The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-05-09
Edmund Clarence Stedman.
Journalist, Poet, Critic and Banker.

Journalist, Poet. Critic and Banker.
The Life and Letters of Edmund Clarence
Stedman, Tin two portly volumes. are interesting
alike to the student of American literature
and the journalist. Mr.. Stedman was poet
born, not made, but learned early in life that
man cannot live by poetry alone Handicapped
by i'll health. he struggled manfuly to provide
food and shelter for himself and family, anC
for opportunity to give expression to his poetic
genius That he had a business side to his
character shown by the success that at
tended his intermittent appearances in Wall
street as broker, for despite occasional re-
verses, due to those to whom he had entrusted
his affairs, he was generally successful, and
had he devoted his whole time and attention
to finance might have become J. P. Morgan.
But after accommodating few thousand dollars
from his brokerage business, lucky turn
in stocks, he would "take to the woods" for
rest and recreation, not forgetting his rod and
line, for he was an ardent disciple of 1zaak
Walton. Such periods of rest and relaxation
were necessary for his physical well-being and
laid aside. When business in Wall street fully
occupied his days, the evenings, or rather
nights, We're devoted to study or writing,
though often broken into by social engage
ments or visits from literary friends. AL
though successful in journalism he only did
newspaper work to aid a sometimes slender
purse, and a master of the English language,
he regarded his prose writings as drudgery.
Yet his literary essays won him instant recog
milton on both sides of the Atlantic, and his
victorian Poets and "Poets of America"
have given him an enduring place in litera-
cesses despite their meager financial returns,
were his occasional volumes of poems. He
was perhaps the most successful writer of
poems of occasion that this country has pro-
duced-rivaling in that respect Oliver Wendell
Holmes-and his verses addressed to his liter
their personal correspondence could hardly be
excelled. But he regarded these as trifles,
having ever in view more serious work.
That he enjoyed the companionship and
friendship Of the literary men and women of
his day goes without the saying. and especially
near and dear to him were Mr. and Mrs Rich
ard Henry Stoddard, Bayard Taylor and
Thomas Bailey Aldrich. His correspondence
with literary folks at home and abroad, and
his letters of advice and counsel to young au-
thors-to whom he was ever ready to lend a
helping hand-would alone have overtaxed
the average business or literary man; and
Stedman was both. When, after looking for
ward for manysyears to going abroad, he was
able to cross the Atlantic he received a warm
welcome from the most noted authors of the
mother country and his letters of introduction
were not needed.
The writer was specially interested in Sted-
mans early life and in his early associates in
New York city. On leaving college-he did
not graduate from Yale because of youth
full escapade. but later in life was given his de-
greene became the editor of the Norwich,
Conn, Tribune. This was in June, 1853. He
was then married, although he had not attained
his majority. Later, with partner he bought
the Mountain County Herald of Winsted,
Conn, and made good as a country editor, CIV
ing the paper distinctive literary value But
his mind was bent on greater things, and on
wider field, and going to New York city he en-
gagged in business, keeping, however, his liter
airy aims always in view. His poetic nature
naturally made him music lover and he was
regular attendant at the opera. Among the
singers of the day he speaks highly of Ma
dame Lagrange and Adelaide Phillips, the lat
ter Boston girl. This recalls to mind the
first opera the writer attended. The opera
was Lucretia Borgia, and it was given in the
Boston Theater in the early SOS. The prima
donna was Madame Lagrange, and the singing
of the drinking song by Adelaide Phillips
made great impression on her juvenile
hearer, who afterwards bought a copy of the
words and music with a colored picture of
Miss Phillips in costume in the title page, and
copied it in oils Mr.. Stedman also speaks of
Piccolomini, an Italian prima donna, whom the
writer heard in the winter of 1859 in New Or
leans in Don Pasouale,'' "Traviata" and
"Lucretia Borgia," and twice in concert Her
New Orleans engagement was not very sue
cessful as she came in Lent, when the creoles
do not attend the opera.
Among Mr.. Stedman's early acquaintance
in New York were T. B. Aldrich, Fitzhugh
Ludlow, N P. Willis George P Morris, Fitz-
James O'Brien, George Arnold, William Win
ter, Charles F. Brown ("Artemus Ward,")
Henry Clapp and others, frequenters of Pfaff's
basement saloon on Broadway, where they
smoked, drank beer and enjoyed themselves
socially. They were known as Bohemians and
Ada Clare, who joined in their revels, was the
Queen of Bohemia. Clapp was the publisher
of weekly paper. The Saturday Press. Will.
liam Winter an associate editor, and Ada Clare
and her fellow Bohemians, contributors. 1t
was brilliant paper of its day; but led hand
to mouth existence, as did, we may infer, some
of its contributors. The writer was reader
of the Saturday Press, and of the writings in
other publications of this group of Bohenians,
and even now they seem like acquaintance
who have passed on, although with but one can
a personal acquaintance be claimed, and that
was in later years. Ftzhugh Ludlow won liter
AIRY recognition by his Confessions of
Hasheesh Eater" and Fitz James O'Brien by
story, "The Diamond Lens" published in The
Atlantic Monthly. For at least fifty years his
poem, 1.-THE Legend of the Easter Eggs" went
the rounds of the press at Easter. O'Brien
was born in Limerick, Ireland, and educated at
the University of Duhlin After running