New-York tribune., 1908-10-25
WITH LoNGFELLow AND LOWELL.

aT I.a-zfeIlc--'z work. Professor Norton wrote:
He was TOO modest TO rely wholly his own
7udzr.eui and reni1s III the performance Of his
work and De- called upon two Of his friends in
the final revision Of Il. Every Wednesday evening
-zr Lowell and / met IN liT- Longfe.lo lows study
u listen whlle he read canto Of his translation
from The proof sheets We paused over every
doubtful passage discussed the various readings,
considered the meaning Of obscure words and
phrases. sought for the most exact equivalent Of.
Iaute's expression, objected, criticised, praised.
with 4 freedom which made perfect by AIr.
IscnrfeIlow's absolute sweetness. simplicity and
mo6esty. and by the entire confidence that existed
between Us"
With Lowell Professor Norton's friendship
a. sincere and lasting They We're associated in
the editorshp Of The North American Review" IN
the years Immediately following the Civil War, and
after LoWelTs death his letters edited by
Professor Norton as his literary executor. He also
performed q Ike work for the writings of George
william Curtis after the latters DEATH their int
mate friendship lasting nearly half century. He
was tbe chosen biographer Of DR.. Holmes
FRIENDSHIP WITH RUSKIN.
Il is with tie name and fame of John Ruskin
that the literary career Of DR.. Norton most
closely associated. A record Of their relation
is preserved the volumes entitled Letters
OF John RUskn 20 Charles Eliot Norton" OF the
way IN which the acquaintance began. which
ripened n intimate friendship lasting forty
i've years Professor Norton tells in the book.
from a friend TO Mr.. Ruskn. asking the privilege
OF seeing his pictures and drawings by Turner. In
accordance with this he had most cordial recep-
uon from the great critic. who nine years his
senior. He did not expect 70 meet Mr.. -Ruskin
again but IN the following summer they were fe-
low passengers a steamer the Lake Of
Geneva and Mr- Norton ventured TO recall himself
70 Nj. Rusbins memory He greeted with
cordially. and when they parted Geneva was
invited tc call in the evening. Two or three days
later they ST Martin, and took an early
morning walk Of which Professor Norton wrote:
The friendship had begUn which was 10 last till
the end Of life He gave this description Of his
friend: when first knew him he had a most
engaging personality. He in the very heydav
of distinction. But his reputation lightly on
him; his manners were marked by the absence Of
al pretension and by z sweet gentIeness and ex-
ceptional consideration for the feelings OF others
The tone Of dogmatisn and Of arbitrary assertion
often manifest in his writing entirely alb
sent from his talk I have not . MEM
ory Of these days which I recall him except Is
one OF the pleasantest, gen:iest kindest Of
men. He seemed cheerful rather than happy.
The deepest currents OF his life ran out OF sight
but IL plain that they did not calmly, ana
their troubled course became manifest now and
-hen in extravaganza Of action and paradOXes OF
opinion The extraordinary keenness OF his
perceptions Of external things the yiyacity Of his
intelligence the ardor % his temperament the I'm
.ense variety Of his interests and occupations and
the restless energy and industry with which he
pursued them, distinguished him from other men
In his account Of his own early career in
'1orseterita. Ruskin tells of their meeting on the
German steamer, and adds And thus became
possessed Of mE second friend. after d.. John
Brown. and Of my first real tutor Charles Eliot
Sortoa. Charles himself Of the
S&ghest natural gifts in their kind observant and
critical rather than imaginative but with an all
.-zgyadirg sympathy and seEsibility. absolutely
free from envy. ambition covetousness: d scholar
from his cradle. In every branch OF literature he
my superior: knew old English writers better
than much old French writer's. Norton saw
GI my weaknesses, measured all my narrowness,
and from the first took sereneIy and il seemed
necessity, kind OF pateTIal authority me.
and Z right Of gUdance-though the younger of the
two. and always admitting my fun power in its
own kind; only admitting. but in the prettiest
way prsisiEg and stimulating u was almost i'm