Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-28
Eugene Francis Bradford.

This was followed by the second
Commencement essay delivered by
Eugene Francis Bradford OF Bangor,
Who spoke upon "The Solaritariness of
Hawthorne. He said in part.
1Ninetg-ene years ago, in the sum
mer of 1921, stage-ooach left Port
land. bringing Nathaniel Hawthorne to
Bowdoin college. Uundergfaduate ae-
tivities were simple, and Hawthorne S
letters home and accounts left by his
contemporaries. show that he did not
Withhold himself from them. A letter
10 his mother written towards the
end of his Freshman year, confesses
that he had been fined 80 cents by
the administration of the College for
gambling fof a quart of wine. Yet in
spite of the amiability which his
mates have mentioned as charaeferis-
tic of him, he maintained a remark
able reserve and reticence. He usual
~ chose 70 read alone In the little Ii
brary oil the Atl1enacum Society, or
to go walking or fishing with his
friend Bridge-the only student whom
lie would allow to approach him inti-
mately As even then he cherished
literary ambitions, some association is
to be expected between him and Long
fellow. who WAS recognized as the lit
erarv light of his class: but there
seems to have been only very slight
acquaintance between them while at
Bowdoin.
Hawthornes mode of life during the
IL years which followed his gradlil-
ton served to deepen his intellectual
Il ~.
Of his Puritan ancestors in Salem and
shut himself up in his little Chamber
under the caves. Seventeen years aft
or his graduation Hawthorne married,
saHd went to live at the old Manse
ln Concord Here were passed the
fappiest yearsi Of his existence. In
Ills wife he found a sympathetic com
panion. and their love was complete.
she wor5hippea him, AMI rafned him
IN turn after every god and hero Of
classical mythology They dwelf
apart from tie resi- of humanity, each
sufficient unto The other: and law
t'ferne delighted in the fancy that
their life at the old Manse was like
thai OF Adam and Eve in the Gaftien
of Eden. Fortunately for HaN tharne,
circumstances would not permit him
10 live al the old Manse long enough
tp hpcame moss-gFown himself; for
POVERTY came. like the Angel OF the
Flaming sword to drive him out OF
his Garden OF Eden into the world
Some Of his old college mates, who
were high IN political circles, aow Sc
cured q position for him in the Gus.
tom house al Salem. For the frs
-, Ia ac-.lf u. sff.ss
. mans work ii a mans world, aud
from the FIRST the work was distas1e-
fui 10 him. He felt that it was stunt
ing him and he WAS soon yearning
fer his old. leisufeiy retirement. Free
dom was not long in coming. At the
next Presidential election his political
opponents trinmphed. and, as the
spells system was then in vogue,
Hawfhorne.s official head was chop
ped off. He immediately went 70 his
wife and told her the news of MS
dismissal Her reply was woman
like: "Oh. then you can write yonr
book" The book was The Scarlet
Letter the result of Hawthorne's re
turn from the world of affairs to the
world of the ina. ination. One cham
her there was in Hawthorne's mind
where burned the brightest lights,
and wfere the darkest shadows we're
cast. through his stories, as through
heavily cufgained windows. NJ MAY
catch a glimpse within; but she door
vas never unlocked 10 the aa7 Of id2
death Yet u that secluded ei' ifr5eG
Was i40rn The masterpiece OF . -ii,sfl =
can fction: AID the fame that HAN
thorne had sought after 50 long. came
as a result al that cursed habit ~
Solitude formed in Maine.