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。