Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-20
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL SPENT HONEYMOON
HERE IN u AT FOURTH N ARCH STREETS
Men of Letters Recall OH
Centenary of Poets Birth
He Brought Bride to This
City
One of His Manuscripts at
Drexel Institute - Orig
inal of "A June Idyll''
Presented by Childs

The centenary of the birth of James ,
Russell Lowell, American poet, essayist
and diplomat, which is now being OBJ
served in this city and throushout'the
country, has a particular significance
for Philadelphia.
For It was here, though comparatively
few know it, that Lowell brought his
young bride, and their honeymoon was
passed in lodgings at what was then 1877
Arch street.
This building Is still standing. at the
northeast corner Of Fourth and Arch
streets, n is now being used in small
manufacturing, scarcely a place of In
spiration for a poet at present.
Lowell was born 100 years g Sat
urday, the date also of Washington's
birth, and at this time Of the famous
poets centenary. literary men Of Phila-
delphia speak in praise of his attain
ments. one of these men, Prof. Felix
Schelling, of the department of English
at the University OF pennsylvania
knew Lowell. Speaking of his meeting
with the poet. in 1889, Professor Schell-
ing said today;
From the pictures l had seen of him
! expected a large, dark man, bat when
he came in L was looking at a light man,
rather slim, about five feet eight inches
tall. and. at this particular moment. with
rather watery eyes.
"As I. was a young man at that time
! looked upon him with awe. but l re-
member the impression he made upon
me with his genial, kindly and courteous
manner. I heard him tell several stories.
He was famous for his ability TO tell a
good story. He nae the knack of giving
a new and attractive turn to them.
Man OF Many Accomplishments
The thing that made Lowell stand
out among all his contemporaries was
that he was an all-around literary a
He was a poet, a s~atirist, an essayist
n political writer of philosophical inter
pretations and an able diplomat.
"He was the most brilliant and the
best ~satirist among American men OF
letters. His satirical power is revealed
in the famous Biglow papers dealing
with political questions, beginning a
the tim OF the Mexican War. His power
of criticism and satire showed him g
man of large affairs. The Biglow papers
represented a new departure in politi
cal criticism in America. l should say.
"As a poet alone, he is excelled by
Longfellow and Bryant. Much o
Lowelrs poetry was prompted by thu
conditions of the moment. AS an essay
list he was not as great as Emerson
But he was an all-around man a grea
literary man and a great diplomat. HI
was of the soil. He was very racy. HI
came from one of the two most distin
guished New England families. He wa
thoroughly American. He saw things II
a light which could be seen only by
man with our point of view. He was
thoroughly good American, a keen New
Highlander.
Lowell was a liberal. He was not
radical. Liberality is almost the chic
element in his writings. He reveals
charming wit and humor in the method
Of his treatment of political questions
He wrote about nature long before
nature became a fad with writer's. 1t II
Illustrated so clearly in his lovely book
My Study Windows
1T is interesting to note the grea
contrast in the ideals Of Lowell ant
Walt Whitman, Of Camden. Whitman
was a rebel. He was against conven
lions. lie fostered and followed % new
spirit. Lowell got the best out of TIT
old things. This is particularly show
- III Ills - ~ ~ NAAt ~
subjects which everybody had writer
about from a new angle.
"Lowell's appeal is universal, n h
should appeal to men today as much a
he appealed TO the mel of his owl
days. He has not been appreciated a
fully today as he was, but l think tn
celebration of the centenary Of hi
birth will cause the pendulum to swim
back again.
When a writer is largely controlle
in his works by the questions of the da
in which he lives, such as the politica
situation, he may become the creates
celebrity of his day. but he doesn
gain so much in after years. My ide
is that the able literary man is an abb
man along other lines. History prove
that the most cultivated men are ofte
the. best in dealing with the present a
we'll as the past. Lowell made a bri
liant record as ambassador TO 'Spai
and to England.
Ills greatest work is the Con
memoration ODE OF course, everybod
loves the Vision of Sir Launfal.' Anon
his best works are also 'My Study VIII
dows' and Among Ny Books"
Regarded Chosen Profession n Joke
Lowell was born in Cambridge, Mass
and was descended from Perclval Low
ell, of Bristol. England, who settled
Newbury. Mass, In 1899, and wac Il
progenitor of one of New England
most distinguished families.
At nineteen the poet was graduate
from Harvard. For the hex ten yea
he wavered in the choice of what We
supposed to be his life work, amor
business, medicine. the ministry and u
law. When he finally chose the la
for his profession he regarded It som
what in the nature of a joke.
Then came the great purpose in Il
life through love of the girl who b
came his wife. Her name was Mar
White. She is said to have been 9