
stood yet still was spectacle. So much of it
ever he sought for what was essential; and he
rejoiced in meeting, not only and women Of
distinction, but any man or any woman in whom
ne could discover character high qualities.
In the Concord woods in his own home, in a
London house, on the platform of the Music
Han IN Boston dreaming aloud TO three thou
sand people. he was the same Emerson. with the
same manner-kindly. yet remote, profoundly
concerned with whatever was human, yet never
distant in thought from those celestial spaces
in which his soul roamed freely and far
AS questions have been raised. quite need
lessly. about the friendship between Emerson
and Carlyle, l will repeat what l know per
dissolubly interviewer, connect themselves for
me in a very personal way. I owe to Emerson
my introduction to Carlyle. You must not be
surprised" said Emerson. ''if you find him in
hospitable to American ideas. and perhaps to
Americans" But Emersons letter was a pass
port and a talsman. "Eh. and so YOU are a
friend of Emerson" was his greeting as l went
in, and he said il heartily. BY and by he re-
ferred 10 his supposed dislike of my country.
friend to America. But | love America
the true America. the country which has given
birth to Emerson and to EmersOn's friends" &"
And he asked eagerly about Emerson. about his
England Whatever il might be on other sub
jects Carlyle's manner when he spoke of Es1er-
son was gentle and affectionate. In his splenetic
moods he may have said splenetic things of the
American friend whom he really loved He may
have resented Emerson's refusal to accept his
leadership and his ideas. He may have thought
1ealously-for the sake OF what he believed to
be the truth and his own guardianship and, per-
haps, monopoly Of 1.-THE growing ascendency Of
Emerson among Englshmen who had been dis
ciples of his own. But he remained essentially
true and loyal: he Emersons friend and
Emerson mis- friend. On my way home that
autumn / him again. He put into my hand
photograph Of himself for me to give TO Emer-
son. with an inscription. I delivered II in Con-
cord with some others of other people in whom
knew Emerson interested. He put the
others aside. held Carlyle's in his hand and said
1T was Carlyle himself who sent me this?"
Yes. / answered You the inscription and
the date" But you did not ask him for it-it
was his own thought" And wnen / again said
yes, the beautiful, strong face lighted up. He
helo the picture in a grasp that was almost
caress. and he said. Thank you, you could have
brought me nothing should SO much value"