第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Literary Boston As I Knew It",免费读到尾

  Theinteriorwasnoble,andtherewasanairofscholarlyquietandofletteredeleganceinthelibrary,wherethehostreceivedhisguests,whichseemedtopervadethewholehouse,andwhichmadeitsappealtotheimaginationofoneofthemmostpotently。Itseemedtomethattobemasterofsuchcircumstanceandkeepingwouldbeenoughoflifeinacertainway;anditalllingersinmymemoryyet,asifitwereonewiththegentlecourtesywhichwelcomedme。

  Amongmyfellow—guestsonenightwasGeorgeS。Hillard,nowafadedreputation,andeventhenalifedefeatedofthehighexpectationofitsyouth。Idonotknowwhetherhis’SixMonthsinItaly’stillkeepsitselfinprint;butitwasabookonceverywellknown;andhewasperhapsthemoregracioustome,asourhostwas,becauseofourcommonItalianbackground。HewasoftheoldSilver—grayWhigsocietytoo,andIsupposethatorderofthingsimparteditstonetowhatIfeltandsawinthatplace。Thecivilwarhadcomeandgone,andthatorderacceptedtheresultifnotwithfaith,thenwithpatience。ThereweretwoyoungEnglishnoblementherethatnight,whohadbeentravellingintheSouth,andwhosestoriesofthewretchedconditionstheyhadseenmovedourhosttosomeopenmisgiving。ButtheEnglishmenhadnoquestion;inspiteofall,theydefendedtheaccomplishedfact,andwhenIventuredtosaythatnowatleasttherecouldbeahopeofbetterthings,whiletheoldorderwasonlytheperpetuationofdespair,hemildlyassented,withagestureofthehandthatwaivedthepoint,andadeeplysighed,\"Perhaps;

  perhaps。\"

  Hewasapresenceofgreatdignity,whichseemedtorecallthepastwithasteadfastallegiance,andyettorelaxitselftowardsthepresentinthewisdomoftheaccumulatedyears。Hiswholelifehadbeenpassedindevotiontopoliteliteratureandinthesocietyofthepoliteworld;andhewasatypeofscholarsuchasonlythecircumstancesofBostoncouldform。ThosecircumstancescouldaloneformsuchanothertypeasQuincy;

  andIwishIcouldhavefeltthenasIdonowtheadvantageofmeetingthemsocontemporaneously。

  VII。

  ThehistorianofSpanishliteraturewasanoldmannearereightythanseventywhenIsawhim,andIrecallofhimpersonallyhisdarktint,andthescholarlyrefinementofhisclean—shavenface,whichseemedtomeratherEnglishthanAmericanincharacter。HewasquiteexteriortotheAtlanticgroupofwriters,andhadnointerestinmeasoneofit。

  LiteraryBostonofthatdaywasnotasolidarity,asIsoonperceived;

  andIunderstoodthatitwasonlyinmyqualityofstrangerthatIsawthedifferentphasesofit。IshouldnotbejusttoavividphaseifI

  failedtospeakofMrs。JuliaWardHoweandtheimpulseofreformwhichshepersonified。IdidnotsympathizewiththisthensomuchasIdonow,butIcouldappreciateitontheintellectualside。Once,manyyearslater,IheardMrs。Howespeakinpublic,anditseemedtomethatshemadeoneofthebestspeechesIhadeverheard。Itgavemeforthefirsttimeanotionofwhatwomenmightdointhatsortiftheyenteredpubliclife;butwhenwemetinthoseearlierdaysIwasinterestedinherasperhapsourchiefpoetess。Ibelieveshedidnotcaremuchtospeakofliterature;shewasalertforothermeaningsinlife,andI

  rememberhowsheoncebroughttobookayouthfulmatronwhohadperhapsundulylamentedthehardshipsofhousekeeping,withthesharpdemand,\"Child,whereisyourreligion?\"Afterthemanyyearsofanacquaintancewhichhadnotnearlysomanymeetingsasyears,itwaspleasanttofindher,atthelatest,asstrenuousaseverforthefaithofworks,andaseagertoaidStepniakasJohnBrown。InherbeautifuloldageshesurvivesacertainliteraryimpulseofBoston,butastillhigherimpulseofBostonshewillnotsurvive,forthatwilllastwhilethecityendures。

  VIII。

  TheCambridgemenwerecuriouslyapartfromothersthatformedthegreatNewEnglandgroup,andwithwhominmyearlierignoranceIhadalwaysfanciedthemmingling。NowandthenImetDoctorHolmesatLongfellow’stable,butnotoftenerthannowandthen,andIneversawEmersoninCambridgeatallexceptatLongfellow’sfuneral。InmyfirstyearsontheAtlanticIsometimessawhim,whenhewouldaddressmesomegrave,ratherretrorsivecivilities,afterIhadbeennewlyintroducedtohim,asIhadalwaystobeontheseoccasions。Iformedthebeliefthathedidnotcareforme,eitherinmybeingordoing,andIamfarfromblaminghimforthat:onsuchpointstheremighteasilybetwoopinions,andIwasmyselfoftenofthemindIimaginedinhim。

  IfEmersonforgotme,itwasperhapsbecauseIwasnotofthosequalitiesofthingswhicheventhen,itwassaid,hecouldremembersomuchbetterthanthingsthemselves。InhislateryearsIsometimessawhimintheBostonstreetswithhisbeautifulfacedreamilyset,ashemovedlikeonetowhosevision\"Heavenopensinward,chasmsyawn,Vastimagesinglimmeringdawn,Halfshown,arebrokenandwithdrawn。\"

  Itisknownhowbeforetheendtheeclipsebecametotalandfrommomenttomomenttherecordinscribeduponhismindwaserased。SomeyearsbeforehediedIsatbetweenhimandMrs。RoseTerryCooke,atan’AtlanticBreakfast’whereitwaspartofmyeditorialfunctiontopreside。Whenhewasnotaskingmewhoshewas,IcouldhearhimaskingherwhoIwas。Hisgreatsoulworkedsoindependentlyofmemoryasweconceiveit,andsopowerfullyandessentially,thatonecouldnothelpwonderingif;afterall,ourpersonalcontinuity,ouridentityhereafter,wasnecessarilytrammeledupwithourenduringknowledgeofwhathappenshere。Hisremembranceabsolutelyceasedwithanevent,andyethischaracter,hispersonality,hisidentityfullypersisted。

  Idonotknow,whetherthethingsthatweprintedforEmersonafterhismemorybegantofailsoutterlyweretheworkofearlieryearsornot,butIknowthattheywereofhisbest。Therewerecertainpoemswhichcouldnothavebeenmoreelectly,moreexquisitelyhis,orfashionedwithakeenerandjusterself—criticism。Hisvisiontranscendedhistimesofarthatsomewhohavetiredthemselvesoutintryingtocatchupwithhimhavenowbeguntosaythathewasnoseeratall;butIdoubtiftheseformthelastcourtofappealinhiscase。Inmanner,hewasverygentle,likeallthosegreatNewEnglandmen,buthewascold,likemanyofthem,tothenew—comer,ortotheold—comerwhocamenewly。AsIhaveelsewhererecorded,IonceheardhimspeakcriticallyofHawthorne,andonceheexpressedhissurpriseatthelatefloweringbrilliancyofHolmes’sgiftintheAutocratpapersafterallhisfriendssupposedithadborneitsbestfruit。ButIrecallnomentionofLongfellow,orLowell,orWhittierfromhim。AtadinnerwherethetalkglanceduponWaltWhitmanheturnedtomeasperhapsrepresentingtheinterestposteritymighttakeinthematter,andreferredtoWhitman’spublicuseofhisprivatelywrittenpraiseassomethingaltogetherunexpected。Hedidnotdisownitorwithdrawit,butseemedtofeel(notindignantly)

  thattherehadbeenanabuseofit。

  IX。

  ThefirsttimeIsawWhittierwasinFields’sroomatthepublishingoffice,whereIhadcomeuponsomeeditorialerrandtomychief。Heintroducedmetothepoet:atall,sparefigureinblackofQuakercut,withakeen,clean—shavenface,blackhair,andvividblackeyes。Itwasjustafterhispoem,’SnowBound’,hadmadeitsgreatsuccess,inthemodestfashionofthosedays,andhadsoldnottwohundredthousandbuttwentythousand,andItriedtomakehimmycompliment。IcontrivedtosaythatIcouldnottellhimhowmuchIlikedit;andhereceivedtheinadequateexpressionofmyfeelingwithdoubtlessasmucheffusionashewouldhavemetsomethingmoreexplicitandabundant。Ifhehadjudgedfittotakemycontractoffmyhandsinanyway,IthinkhewouldhavebeenlessabletodosothananyofhisNewEnglandcontemporaries。

  Inhim,asIhavesuggested,theQuakercalmwasboundbythefrostyPuritanicair,andhewasdoublycoldtothetouchofthestranger,thoughhewouldthawouttooldfriends,andsparkleinlaughandjoke。

  Imyselfnevergotsofarwithhimastoexperiencethisgeniality,thoughafterwardswebecamesuchfriendsasanoldmanandayoungmancouldbewhorarelymet。Ourbetteracquaintancebeganwithsometalk,atasecondmeeting,aboutBayardTaylor’s’StoryofKennett’,whichhadthenlatelyappeared,andwhichhepraisedforitsfidelitytoQuakercharacterinitslessamiableaspects。NodoubtIhadmademuchofmyownQuakerdescent(whichIfeltwasoneofthefewthingsIhadtobeproudof),andhethereforespokethemorefranklyofthosetraitsofbrutalityintowhichtheprimitivesincerityofthesectsometimesdegenerated。Hethoughtthehabitofplain—speakinghadtobejealouslyguardedtokeepitfrombecomingrude—speaking,andhematchedwithstoriesofhisownsomethingsIhadheardmyfathertellofFriendsinthebackwoodswhowereFoestogoodmanners。

  Whittierwasoneofthemostgenerousofmentowardstheworkofothers,especiallytheworkofanewman,andifIdidanythingthatheliked,Icouldcountuponhimforcordialrecognition。InthequietofhiscountryhomeatDanversheapparentlyreadallthemagazines,andkepthimselffullyabreastoftheliterarymovement,butIdoubtifhesofullyappreciatedtheimportanceofthesocialmovement。Likesomeothersofthegreatanti—slaverymen,heseemedtoimaginethatmankindhadwonitselfaclearfieldbydestroyingchattelslavery,andhehad。

  nosympathywiththosewhothinkthatthemanwhomayanymomentbeoutofworkisindustriallyaslave。Thisisnotstrange;sofewmenlastoverfromonereformtoanotherthatthewonderisthatanyshould,notthatoneshouldnot。Whittierwasprophetforonegreatneedofthedivinetoman,andhespokehismessagewithafervorthatattimeswaslikethetremblingofaflame,orthequiveringofmidsummersunshine。

  Itwashardtoassociatewiththemanasonesawhim,still,shy,stiff,thepassionofhisverse。Thisimbuednotonlyhisantislaveryutterances,butequallyhisballadsoftheoldwitchandQuakerpersecution,andflashedafarlightintothedimnesswherehisinterrogationsofMysterypierced。WhateverdoubttherecanbeofthefateofotherNewEnglandpoetsinthegreatandfinalaccount,itseemstomethatcertainofthesepiecesmakehisplacesecure。

  Thereisgreatinequalityinhiswork,andIfeltthissostronglythatwhenIcametohavefullchargeoftheMagazine,Iventuredoncetodistinguish。Hesentmeapoem,andIhadthetemeritytoreturnit,andbeghimforsomethingelse。Hemagnanimouslyrefrainedfromallshowofoffence,andafterawhile,whenhehadprintedthepoemelsewhere,hegavemeanother。Bythistime,IperceivedthatIhadbeenwrong,notastothepoemreturned,butastomyfunctionregardinghimandsuchashe。Ihadmademyreflections,andneveragaindidIventuretopassuponwhatcontributorsofhisqualitysentme。Itookitandprintedit,andpraisedthegods;,andevennowIthinkthatwithsuchmenitwasnotmydutytoplaythecensorintheperiodicalwhichtheyhadmadewhatitwas。TheyhadsetitinauthorityoverAmericanliterature,anditwasnotformetoputmyselfinauthorityoverthem。Theirfamewasintheirownkeeping,anditwasnotmyparttoguarditagainstthem。

  AfterthatexperienceInotonlypractisedaneageracquiescenceintheirwishtoreachthepublicthroughtheAtlantic,butIusedallthedelicacyIwasmasterofinbowingthewaytothem。Sometimesmyutmostdidnotavail,ormorestrictlyspeakingitdidnotavailinoneinstancewithEmerson。Hehadgivenmeuponmuchentreatyapoemwhichwasoneofhisgreatestandbest,buttheproof—readerfoundanominativeatoddswithitsverb。Wehadsometroubleinreconcilingthem,andsomeotherdelays,andmeanwhileDoctorHolmesofferedmeapoemforthesamenumber。InowdoubtedwhetherIshouldgetEmerson’spoembackintimeforit,butunluckilytheproofdidcomebackintime,andthenIhadtochoosebetweenmypoets,oracquaintthemwiththestateofthecase,andletthemchoosewhatIshoulddo。IreallyfeltthatDoctorHolmeshadtherighttoprecedence,sinceEmersonhadwithheldhisproofsolongthatIcouldnotcountuponit;butIwrotetoEmerson,andasked(asnearlyasIcanremember)whetherhewouldconsenttoletmeputhispoemovertothenextnumber,orwouldprefertohaveitappearinthesamenumberwithDoctorHolmes’s;thesubjectswerecognate,andIhadmymisgivings。Hewrotemebackto\"returntheproofsandbreakuptheforms。\"Icouldnotgotothisiconoclasticextremewiththeelectrotypesofthemagazine,butIcouldreturntheproofs。Ididso,feelingthatIhaddonemypossible,andsilentlygrievingthattherecouldbesuchireinheavenlyminds。

  X。

  Emerson,asIsay,IhadoncemetinCambridge,butWhittiernever;

  andIhaveafeelingthatpoetasCambridgefelthimtobe,shehadherreservationsconcerninghim。Icannotputtheseintowordswhichwouldnotoversaythem,buttheywereakintothoseshemighthaverefineduponinregardtoMrs。Stowe。NeitherofthesegreatwriterswouldhaveappearedtoCambridgeofthelastliteraryquality;theirfamewaswithaworldtoovasttobethe,testthatherown\"Oneentireandperfectcrysolite\"

  wouldhaveformed。Whittierinfacthadnotarrivedattheclearsplendorofhislaterworkwithoutsomeearlierturbidity;hewasstillfromtimetotimecapableofafalserhyme,likemornanddawn。Asfortheauthorof’UncleTom’sCabin’hersyntaxwassuchasnaretoherthatitsometimesneededthecombinedskillofalltheproof—readersandtheassistanteditortoextricateher。Ofcourse,nothingwaseverwrittenintoherwork,butinchangesofdiction,incorrectionofsolecisms,intranspositionofphrases,thetextwaslargelyrewrittenonthemarginofherproofs。Thesoulofherartwaspresent,buttheformwassooftenabsent,thatwhenitwasclothedonanew,itwouldhavebeenhardtosaywhosecutthegarmentwasofinmanyplaces。Infact,theproof—readingofthe’AtlanticMonthly’wassomethingalmostfearfullyscrupulousandperfect。Theproofswerefirstreadbytheunderproof—readerintheprinting—office;thentheheadreaderpassedthemtomeperfectlycleanastotypography,withhisownabundantandmostintelligentcommentsontheliterature;andthenIreadthem,makingwhatchangesIchose,andverifyingeveryquotation,everydate,everygeographicalandbiographicalname,everyforeignwordtothelastaccent,everytechnicalandscientificterm。Whereitwaspossibleoratalldesirabletheproofwasnextsubmittedtotheauthor。Whenitcamebacktome,Irevisedit,acceptingorrejectingtheauthor’sjudgmentaccordingashewasentitledbyhisabilityandknowledgeornottohavethem。Theproofnowwenttotheprintersforcorrection;theysentitagaintotheheadreader,whocarefullyreviseditandreturneditagaintome。Ireaditasecondtime,anditwasagaincorrected。Afterthisitwasrevisedintheofficeandsenttothestereotyper,fromwhomitcametotheheadreaderforalastrevisionintheplates。

  ItwouldnotdotosayhowmanyofthefirstAmericanwritersowedtheircorrectnessinprinttothezealofourproof—reading,butImaysaythattherewereveryfewwhodidnotowesomething。Thewisestandablestwerethemostpatientandgrateful,likeMrs。Stowe,undercorrection;

  itwasonlythebeginnersandthemoreignorantwhowereangry;andalmostalwaystheproof—readingeditorhadhiswayondisputedpoints。

  Ilookbacknow,withrespectfulamazementatmyproficiencyindetectingtheerrorsofthegreataswellasthelittle。IwasabletodiscovermistakesevenintheclassicalquotationsofthedeeplyletteredSumner,andIremember,intheearliestyearsofmyserviceontheAtlantic,waitinginthisstatesman’sstudyamidsttheprintsandengravingsthatattestedhispersonalresemblancetoEdmundBurke,withhisproofsinmyhandandmyheartinmymouth,tosubmitmydoubtsofhisLatinity。I

  forgethowhereceivedthem;buthewasnotaverygraciousperson。

  Mrs。Stowewasagraciousperson,andcarriedintoagetheinalienablecharmofawomanwhomusthavebeenvery,charmingearlier。ImetheronlyattheFieldses’inBoston,whereonenightIwitnessedacontroversybetweenherandDoctorHolmesconcerninghomoeopathyandallopathywhichlastedwellthroughdinner。Afterthislapseoftime,Icannottellhowtheaffairended,butIfeelsureofthelikingwithwhichMrs。Stoweinspiredme。There,wassomethingverysimple,verymotherlyinher,andsomethingdivinelysincere。Shewasquitethepersontotake’augrandserieux’themonstrousimaginationsofLadyByron’sjealousyandtofeelitonherconsciencetomakepublicreportofthemwhensheconceivedthatthetimehadcometodoso。

  InFrancisParkmanIknewmuchlaterthaninsomeothersadifferentiationoftheNewEnglandtypewhichwasnotlesscharacteristic。He,likesomanyotherBostonmenofletters,wasofpatricianfamily,andofthoseeasyfortuneswhichClioprefershersonstobeof;buthepaidfortheseadvantagesbythesufferinginwhichhewroughtatwhatis,Isuppose,ourgreatesthistory。Hewroughtatitpiecemeal,andsometimesonlybymoments,whentheterribleheadacheswhichtormentedhim,andthedisorderoftheheartwhichthreatenedhislife,allowedhimabriefrespiteforthetaskwhichwasdeartohim。

  Hemusthavebeenmorethanaquarterofacenturyincompletingit,andinthistime,asheoncetoldme,ithadgivenhimaday—laborer’swages;

  butofcoursemoneywastheleastreturnhewishedfromit。Ireadtheregularlysuccessivevolumesof’TheJesuitsinNorthAmerica,TheOldRegimeinCanada’,the’WolfeandMontcalm’,andtheothersthatwenttomakeupthewholehistorywithasufficientlynoisyenthusiasm,andouracquaintancebeganbyhisexpressinghisgratificationwiththepraisesofthemthatIhadputinprint。Weenteredintorelationsascontributorandeditor,andIknowthathewaspleasedwithmyeagernesstogetasmanydetachablechaptersfromthebookinhandashecouldgivemeforthemagazine,buthewasoftoofineapolitenesstomakethistheoccasionofhisfirstcomingtoseeme。HehadwalkedouttoCambridge,whereIthenlived,inpursuanceofaregimenwhich,Ibelieve,finallybuiltuphishealth;thatitwasunsparing,IcantestifyfrommyownshareinoneofhisconstitutionalsinBoston,manyyearslater。

  Hisexperienceinlayingthegroundworkforhishistory,andhisresearchesinmakingitthorough,weresuchastohaveliberatedhimtotheknowledgeofothermannersandideals,butheremainedstrictlyaBostonian,andasimmutablyoftheBostonsocialandliteraryfaithasanyIknewinthatcapitalofaccomplishedfacts。HehadlivedlikeanIndianamongthewildWesterntribes;heconsortedwiththeCanadianarchaeologistsintheirmousingsamongthecolonialarchivesoftheirfallenstate;everyyearhewenttoQuebecorParistostudythehistoryofNewFranceintheoriginaldocuments;Europeansocietywasopentohimeverywhere;buthehadthoselimitationswhichInearlyalwaysfoundintheBostonmen,Irememberhistalkingtomeof’TheRiseofSilasLapham’,inasomewhattroubledanduncertainstrain,andinterpretinghisriseastheachievementofsocialrecognition,withoutmuchoratalllikingitormeforit。IdidnotthinkitmyparttopointoutthatI

  hadsupposedtherisetobeamoralone;andlaterIfellunderhiscondemnationforcertainhighcrimesandmisdemeanorsIhadbeenguiltyofagainstawell—knownidealinfiction。Theseinfactconstitutedlese—majestyofromanticism,whichseemedtobedisproportionatelydeartoamanwhowasinhisownwaytryingtotellthetruthofhumannatureasIwasinmine。Hisdispleasurespassed,however,andmylastmeetingwithourgreatesthistorian,asIthinkhim,wasofunalloyedfriendliness。HecametomeduringmyfinalyearinBostonfornothingapparentlybuttotellmeofhislikingforabookofminedescribingboy—lifeinSouthernOhioahalf—centuryago。Hewishedtotalkaboutmanypointsofthis,whichhefoundthesameashisownboylifeintheneighborhoodofBoston;andwecouldagreethatthelifeoftheAnglo—

  Saxonboywasprettymuchthesameeverywhere。Hehadhelpedhimselfintomyapartmentwithacrutch,butIdonotrememberhowhehadfallenlame。Itwastheendofhislongwalks,Ibelieve,andnotlongafterwardsIhadthegrieftoreadofhisdeath。Inoticedthatperhapsthroughhisenforcedquiet,hehadputonweight;hisfinefacewasfull;

  whereaswhenIfirstknewhimhewasalmostdelicatelythinoffigureandfeature。Hewasalwaysofadistinguishedpresence,andhisfacehadagreatdistinction。

  IthadnottheappealingcharmIfoundinthefaceofJamesParton,anotherhistorianIknewearlierinmyBostondays。Icannotsayhowmuchhisbooks,oncesoworthilypopular,arenowknownbutIhaveanabidingsenseoftheirexcellence。Ihavenotreadthe’LifeofVoltaire’,whichwasthelast,butalltherest,fromthefirst,Ihaveread,andiftherearebetterAmericanbiographiesthanthoseofFranklinorofJefferson,Icouldnotsaywheretofindthem。TheGreeleyandtheBurrwereyoungerbooks,andsowastheJackson,andtheywerenotnearlysogood;buttoalltheauthorhadimpartedthevaluablehumanityinwhichheabounded。Hewasneverofthefineworldofliterature,theworldthatsniffsandsneers,andabashesthesimpler—heartedreader。

  Buthewasatrueartist,andEnglishbornashewas,hedivinedAmericancharacterasfewAmericanshavedone。Hewasamanofeminentcourage,andinthedayswhentobeanagnosticwastobealmostanoutcast,hehadthehearttosayoftheMysteries,thathedidnotknow。Heoutlivedthecondemnationthatthisbrought,andIthinkthatnomanevercamenearhimwithoutinsomemeasurelovinghim。Tomehewasofamostwinningpersonality,whichhisstrong,gentlefaceexpressed,andacastintheeyewhichhecouldnotbringtobeardirectlyuponhisvis—a—vis,endeared。Inevermethimwithoutwishingmoreofhiscompany,forheseldomfailedtosaysomethingtowhateverwasmosthumaneandmostmoderninme。OurlastmeetingwasatNewburyport,whitherhehadlongbeforeremovedfromNewYork,andwhereinthesereneatmosphereoftheancientPuritantownhefoundleisureandinspirationforhiswork。

  Hewasnotthenengageduponanyconsiderabletask,andhehadagedandbrokensomewhat。Buttheoldgeniality,theoldwarmthglowedinhim,andmadeasummeramidstthestormofsnowthatblindedthewintryairwithout。Anewlighthadthenlatelycomeintomylife,bywhichIsawallthingsthatdidnotsomehowtellforhumanbrotherhooddwarfishandugly,andhelistened,asIimagined,towhatIhadtosaywiththetolerantsympathyofamanwhohasbeenalongtimethinkingthosethings,andviewswithacertainamusementthezealofthefreshdiscoverer。

  TherewasyetanotherhistorianinBoston,whoseacquaintanceImadelaterthaneitherParkman’sorParton’s,andwhoseveryrecentdeathleavesmewiththegriefofafriend。Noonesindeed,couldmeetJohnCodmanRopeswithoutwishingtobehisfriend,orwithoutfindingafriendinhim。Hehadhislikesandhisdislikes,buthecouldhavehadnoenmitiesexceptforevilandmeanness。Ineverknewamanofhighersoul,ofsweeternature,andhiswholelifewasamonumentofcharacter。

  Itcannotwoundhimnowtospeakofthecrueldeformitywhichcameuponhiminhisboyhood,andhauntedallhisafterdayswithsuffering。Hisgentlefaceshowedthepainwhichisalwaysthepartofthehunchback,butnothingelseinhimconfessedasenseofhisaffliction,andtheresoluteactivityofhisminddenieditineveryway。Hewas,asiswellknown,averyablelawyer,infullpractice,whilehewasmakinghisstudiesofmilitaryhistory,andwinningrecognitionforalmostuniqueinsightandthoroughnessinthatdirection,thoughIbelievethatwhenhecametoembodytheresultsinthoseextraordinaryvolumesrecordingthebattlesofourcivilwar,heretiredfromthelawinsomemeasure。Heknewthesebattlesmoreaccuratelythanthegeneralswhofoughtthem,andhewasofalikeproficiencyintheEuropeanwarsfromthetimeofNapoleondowntoourowntime。Ihaveheardastory,whichIcannotvouchfor,thatwhenforeknowledgeofhisafliiction,attheoutbreakofourcivilwar,forbadehimtobeasoldier,hebecameastudentofsoldiership,andwreakedinthatsortthepassionofhismostgallantspirit。Butwhetherthiswastrueornot,itiscertainthathepursuedthestudywithadevotionwhichneverblindedhimtotheatrocityofwar。

  Somewarshecouldexcuseandevenjustify,butforanywarthatseemedwantonoraggressive,hehadonlyabhorrence。

  ThelastsummerofascorethatIhadknownhim,wesatontheverandaofhiscottageatYorkHarbor,andlookedoutoverthemoonlitsea,andhetalkedofthehighandtruethings,withtheinextinguishablezestfortheinquirywhichIalwaysfoundinhim,thoughhewasthenfeelingtheapproachesofthemaladywhichwassosoontoendallgropingintheseshadowsforhim。Hemusthavefacedthefactwiththesamecourageandthesametrustwithwhichhefacedallfacts。FromthefirstIfoundhimadeeplyreligiousman,notonlyintheecclesiasticalsense,butinthemoremysticalmeaningsoftheword,andhekepthisfaithashekepthisyouthtothelast。Everyonewhoknewhim,knowshowyounghewasinheart,andhowhelikedtohavethosethatwereyounginyearsabouthim。

  HewishedtohavehishouseinBoston,aswellashiscottageatYork,fullofyoungmenandyounggirls,whosejoyoflifehemadehisown,andwhosesocietyhepreferredtohiscontemporaries’。Onecouldnotblamehimforthat,orforseekingthesun,whereverhecould,butitwouldbeafalsenotionofhimtosupposethathissympathiesweresolelyorchieflywiththehappy。Ineverysort,asIknewhim,hewasfineandgood。Thewordisnotworthyofhim,aftersomeofitsusesandassociations,butifitwereunsmutchedbythese,andwhitenedtoitsprimitivesignificance,IshouldsayhewasoneofthemostperfectgentlemenIeverknew。

点击下载App,搜索"Literary Boston As I Knew It",免费读到尾