New-York tribune., 1911-01-08

with the triangular face. which almost
any boy or girl could do and does do
For the poetry of his friend William
throughout his life felt the same admira-
ton that moved him in their childhood
an admiration that amused while II
pleased Ralph aged forty-one. Il can
easily understand" he writes from Con-
cord, in a letter quoted in these pages
"how the abounding love in the old
schoolmate's heart GXalts the long-accus-
toned jingler with a talent for veneers
nnd carnish into true bard
That Astounding love" was felt by
both alike to the end Of their days, as
. this correspondence testifies. Emerson
has dwelt in his journals on his own
coIdness Of temperament; but there is no
coldness in these letters, and the reader
must agree with the editor that this
coldness was merely a shrinking sensi-
tiveness that only needed TO be dissi-
pated through the assurance afforded by
proved or lifelong friendship" Fur
ness's affection never lacked for words.
u wonder whether 1 am not prouder of
YOU than you are of yourself" he eX-
claims in a letter of 1917; and he adds
quantity: Perhaps if l had iived near
YOU all this while and seen you often /
might not have had quite so much ven
Grafton for you" His friends writings
fill Williams cup with JOY. Il think Of
you as prophet and priest" he says, and
he has recorded his conviction that his
obligations to Emerson were beyond tell
Ing The latter, If not quite so eXpan-
sive in his letters, spoke of his friend to
others I'm terms of devotion. "Furness
An my dear gossip" he wrote to Margaret
Fuller. almost a gossip for the gods
there is such a repose and honor in the
man; and in another letter penned
many years after, he declared that his
friend had "a face like a ,benediction and
a speech like a benefaction." Furness's
hero worship he received with benign
modesty and as much playfulness as his
Temperament admitted. 81 beg you," he
writes on a question OF lecturing, "tO put
g. strong yoke on that blessed constitu-
tional tenderness OF yours toward me
and answer officially; and in a later
letter he declares as to the proposed
lecture Il believe make the worst anti
slavery discourses that are made in this
country. They are only less bad than
slavery"
The kindness that animated the breast
Of the man who considered himself lam
entab!y cold often finds expression in
these epistles. He tries his best to Sc
cure for Carlyle some of the profits Of
his American editions and tells Fur
ness one picturesque story of failure. lie
tries to find a publisher for Thoreau, and
renounces payment for a poem of his
own that poor Claiming may get
larger fee for his. There is little in his
letters which is not gentle and genial.
Furness is now and again little less
easy. Witness this passage on some OF
Margaret Fullers writings in a letter
dated 1872
When Margaret f. speaks of Powers as
fatal TO nv respect for her judgment in
matters OF art at east. Powers ] conSlQel
nOthing-nOt JOt more than an adHliaDle
nation He cannot create. II his bust ol
Webster be better than Clcvengers 1t must
he because Webster was in better trim
when ne sat 20 him. He can express only
what ne sees with the bodily eye. Again,
the incident OF the concert room when
MARGARET rebuked the giddy girl so gently
did She speak the truth WLen she SAID she
hODed the thOughtlesS chlld would never
suffer what she had inflicted on the lovers
of music that evening? Tile very ann OF
The remark was to cut the girl 10 the
S.,,;cL a,d sb. suffered Infinitely more than
Margaret had suffered in the loss OF the
music. These are small criticisms, ] know.
When she talks of her mother ana writes
ia her then she interests me, ana ncr nus
Isud and child-they mace her lovely. !
I'M attracted and repelled by all this talk
ard sDcoulatiOn about things unseen and
ttnseesble How continually does II degen-
crate into a wisdom of words ana now nara
a is 10 keen humble and sclf-fOrgetung!
DIR. Furness's love for his friend did
not blind him TO the fact that many Of
E,merson's geese were swans. One day,
when the two were walking together IN
PHILADELPHIA. he asked his prophet II
ne did not "sec something good in the
pbysiognomy Of the people he met in
the streets" "Oh. yes" answered En-
erson. "the Angel Gabriel is ever com
ing round the corner" Furness adds:
"It was this disposition that led him to
magnify every one who said anything