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literary history； and set you apart with him for the moment from the poor
and mean。 When he appeared in Harvard Square； he beatified if not
beautified the ugliest and vulgarest looking spot on the planet outside
of New York。 You could meet him sometimes at the market； if you were of
the same provision…man as he； and Longfellow remained as constant to his
tradespeople as to any other friends。 He rather liked to bring his
proofs back to the printer's himself； and we often found ourselves
together at the University Press； where the Atlantic Monthly used to be
printed。 But outside of his own house Longfellow seemed to want a fit
atmosphere； and I love best to think of him in his study； where he
wrought at his lovely art with a serenity expressed in his smooth；
regular； and scrupulously perfect handwriting。 It was quite vertical；
and rounded； with a slope neither to the right nor left； and at the time
I knew him first； he was fond of using a soft pencil on printing paper；
though commonly he wrote with a quill。 Each letter was distinct in
shape； and between the verses was always the exact space of half an inch。
I have a good many of his poems written in this fashion； but whether they
were the first drafts or not I cannot say； very likely not。 Towards the
last he no longer sent his poems to the magazines in his own hand； but
they were always signed in autograph。
I once asked him if he were not a great deal interrupted； and he said；
with a faint sigh； Not more than was good for him； he fancied； if it were
not for the interruptions； he might overwork。 He was not a friend to
stated exercise； I believe； nor fond of walking； as Lowell was； he had
not； indeed； the childish associations of the younger poet with the
Cambridge neighborhoods； and I never saw him walking for pleasure except
on the east veranda of his house； though I was told he loved walking in
his youth。 In this and in some other things Longfellow was more European
than American； more Latin than Saxon。 He once said quaintly that one got
a great deal of exercise in putting on and off one's overcoat and
overshoes。
I suppose no one who asked decently at his door was denied access to him；
and there must have been times when he was overrun with volunteer
visitors； but I never heard him complain of them。 He was very charitable
in the immediate sort which Christ seems to have meant； but he had his
preferences； humorously owned； among beggars。 He liked the German
beggars least； and the Italian beggars most； as having most savair…faire；
in fact； we all loved the Italians in Cambridge。 He was pleased with the
accounts I could give him of the love and honor I had known for him in
Italy； and one day there came a letter from an Italian admirer； addressed
to 〃Mr。 Greatest Poet Longfellow；〃 which he said was the very most
amusing superscription he had ever seen。
It is known that the King of Italy offered Longfellow the cross of San
Lazzaro； which is the Italian literary decoration。 It came through the
good offices of my old acquaintance Professor Messadaglia； then a deputy
in the Italian Parliament； whom； for some reason I cannot remember； I had
put in correspondence with Longfellow。 The honor was wholly unexpected；
and it brought Longfellow a distress which was chiefly for the gentleman
who had procured him the impossible distinction。 He showed me the pretty
collar and cross； not； I think； without a natural pleasure in it。 No man
was ever less a bigot in things civil or religious than he； but he said；
firmly； 〃Of course； as a republican and a Protestant； I can't accept a
decoration from a Catholic prince。〃 His decision was from his
conscience； and I think that all Americans who think duly about it will
approve his decision。
VI。
Such honors as he could fitly permit himself he did not refuse； and I
recall what zest he had in his election to the Arcadian Academy； which
had made him a shepherd of its Roman Fold； with the title； as he said； of
〃Olimipico something。〃 But I fancy his sweetest pleasure in his vast
renown came from his popular recognition everywhere。 Few were the lands；
few the languages he was unknown to： he showed me a version of the 〃Psalm
of Life〃 in Chinese。 Apparently even the poor lost autograph…seeker was
not denied by his universal kindness； I know that he kept a store of
autographs ready written on small squares of paper for all who applied by
letter or in person； he said it was no trouble； but perhaps he was to be
excused for refusing the request of a lady for fifty autographs； which
she wished to offer as a novel attraction to her guests at a lunch party。
Foreigners of all kinds thronged upon him at their pleasure； apparently；
and with perfect impunity。 Sometimes he got a little fun； very； very
kindly； out of their excuses and reasons； and the Englishman who came to
see him because there were no ruins to visit in America was no fable； as
I can testify from the poet himself。 But he had no prejudice against
Englishmen； and even at a certain time when the coarse…handed British
criticism began to blame his delicate art for the universal acceptance of
his verse； and to try to sneer him into the rank of inferior poets； he
was without rancor for the clumsy misliking that he felt。 He could not
understand rudeness； he was too finely framed for that； he could know it
only as Swedenborg's most celestial angels perceived evil； as something
distressful； angular。 The ill…will that seemed nearly always to go with
adverse criticism made him distrust criticism； and the discomfort which
mistaken or blundering praise gives probably made him shy of all
criticism。 He said that in his early life as an author he used to seek
out and save all the notices of his poems； but in his latter days he read
only those that happened to fall in his way； these he cut out and amused
his leisure by putting together in scrapbooks。 He was reluctant to make
any criticism of other poets； I do not remember ever to have heard him
make one； and his writings show no trace of the literary dislikes or
contempts which we so often mistake in ourselves for righteous judgments。
No doubt he had his resentments； but he hushed them in his heart； which
he did not suffer them to embitter。 While Poe was writing of 〃Longfellow
and other Plagiarists；〃 Longfellow was helping to keep Poe alive by the
loans which always made themselves gifts in Poe's case。 He very； very
rarely spoke of himself at all； and almost never of the grievances which
he did not fail to share with all who live。
He was patient； as I said； of all things； and gentle beyond all mere
gentlemanliness。 But it would have been a great mistake to mistake his
mildness for softness。 It was most manly and firm； and of course it was
braced with the New England conscience he was born to。 If he did not
find it well to assert himself； he was prompt in behalf of his friends；
and one of tho fine things told of him was his resenting some censures of
Sumner at a dinner in Boston during the old pro…slavery times： he said to
the gentlemen present that Sumner was his friend； and he must leave their
company if they continued to assail him。
But he spoke almost as rarely of his friends as of himself。 He liked the
large； impersonal topics which could be dealt with on their human side；
and involved characters rather than individuals。 This was rather strange
in Cambridge； where we were apt to take our instances from the
environment。 It was not the only thing he was strange in there； he was
not to that manner born； he lacked the final intimacies which can come
only of birth and lifelong association； and which make the men of the
Boston breed seem exclusive when they least feel so； he was Longfellow to
the friends who were James； and Charles； and Wendell to one another。 He
and Hawthorne were classmates at college； but I never heard him mention
Hawthorne； I never heard him mention Whittier or Emerson。 I think his
reticence about his contemporaries was largely due to his reluctance from
criticism： he was the finest artist of them all； and if he praised he
must have praised with the reservations of an honest man。 Of younger
wr