byWilliamDeanHowells
Amongmyfellow—passengersonthetrainfromNewYorktoBoston，whenI
wenttobeginmyworktherein1866，astheassistanteditoroftheAtlanticMonthly，wasthelateSamuelBowles，oftheSpringfieldRepublican，whocreatedinasubordinatecityajournalofmetropolitanimportance。IhadmethiminVeniceseveralyearsearlier，whenhewassufferingfromthecruelinsomniawhichhadfollowedhisoverworkonthatnewspaper，andwhenhetoldmethathewassleepingscarcelymorethanonehouroutofthetwenty—four。Hiswornfaceattestedthemiserywhichthismusthavebeen，andwhichlastedinsomemeasurewhilehelived，thoughIbelievethatrestandtravelrelievedhiminhislateryears。
Hewasalwaysamanofcordialfriendliness，andhenowexpressedamostgratifyinginterestwhenItoldhimwhatIwasgoingtodoinBoston。
HegavehimselfthepleasureofdescantinguponthedramaticqualityofthefactthatayoungnewspapermanfromOhiowasabouttoshareinthedestiniesofthegreatliteraryperiodicalofNewEngland。
I。
Idonotthinkthatsuchafactwouldnowmovethefancyoftheliveliestnewspaperman，somuchhastheWestsincereturnedupontheEastinarefluentwaveofauthorship。ButthentheWestwasalmostanunknownqualityinourliteraryproblem；andinfacttherewasscarcelyanyliteratureoutsideofNewEngland。EventhiswasofNewEnglandorigin，foritwasalmostwhollytheworkofNewEnglandmenandwomeninthe\"splendidexile\"ofNewYork。TheAtlanticMonthly，whichwasdistinctivelyliterary，wasdistinctivelyaNewEnglandmagazine，thoughfromthefirstithadbeencharacterizedbywhatwasmorenational，whatwasmoreuniversal，intheNewEnglandtemperament。ItschiefcontributorsfornearlytwentyyearswereLongfellow，Lowell，Holmes，Whittier，Emerson，DoctorHale，ColonelHigginson，Mrs。Stowe，Whipple，RoseTerryCooke，Mrs。JuliaWardHowe，Mrs。PrescottSpofford，Mrs。
PhelpsWard，andotherNewEnglandwriterswhostilllivedinNewEngland，andlargelyintheregionofBoston。OccasionallytherecameapoemfromBryant，atNewYork，fromMr。Stedman，fromMr。StoddardandMrs。Stoddard，fromMr。Aldrich，andfromBayardTaylor。Butallthese，exceptthelast，werenotonlyofNewEnglandrace，butofNewEnglandbirth。IthinktherewasnocontributorfromtheSouthbutMr。M。D。
Conway，andasyettheWestscarcelycounted，thoughfouryoungpoetsfromOhio，whowerenotimmediatelyorremotelyofPuritanorigin，hadappearedinearlynumbers；AliceCary，livingwithhersisterinNewYork，hadwrittennowandthenfromthebeginning。Mr。JohnHaysolelyrepresentedIllinoisbyasinglepaper，andhewasofRhodeIslandstock。
ItwasaftermysettlementatBostonthatMarkTwain，ofMissouri，becameafigureofworld—widefameatHartford；andlongerafter，thatMr。BretHartemadethatprogressEastwardfromCaliforniawhichwastelegraphedalmostfromhourtohour，asifitweretheprogressofaprince。
MissConstanceF。Woolsonhadnotyetbeguntowrite。Mr。JamesWhitcombRiley，Mr。MauriceThompson，MissEdithThomas，OctaveThanet，Mr。CharlesWarrenStoddard，Mr。H。B。Fuller，Mrs。Catherwood，Mr。HamlinGarland，allwhomInameatrandomamongotherWesternwriters，werethenasunknownasMr。Cable，MissMurfree，Mrs。RivesChanler，MissGraceKing，Mr。JoelChandlerHarris，Mr。ThomasNelsonPage，intheSouth，whichtheybynomeansfullyrepresent。
TheeditorsoftheAtlantichadbeeneagerfromthebeginningtodiscoveranyoutlyingliterature；but，asIhavesaid，therewasinthosedaysverylittlegoodwritingdonebeyondthebordersofNewEngland。Ifthecaseisnowdifferent，andthebestknownamonglivingAmericanwritersarenolongerNew—Englanders，stillIdonotthinktheSouthandWesthaveyettrimmedthebalance；andthoughperhapsthenewswritersnowmorecommonlyappearinthosequarters，IshouldnotbesoverysurethattheyarenotstillcharacterizedbyNewEnglandidealsandexamples。
Ontheotherhand，Iamverysurethatinmyearlydaywewerecharacterizedbythem，andwishedtobeso；weevenfeltthatwefailedinsofarasweexpressedsomethingnativequiteinourownway。
TheliterarytheoriesweacceptedwereNewEnglandtheories，thecriticismwevaluedwasNewEnglandcriticism，or，morestrictlyspeaking，Bostontheories，Bostoncriticism。
OfthosemoreconstantcontributorstotheAtlanticwhomIhavementioned，itisofcourseknownthatLongfellowandLowelllivedinCambridge，EmersonatConcord，andWhittieratAmesbury。ColonelHigginsonwasstillandformanyyearsafterwardsatNewport；Mrs。StowewasthenatAndover；MissPrescottofNewburyporthadbecomeMrs。
Spofford，andwaspresentlyinBoston，whereherhusbandwasamemberoftheGeneralCourt；Mrs。PhelpsWard，asMissElizabethStuartPhelps，dweltinherfather’shouseatAndover。ThechiefoftheBostonianswereMrs。JuliaWardHowe，DoctorHolmes，andDoctorHale。YetBostonstoodforthewholeMassachusettsgroup，andMassachusetts，intheliteraryimpulse，meantNewEngland。Isupposewemustallallow，whetherweliketodosoornot，thattheimpulseseemsnowtohaveprettywellspentitself。CertainlythecityofBostonhasdistinctlywanedinliterature，thoughithaswaxedinwealthandpopulation。IdonotthinkthereareinBostonto—dayevensomanytalentswithaliterarycoloringinlaw，science，theology，andjournalismastherewereformerly；thoughIhavenobeliefthattheBostontalentsarefewerorfeeblerthanbefore。
IarrivedinBoston，however，whenalltalentshadmoreorlessaliterarycoloring，andwhenthegreatesttalentswereliterary。Theseexpressedwithripenedfulnessacivilizationconceivedinfaithandbroughtforthingoodworks；butthatmomentofmaturitywasthebeginningofadecadencewhichcouldonlyshowitselfmuchlater。NewEnglandhasceasedtobeanationinitself，anditwillperhapsneveragainhaveanythinglikeanationalliterature；butthatwassomethinglikeanationalliterature；anditwillprobablybecenturiesyetbeforethelifeofthewholecountry，theAmericanlifeasdistinguishedfromtheNewEnglandlife，shallhaveanythingsolikeanationalliterature。
ItwillbelongbeforeourlargerlifeinterpretsitselfinsuchimaginationasHawthorne’s，suchwisdomasEmerson’s，suchpoetryasLongfellow’s，suchprophecyasWhittier’s，suchwitandgraceasHolmes’s，suchhumorandhumanityasLowell’s。
Theliteratureofthosegreatmenwas，ifImaysuffermyselfthefigure，theSociniangraftofaCalviniststock。Theirfaith，initsvariedshades，wasUnitarian，buttheirartwasPuritan。Sofarasitwasimperfect——andgreatandbeautifulasitwas，Ithinkithaditsimperfections——itwasmarredbytheintenseethicismthatpervadedtheNewEnglandmindfortwohundredyears，andthatstillcharacterizesit。
Theyortheirfathershadbrokenawayfromorthodoxyinthegreatschismatthebeginningofthecentury，but，asiftheirheterodoxywereconscience—stricken，theystillhelplesslypointedthemoralinalltheydid；somepointeditmoredirectly，somelessdirectly；buttheyallpointedit。Ishouldbefarfromblamingthemfortheirethicalintention，thoughIthinktheyfelttheirvocationasprophetstoomuchfortheirgoodaspoets。Sometimestheysacrificedthesongtothesermon，thoughnotalways，nornearlyalways。Itwasinpoetryandinromancethattheyexcelled；inthenovel，sofarastheyattemptedit，theyfailed。IsaythiswiththenamesofalltheBostoniangroup，andthosetheyinfluenced，inmind，andwithafullsenseoftheirgreatness。
Itmaybeungracioustosaythattheyhaveleftnoheirstotheirpeculiargreatness；butitwouldbefoolishtosaythattheyleftanestatewheretheyhadnonetobequeath。OnecannottakeaccountofsuchafantasyasJudd’sMargaret。TheonlyNew—EnglanderwhohasattemptedthenovelonascaleproportionedtotheworkoftheNew—Englandersinphilosophy，inpoetry，inromance，isMr。DeForest，whoisofNewHaven，andnotofBoston。IdonotforgetthefictionsofDoctorHolmes，orthevividinventionsofDoctorHale，butIdonotcallthemnovels；andIdonotforgettheexquisitelyrealisticartofMissJewettorMissWilkins，whichisfreefromtheethicismofthegreatNewEnglandgroup，butwhichhashardlythenovelists’sscope。NewEngland，inHawthorne’swork，achievedsupremacyinromance；buttheromanceisalwaysanallegory，andthenovelisapictureinwhichthetruthtolifeissufferedtodoitsunsermonizedofficeforconduct；andNewEnglandyetlackshernovelist，becauseitwasherinstinctandherconscienceinfictiontobetruetoanidealofliferatherthantolifeitself。
Evenwhenwecometotheexceptionthatprovestherule，eventosuchasignalexceptionas’UncleTom’sCabin’，IthinkthatwhatIsayholdstrue。Thatisalmostthegreatestworkofimaginationthatwehaveproducedinprose，anditistheworkofaNewEnglandwoman，writingfromalltheinspirationsandtraditionsofNewEngland。ItislikebeggingthequestiontosaythatIdonotcallitanovel，however；butreally，isitanovel，inthesensethat’WarandPeace’isanovel，or’MadameFlaubert’，or’L’Assommoir’，or’PhineasFinn’，or’DonaPerfecta’，or’EstherWaters’，or’MartayMaria’，or’TheReturnoftheNative’，or’VirginSoil’，or’DavidGrieve’？Inacertainwayitisgreaterthananyoftheseexceptthefirst；butitschiefvirtue，oritsprimevirtue，isinitsaddresstotheconscience，andnotitsaddresstothetaste；totheethicalsense，nottheaestheticalsense。
Thisdoesnotquitesaythething，butitsuggestsit，andIshouldbesorryifitconveyedtoanyreaderasenseofslight；forIbelievenoonehasfeltmoredeeplythanmyselfthevalueofNewEnglandinliterature。ThecomparisonoftheliterarysituationatBostontotheliterarysituationatEdinburghinthetimesofthereviewershasneverseemedtomeaccurateoradequate，anditholdschieflyinthefactthatbothseemtobeofthepast。CertainlyNewYorkisyetnoLondoninliterature，andIthinkBostonwasoncevastlymorethanEdinburgheverwas，atleastinquality。TheScotchliteratureofthepalmydayswasnotwhollyScotch，andevenwhenitwasrootedinScotchsoilitfloweredintheairofanalienspeech。ButtheNewEnglandliteratureofthegreatdaywastheblossomofaNewEnglandroot；andthelanguagewhichtheBostonianswrotewasthenativeEnglishofscholarsfitlytheheirsofthosewhohadbroughtthelearningoftheuniversitiestoMassachusettsBaytwohundredyearsbefore，andwasofaspurealineageastheEnglishofthemother—country。
III。
TheliterarysituationwhichconfrontedmewhenIcametoBostonwas，then，asnativeascouldwellbe；andwhatevervalueImaybeabletogiveapersonalstudyofitwillbefromtheeffectitmadeuponmeasonestrangeineverythingbutsympathy。IwillnotpretendthatIsawitinitsentirety，andIhavenohopeofpresentinganythinglikeakinetoscopicimpressionofit。WhatIcandoistogivehereandthereaglimpseofit；andIshallwishthereadertokeepinmindthefactthatitwasina\"stateoftransition，\"aseverythingisalwaysandeverywhere。Itwasnosoonerrecognizablynativethanitceasedtobefullyso；andIbecameawitnessofitafterthechangehadbegun。ThepublishinghousewhichsolongembodiedNewEnglandliteraturewasalreadyattemptingenterprisesoutofthelineofitstraditions，andoneofthesehadbroughtMr。T。B。AldrichfromNewYork，afewweeksbeforeIarriveduponthesceneinthatdramaticqualitywhichIthinkneverimpressedanyonebutMr。Bowles。Mr。Aldrichwastheeditorof’EverySaturday’whenIcametobeassistanteditoroftheAtlanticMonthly。
Wewereofnearlythesameage，buthehadadistinctanddistinguishedpriorityofreputation，insomuchthatinmyWesternremotenessIhadalwaysrangedhimwithsucheldersandbettersofmineasHolmesandLowell，andneverimaginedhimtheblond，slightyouthIfoundhim，witheveryimaginablecharmofcontemporaneity。ItisnopartoftheofficewhichIhaveintendedfortheseslightandsufficientlywanderingglimpsesofthepasttoshowanywriterinhisfinalplace；andaboveallIdonotpresumetoassignanylivingmanhisrankorstation。ButI
shouldbefalsetomyowngratefulsenseofbeautyintheworkofthispoetifIdidnotatalltimesrecognizehisconstancytoanidealwhichhisnamestandsfor。Heisknowninseveralkinds，buttomythinkingheisbestinacertainnoblerkindofpoetry；aserioussortinwhichthethoughtholdshimabovethescrupulositiesofthearthelovesandhonorssomuch。Sometimesthefileslipsinhishold，asthefilemustandwill；itisbutaninstrumentatthebest；butthereisnomistouchinthehandthatlaysitselfuponthereader’sheartwiththepulseofthepoet’sheartquickandtrueinit。Therearesonnetsofhis，grave，andsimple，andlofty，whichIthinkofwiththeglowandthrillpossibleonlyfromverybeautifulpoetry，andwhichimpartsuchanemotionaswecanfeelonly\"WhenagreatthoughtstrikesalongthebrainAndflushesallthecheek。\"
WhenIhadthefortunetomeethimfirst，Isupposethatintheemployofthekindlyhousewewerebothsoeagertoserve，ourdignitieswereaboutthesame；forifthe’AtlanticMonthly’wasasomewhatprouderaffairthananeclecticweeklylike’EverySaturday’，hewassupremeinhisplace，andIwassubordinateinmine。Thehousewascareful，intheattitudeofitsseniorpartner，nottodistinguishbetweenus，andwewerenotslowtoperceivethetactusedinmanagingus；wehadourownjokeofit；wecomparednotestofindwhetherwewereequallyusedinthisthingorthat；andwepromptlysharedthefunofourdiscoverywithFieldshimself。
Wehadanotherimpartialfriend（nolessafriendofjoyinthelifewhichseemstohavebeenprettynearlyalljoy，asIlookbackuponit）
inthepartnerwhobecameafterwardstheheadofthehouse，andwhoforecastinhisboldenterprisesthechangefromaNewEnglandtoanAmericanliterarysituation。IntheendJamesR。Osgoodfailed，thoughallhisenterprisessucceeded。Theanomalyissad，butitisnotinfrequent。Theyweregreaterthanhispowersandhismeans，andbeforetheycouldreachtheirfullfruition，theyhadtobeenlargedtomenoflongerpurseandlongerpatience。Hewassingularlyfittedbothbyinstinctandbyeducationtobecomeagreatpublisher；andheearlyperceivedthatifaleadingAmericanhouseweretocontinueatBoston，itmustbehospitabletothetalentsofthewholecountry。Hefoundedhisfutureuponthosegenerouslines；buthewantedthequalitiesaswellastheresourcesforrearingthesuperstructure。Changesbegantofolloweachotherrapidlyafterhecameintocontrolofthehouse。Misfortunereducedthesizeandnumberofitsperiodicals。’TheYoungFolks’wassoldoutright，andthe’NorthAmericanReview’（longbeforeMr。RiceboughtitandcarriedittoNewYork）wascutdownone—half，sothatAldrichsaid，itlookedasifDestinyhadsatuponit。Hisownperiodical，’EverySaturday’，wasfirstenlargedtoastatelyquartoandillustrated；andthen，understressofthecalamitiesfollowingthegreatBostonfire，Itcollapsedtoitsformersize。Thenboththe’AtlanticMonthly’and’EverySaturday’weresoldawayfromtheiroldownership，and’EverySaturday’wassuppressedaltogether，andwetwoceasedtobeofthesameemploy。Therewassomesortofeveningrite（morefunerealthanfestive）thedayaftertheyweresold，andwefollowedOsgoodawayfromit，underthelamps。Weallknewthatitwashisnecessitythathadcausedhimtopartwiththeperiodicals；butheprofessedthatitwashispleasure，andhesaidhehadnotfeltsolight—heartedsincehewasaboy。Weaskedhim，Howcouldhefeelgaywhenhewasnolongerpayingusoursalaries，andhowcouldhejustifyittohisconscience？Helikedourmocking，andlimpedawayfromuswitharheumaticeasingofhisweightfromonefoottoanother:afigurepatheticnowthatithasgonethewaytodustydeath，anddeartomemorythroughbenefactionsunalloyedbyoneunkindness。
IV。
ButwhenIcametoBostonearlyin1866，the’AtlanticMonthly’and’Harper’s’thendividedourmagazineworldbetweenthem；the’NorthAmericanReview’，inthecontrolofLowellandProfessorNorton，hadentereduponanewlife；’EverySaturday’wasaninstantsuccessinthechargeofMr。Aldrich，whowasbytasteandtrainingoneofthebesteditors；and’OurYoungFolks’hadthefieldofjuvenileperiodicalliteraturetoitself。
ItwasunderthedirectionofMissLucyLarcomandofMr。J。T。
Trowbridge，whohadcomefromwesternNewYork，wherehewasborn，andmustbenotedasoneofthefirstreturnersfromthesettingtotherisingsun。HenaturalizedhimselfinBostoninhislaterboyhood，andhestillbreathesBostonair，wherehedwellsinthestreetcalledPleasant，ontheshoreofSpyPond，atArlington，andstillweavesthemagicwebofhissatisfyingstoriesforboys。HemergesintheirpopularitythefameofapoetwhichIdonotthinkwillalwayssufferthateclipse，forhispoemsshowhimtohavelookeddeeplyintotheheartofcommonhumanity，withatrueandtendersenseofit。
MissLarcomscarcelyseemedtochangefromdatetodateinthegenerationthatelapsedbetweenthetimeIfirstsawherandthetimeIsawherlast，ayearortwobeforeherdeath。Agoodnesslookedoutofhercomelyface，whichmademethinkoftheMadonna’sinTitian’s\"Assumption，\"andherwholeaspectexpressedamildandfriendlyspiritwhichIfindithardtoputinwords。Shewasneverofthefineworldofliterature；shedweltwhereshewasborn，inthatunfashionableBeverlywhichisnotBeverlyFarms，andwasofasimple，sea—faring，God—fearingrace，asshehastoldinoneoftheloveliestautobiographiesIknow，\"ANewEnglandGirlhood。\"Shewastheauthorofmanypoems，whosenumbersheconstantlyenlarged，butshewaschiefly，andwillbemostlastingly，famedfortheonepoem，’HannahBindingShoes’，whichyearsbeforemydaysinBostonhadmadehersowidelyknown。Sheneveragainstrucksodeeporsotrueanote；butifonehaslodgedsuchanoteintheearoftime，itisenough；andifwearetospeakofeternity，onemightverywellholdupone’sheadinthefieldsofasphodel，ifonecouldsaytothegreatothersthere，\"IwroteHannahBindingShoes。\"Herpoemisvery，verysad，asallwhohavereaditwillremember；butMissLarcomherselfwasaboveeverythingcheerful，andshehadalaughofmellowrichnesswhichwillinglymadeitselfheard。ShewasnotonlyoftrueNewEnglandstock，andaBostonauthorbyrightofrace，butshecameuptothatcityeverywinterfromhernativetown。
Bythesamerightandonthesameterms，anotherNewEnglandpoetess，whomImetthosefirstdaysinBoston，wasaBostonauthor。WhenIsawCeliaThaxtershewasjustbeginningtomakehereffectwiththosepoemsandsketcheswhichtheseasingsandflashesthroughasitsingsandflashesaroundtheIslesofShoals，hersummerhome，wherehergirlhoodhadbeenpassedinafreedomaswildasthecurlew’s。Shewasamostbeautifulcreature，stillveryyoung，withaslenderfigure，andanexquisiteperfectionoffeature；shewasinpresencewhatherworkwas:
fine，frank，finished。Idonotknowwhetherotherwitnessesofourliteraryhistoryfeelthatthepublichasfailedtokeepherasfullyinmindasherworkmerited；butIdonotthinktherecanbeanydoubtbutourliteraturewouldbesensiblythepoorerwithoutherwork。Itisinterestingtorememberhowcloselyshekepttohernativefield，anditiswonderfultoconsiderhowrichlyshemadethosesea—beatenrockstoblossom。Somethingstrangelyfullandbrightcametoherversefromthemysticalenvironmentoftheocean，liketheluxuryofleafandtintthatitgavethenarrowerflower—plotsofhernativeisles。Hergift，indeed，couldnotsatisfyitselfwiththetermsofoneartalone，howevervaried，andshelearnedtoexpressincolorthethoughtsandfeelingsimpatientofthepallorofwords。
SheremainsinmymemoriesofthatfarBostonadistinctandvividpersonality；astheauthoressof’AmberGods’，and’InaCellar’，and’Circumstance’，andthoseotherwildromantictales，remainsthegentleandsomewhatevanescentpresenceIfoundher。MissPrescottwasnowMrs。
Spofford，andherhusbandwasarisingyoungpoliticianoftheday。ItwashisdutiesasmemberoftheGeneralCourtthathadbroughtthemupfromNewburyporttoBostonforthatfirstwinter；andIrememberthattheeveningwhenwemethewastalkingoftheirsometimegoingtoItalythatshemightstudyforimaginativeliteraturecertainItaliancitieshenamed。Ihavelongsinceceasedtoownthosecities，butatthemomentI
feltapangofexpropriationwhichIconcealedaswellasIcould；andnowIheartilywishshecouldhavefulfilledthatpurposeifitwasapurpose，orrealizedthatdreamifitwasonlyadream。Perhaps，however，thatsumptuousandglowingfancyofhers，whichhadtakenthefancyoftheyoungreadersofthatday，neededthecoldNewEnglandbackgroundtobringoutallitsintensitiesoftint，allitssplendorsoflight。Itseffectsweresuchascouldnotlast，orcouldnotbefartherevolved；theyweretheexpressionofyouthmusingawayfromitsenvironmentandsmittenwiththegloriesofaworldafarandbeyond，thegreatworld，thefineworld，theimpurpledworldofromanticmotivesandpassions。Butforwhattheywere，Icanneverthinkthemotherthanwhattheyappeared:theemanationsofararelygiftedandsingularlypoeticmind。IfeelbetterthanIcansayhownecessarilytheyweretheemanationsofaNewEnglandmind，andhowtothesubtlersensetheymustimpartthepathosofrevoltfromthecolorlessrigiditieswhicharethelongresultofpuritanisminthephysiognomyofNewEnglandlife。
Theirauthorafterwardsgaveherselftothestricterstudyofthislifeinmanytalesandsketcheswhichshowedanincreasingmastery；buttheycouldnothavetheflush，thesurprise，thedelightofayoungtalenttryingitselfinakindnativeand，sofarasIknow，peculiartoit。
FromtimetotimeIstillcomeuponapoemofherswhichrecallsthatearlierstrainofmusic，ofcolor，andIamcontenttotrustitformyabidingfaithinthecharmofthingsIhavenotreadforthirtyyears。
V。
Ispeakofthisoneandthat，asithappens，andwithnothoughtofgivingacompleteprospectofliteraryBostonthirtyyearsago。IamawarethatitwillseemsparselypeopledintheeffectIimpart，andI
wouldhavethereaderalwayskeepinmindthegreatfamesatCambridgeandatConcord，whichformedsolargeapartofthecelebrityofBoston。
Iwouldalsolikehimtothinkofitasstillagreattown，merely，whereeveryonekneweveryoneelse，andwhosemetropolitanliberationfromneighborhoodwasjustbegun。
MostdistinctlyofthatyetuncitifiedBostonwasthecriticEdwinP。
Whipple，whosesympathieswereindefinitelywiderthanhistraditions。
Hewasamostgenerousloverofallthatwasexcellentinliterature；andthoughIsupposeweshouldcallhimanold—fashionedcriticnow，I
suspectitwouldbewithnodistinctsenseofwhatisnewerfashioned。
Hewascertainlyasfriendlytowhatpromisedwellintheyoungermenashewastowhatwasdonewellintheirelders；andtherewasnoonewritinginhisdaywhosevirtuesfailedofhisrecognition，thoughitmighthappenthathisfoibleswouldescapeWhipple’scensure。Hewrotestrenuouslyandofcourseconscientiously；hispointofviewwassolelyandalwaysthatwhichenabledhimbesttodiscernqualities。Idoubtifhehadanytheoryofcriticismexcepttofindoutwhatwasgoodinanauthorandpraiseit；andheratherblamedwhatwasethicallybadthanwhatwasaestheticallybad。InthishewasstrictlyofNewEngland，andhewasofNewEnglandinacertaingeneralintelligence，whichconstantlygrewwithaninterrogativehabitofmind。
Helikedtotalktoyouofwhathehadfoundcharacteristicinyourwork，toanalyzeyoutoyourself；andtheverymodestyoftheman，whichmadesuchastudyimpersonalasfarashewasconcerned，sometimesrenderedhiminsensibletothesufferingsofhissubject。Hehadakeenperceptionofhumorinothers，buthehadverylittlehumor；hehadaloveofthebeautifulinliteraturewhichwasperhapssometimesgreaterthanhissenseofit。
Iwritefromacursoryacquaintancewithhiswork，notrecentlyrenewed。
OfthepresenceofthemanIhaveavividerremembrance:aslight，short，ecclesiasticizedfigureinblack；withawhiteneckclothandasilkhatofstrictdecorum，andbetweenthetwoasquarefacewithsquarefeatures，intensifiedintheirregardbyapairofverylargeglasses，andtheprominent，myopiceyesstaringthroughthem。Hewasatypeofout—datedNewEnglandscholarshipintheseaspects，butinthehospitablequalitiesofhismindandheart，thesortofmantobekeptfondlyinthememoryofallwhoeverknewhim。
Outofthevagueofthatfar—offtimeanotherfaceandfigure，asessentiallyNewEn&landasthis，andyetsodifferent，relievethemselves。CharlesF。Browne，whosedrollerywaftedhispseudonymasfarastheEnglishspeechcouldcarrylaughter，wasaWesternizedYankee。
HeaddedanOhiowayoftalkingtotheMainewayofthinking，andhesobecamealiteraryproductofararerandstrangersortthanourliteraturehadotherwiseknown。HehadgonefromClevelandtoLondon，withintervalsofNewYorkandthelectureplatform，fourorfiveyearsbeforeIsawhiminBoston，shortlyafterIwentthere。WehadmetinOhio，andhehadpersonallyexplainedtometheducatlesswell—meaningofVanityFairinNewYork；butmanymenhadsinceshakenthewearyhandofArtemusWardwhenIgraspeditonedayinfrontoftheTremontTemple。
Hedidnotrecognizeme，buthegavemeatonceagreetingofgreatimpersonalcordiality，with\"Howdoyoudo？Whendidyoucome？\"andotherquestionsthathadnoconcerninthem，tillIbegantodawnuponhimthroughacloudofotherhalfrememberedfaces。Thenheseizedmyhandandwrungitalloveragain，andrepeatedhisfriendlydemandswithanintonationthatwasnow\"Why，howareyou；howareyou？\"formealone。
Itwasabitofcomedy，whichhadthefitpatheticreliefofhisimpendingdoom:thiswasalreadystampeduponhiswastedface，andhisgayeyeshadthedeath—look。Hislarge，loosemouthwasdrawn，forallitslaughteratthefactwhichheowned；hisprofile，whichburlesqued。
aneagle’s，wastheprofileofadroopingeagle；hislanklengthoflimbtrembledawaywithhimwhenweparted。Ididnotseehimagain；
IscarcelyheardofhimtillIheardofhisdeath，andthissadimageremainswithmeofthehumoristwhofirstgavetheworldatasteofthehumorwhichcharacterizesthewholeAmericanpeople。
Iwasmeetingallkindsofdistinguishedpersons，inmyrelationtothemagazine，andearlythatwinterImetonewhoremainsinmymindaboveallothersapersonofdistinction。Hewasscarcelyacelebrity，butheembodiedcertainsocialtraitswhichweresocharacteristicofliteraryBostonthatitcouldnotbeapproachedwithouttheirrecognition。
TheMuseshaveoftenbeenacknowledgedtobeveryniceyoungpersons，butinBostontheywerereallyladies；inBostonliteraturewasofgoodfamilyandgoodsocietyinameasureithasneverbeenelsewhere。
ItmightbesaideventhatreformwasofgoodfamilyinBoston；
andliteratureandreformequallysharedtheregardofEdmundQuincy，whoseracewasoneofthemostaristocraticinNewEngland。Ihadknownhimbyhisnovelof’Wensley’（itcamesonearbeingafirst—ratenovel），andbyhisLifeofJosiahQuincy，thenanewbook，butstillbetterbyhisBostonletterstotheNewYorkTribune。Thesedealtfrankly，intheoldanti—slaverydaysbetween1850and1860，withotherpersonsofdistinctioninBoston，whodidnotseetherightsoclearlyasQuincydid，orwhoatleastlettheirinterestsdarkenthemtotheuglinessofslavery。Theirfaultwasallthemorecomicalbecauseitwastheerrorofmenotherwisesocorrect，ofcharacterssostainless，ofnaturessoupright；andtheQuincylettersgotoutofitallthefuntherewasinit。QuincyhimselfaffectedmeasthefinestpatriciantypeIhadevermet。Hewascharminglyhandsome，withanoseofmostfitaquilinity，smooth—shavenlips，\"educatedwhiskers，\"andperfectglasses；hismannerwasbeautiful，hisvoicedelightful，whenatourfirstmeetinghemademehisreproachesintermsoflovelykindnessforhavingusedinmy’VenetianLife’theBriticism’directly’for’assoonas。’
LowelloncetoldmethatQuincyhadneverhadanycallingorprofession，becausewhenhefoundhimselfintheenjoymentofamoderateincomeonleavingcollege，hedecidedtobesimplyagentleman。Hewastoomuchofamantobemerelythat，andhewasanabolitionist，ajournalist，andforconscience’sakeasatirist。OfthatpoliticalmoodofsocietywhichhesatirizedwasaneminentmanwhomitwasalsomygoodfortunetomeetinmyearlydaysinBoston；andifhisgreatsweetnessandkindnesshadnotinstantlywonmyliking，IshouldstillhavebeengladoftheglimpseoftheolderandstatelierBostonwhichmyslightacquaintancewithGeorgeTicknorgaveme。ThehistorianofSpanishliterature，thefriendandbiographerofPrescott，andaleadingfigureoftheintellectualsocietyofanepochalreadyclosed，dweltinthefineoldsquarebrickmansionwhichyetstandsatthecornerofParkStreetandBeacon，thoughsunknowtoavarietyofbusinessuses，andlamentablychangedinaspect。