New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-30
WHITTTER'S HOMES.
Il Book of Anecdote and Topog-
raphy for Pilgrims.

wHITTIER-IAAND. A Handbook OF North Essex
BY Samuel T Pickard Illustrated lrno' PIP
100. HoUghton. Mifin & Co.
This little handbook by Whittier's biographer
is, II we grant that its subject is sufficiently i'm
portant, a model Of its kind. 1t is full of justi-
fable personal interest, its anecdotes are Sc
lected with taste, the historical aspect Of the re-
ions associated with the poets home life is deft-
lv presented. For those who reverence his MEM
ory and are bent on literary pilgrimage, no more
useful and pleasant guide could be imagined
There is an anecdote or personal reminis-
cence on almost every page. Some Of these IL
lUstrate the sense OF humor which those who
did not know Whittier have believed he did not
possess but which Mr.. Pckard insists was his
even to jollity. Few men, says his biographer,
have been so greatly misunderstood as Whit
tier by the public" Il never heard him laugh
aloud" he adds, but a merrier face and eye
that twinkled with livelier glee when thoroughly
amused are not often seen. He would double UP
with mirth without uttering sound-his chuckle
being visible instead OF audible-but this pc
sculiar expression Of jolity irresistibly in
Fectious." We cannot say that the humorous
verse quoted by Mr. Pickard particularly ap-
reals to ones sense Of mirth-even upon the
occasion that suggested it II could not have
seemed extraordinarily funny. The most conf
cal thing related in the chapter on the poets
humor IS a story told by Alice Freeman Palmer:
one evening they sat IN Governor Clahins IL
ghost stories. Mrs Claiin had given strict orders
That no visitor be allowed intrude on Mr.. Whit
tier when he was resting. Suddenly, at the crisis
OF a particularly interesting story. there was a
commotion in the hall and the rest OF that story
was told. A lady had called to see the poet.
and would not be denied. The domestic could not
stop her, and came straight into the library.
She walked up to Whittier and seized both his
hands saying, Mr.. Whittier. this is the supreme
blushed like a schoolgirl, and shifted from one
foot TO the other; he managed 70 get his hands
security. And what do you think he said7 All he
said was. rs IT." Miss Freeman thought third
party in the way. and slipped out AS she was
going upstairs she heard quick step behind her,
and Whittier o99k neT O e NE Fees ana h sneTa
thee has been laughing at mei She could not
a man thee never saw should come up In that way
to thee. take both hands. and tell thee IL the
supreme moment Of his neT
Whittier was ever kindly as we'll as shy. and
consequently most patient with many visiting
oddities. Hiram Collins village philosopher,
often came to talk at Amesbury high erected
themes. Once" says Mr.. Pickard. when Emer-
son was his guest he IWhittierl invited Col
Inns TO meet him. knowing that the Concord phil
| osopher would be amused If not otherwise inter
ested in his Amesbury brother. Collins found
him good listener and gave him the full benefit
Of his theories and imaginings Next morning
Whittier called on Collins to inquire what he
thought OF Emerson Oh said Collins. I find
your friend very Intelligent man He has
adopted some OF my IDEAS"
The author states that Whittier between the
years 1926 and 1885 wrote literally hundreds Of
poems which ne never permitted to be collected
In any edition of his works. He not only kent
no copies of them-he destroyed all that came
in his way. A number OF these unsolicited
poems are here reproduced. and prove without