byWilliamDeanHowellsElsewhereweliteraryfolkareapttobesuchacommonlot，withtendencieshereandtheretobeashabbylot；wearrivefromallsortsofunexpectedholesandcornersoftheearth，remote，obscure；andatthebestwedosooftencomeupoutoftheground；butatBostonwewereofascertainedandnotedorigin，andgoodpartofusdroppedfromtheskies。
Insteadofholdinghorsesbeforethedoorsoftheatres；orcappingversesattheplough—tail；ortrampingoverEuropewithnothingbutafluteinthepocket；orwalkinguptothemetropoliswithnoluggagebuttheMS。
ofatragedy；orsleepingindoorwaysorunderthearchesofbridges；orservingasapothecaries’’prentices——weweregoodsocietyfromthebeginning。Ithinkthiswasnonetheworseforus，anditwasvastlythebetterforgoodsociety。
LiteratureinBoston，indeed，wassorespectable，andoftenofsohighalineage，thattobeapoetwasnotonlytobegoodsociety，butalmosttobegoodfamily。IfonenamesoverthemenwhogaveBostonhersupremacyinliteratureduringthatUnitarianharvest—timeoftheoldPuritanicseed—timewhichwasherAugustanage，onenamesthepeoplewhowereandwhohadbeensociallyfirstinthecityeversincetheself—exileoftheToriesatthetimeoftheRevolution。TosayPrescott，Motley，Parkman，Lowell，Norton，Higginson，Dana，Emerson，Channing，wastosaypatrician，inthetruestandoftenthebestsense，ifnotthelargest。Bostonwassmall，butthesewereofherfirstcitizens，andtheirprimacy，initsway，wasofthesamequalityasthat，say，ofthechieffamiliesofVenice。Butthesenamescanneverhavetheeffectforthestrangerthattheyhadforonetothemannerborn。Isayhad，forIdoubtwhetherinBostontheystillmeanallthattheyoncemeant，andthattheirequivalentsmeantinscience，inlaw，inpolitics。Themostfamous，ifnotthegreatestofalltheliterarymenofBoston，Ihavenotmentionedwiththem，forLongfellowwasnotoftheplace，thoughbyhissympathiesandrelationshebecameofit；andIhavenotmentionedOliverWendellHolmes，becauseIthinkhisnamewouldcomefirstintothereader’sthoughtwiththesuggestionofsocialqualityinthehumanities。
HolmeswasoftheBrahminicalcastewhichhishumorousrecognitioninvitedfromitssubjectivityintheNewEnglandconsciousnessintothelightwhereallcouldknowitandownit，andlikeLongfellowhewasalliedtothepatriciateofBostonbythemostintimatetiesoflife。
Foralongtime，forthewholefirstperiodofhiswork，hestoodforthatalone，itstastes，itsprejudices，itsfoibleseven，andwhenhecametostandinhis’secondperiod，forvastly，forinfinitelymore，andtomakefriendswiththewholerace，asfewmenhaveeverdone，itwasalways，Ithink，withasecretshiverofdoubt，abackwardlookoflonging，andaneyeaskance。Hewashimselfperfectlyawareofthisattimes，andwouldmarkhisseveralmisgivingswithahumoroussenseofthesituation。Hewasessentiallytookindtobeofanarrowworld，toohumantobefinallyoflessthanhumanity，toogentletobeofthefinestgentility。ButsuchlimitationsashehadwereinthedirectionIhavehinted，orperhapsmorethanhinted；andIambynomeansreadytomakeamockofthem，asitwouldbesoeasytodoforsomereasonsthathehashimselfsuggested。TovaluearighttheaffectionwhichtheoldBostonianhadforBostononemustconceiveofsomethinglikethepatriotismofmeninthetimeswhenaman’scitywasaman’scountry，somethingAthenian，somethingFlorentine。Thewarthatnationalizedusliberatedthislovetothewholecountry，butitsfirsttendernessremainedstillforBoston，andIsupposeaBostonianstillthinksofhimselffirstasaBostonianandthenasanAmerican，inawaythatnoNew—Yorkercoulddealwithhimself。Therichhistoricalbackgrounddignifiesandennoblestheintensepublicspiritoftheplace，andgivesitakindofpersonality。
II。
InliteratureDoctorHolmessurvivedalltheBostonianswhohadgiventhecityherprimacyinletters，butwhenIfirstknewhimtherewasnoapparentgroundforquestioningit。IdonotmeannowthetimewhenI
visitedNewEngland，butwhenIcametolivenearBoston，andtobeginthemanyhappyyearswhichIspentinherfine，intellectualair。
Ifoundtimetoruninuponhim，whileIwastherearrangingtotakemyplaceontheAtlanticMonthly，andIrememberthatinthisbriefmomentwithhimhebroughtmetobookaboutsomevauntingparagraphinthe’Nation’claimingtheliteraryprimacyforNewYork。HeaskedmeifI
knewwhowroteit，andIwasobligedtoownthatIhadwrittenitmyself，whenwiththekindnesshealwaysshowedmeheprotestedagainstmyposition。Totellthetruth，IdonotthinknowIhadanyverygoodreasonsforit，andIcertainlycouldurgenonethatwouldstandagainsthis。IcouldonlyfallbackuponthesavingclausethatthisprimacywasclaimedmainlyifnotwhollyforNewYorkinthefuture。Hewaswillingtoleavemetheconnotationsofprophecy，butIthinkhedideventhisoutofpolitenessratherthanconviction，andIbelievehehadalwaysasensitivenesswhereBostonwasconcerned，whichcouldnotseemungeneroustoanygenerousmind。Whateverlingeringdoubtofmehemayhavehad，withreferencetoBoston，seemedtosatisfyitselfwhenseveralyearsafterwardshehappenedtospeakofacertaincharacterinanearlynovelofmine，whowasnotquitethekindofBostonianonecouldwishtobe。
Thethingcameupintalkwithanotherperson，whohadreferredtomyBostonian，andthedoctorhadapparentlymadehisacquaintanceinthebook，andnotlikedhim。"Iunderstood，ofcourse，"hesaid，"thathewasaBostonian，nottheBostonian，"andIcouldtruthfullyanswerthatthiswasbyallmeansmyownunderstandingtoo。
Hisfondnessforhiscity，whichnoonecouldappreciatebetterthanmyself，Ihope，oftenfoundexpressioninaburlesqueexcessinhiswritings，andinhistalkperhapsoftenerstill。HarduponmyreturnfromVeniceIhadahalf—hourwithhiminhisoldstudyonCharlesStreet，wherehestilllivedin1865，andwhileIwasthereayoungmancameinforthedoctor’shelpasaphysician，thoughhelookedsoverywell，andwassolivelyandcheerful，thatIhavesincehadmydoubtswhetherhehadnotmadeapretextforaglimpseofhimastheAutocrat。
Thedoctortookhimuponhisword，however，andsaidhehadbeensolongoutofpracticethathecouldnotdoanythingforhim，buthegavehimtheaddressofanotherphysician，somewherenearWashingtonStreet。
"Andifyoudon’tknowwhereWashingtonStreetis，"hesaid，withagayburstatacertainvaguenesswhichhadcomeintotheyoungman’sface，"youdon’tknowanything。"
WehadbeentalkingofVenice，andwhatlifewaslikethere，andhemademetellhiminsomedetail。HewasespeciallyinterestedinwhatIhadtosayoftheminutesubdivisionanddistributionofthenecessaries，thesmallcoins，andthesmallvaluesadaptedtotheirpurchase，theintenselyretailcharacter，infact，ofhouseholdprovisioning；
andIcouldseehowhepleasedhimselfinformulatingthetheorythatthehigheracivilizationthefinertheapportionmentofthedemandsandsupplies。Theideal，hesaid，wasacivilizationinwhichyoucouldbuytwocents’worthofbeef，andadivergencefromthisstandardwastowardsbarbarism。
Thesecretofthemanwhoisuniversallyinterestingisthatheisuniversallyinterested，andthiswas，aboveall，thesecretofthecharmthatDoctorHolmeshadforeveryone。Nodoubtheknewit，forwhatthatmostalertintelligencedidnotknowofitselfwasscarcelyworthknowing。Thisknowledgewasoneofhischiefpleasures，Ifancy；herejoicedintheconsciousnesswhichisoneofthehighestattributesofthehighlyorganizedman，andhedidnotcarefortheconsequencesinyourmind，ifyouweresostupidasnottotakehimaright。IrememberthedelightHenryJames，thefatherofthenovelist，hadinreportingtomethefranknessofthedoctor，whenhehadsaidtohim，"Holmes，youareintellectuallythemostalivemanIeverknew。""Iam，Iam，"saidthedoctor。"Fromthecrownofmyheadtothesoleofmyfoot，I’malive，I’malive！"Anyonewhoeversawhimwillimaginethevividrelishhehadinrecognizingthefact。Hecouldnotbewithyouamomentwithoutsheddinguponyouthelightofhisflashingwit，hisradianthumor，andheshoneequallyupontherichandpoorinmind。Hisgaietyofheartcouldnotwithholditselffromanychanceofresponse，buthedidwishalwaystobefullyunderstood，andtobelikedbythoseheliked。Hegavehislikingcautiously，though，fortheaffluenceofhissympathieslefthimwithoutthereservesofcoldernatures，andhehadtomakeupforthesewithcarefulcircumspection。Hewishedtoknowthecharacterofthepersonwhomadeoverturestohisacquaintance，forhewasawarethathisfriendshiplayclosetoit；hewantedtobesurethathewasaniceperson，andthoughIthinkhepreferredsocialqualityinhisfellow—man，hedidnotrefusehimselftothosewhohadmerelyasweetandwholesomehumanity。HedidnotlikeanythingthattastedorsmeltofBohemianisminthepersonnelofliterature，buthedidnotmindthescentofthenew—ploughedearth，orevenofthebarn—yard。Irecallhistellingmeoncethataftertwoyoungerbrothers—in—lettershadcalleduponhimintheodorofanhabitualbeerinessandsmokiness，heopenedthewindow；andtheverylasttimeIsawhimherememberedateighty—fivetheoffencehehadfoundonhisfirstvisittoNewYork，whenametropolitanpoethadaskedhimtolunchinabasementrestaurant。
III。
Heseemednottomind，however，climbingtothelittleapartmentwehadinBostonwhenwecametherein1866，andhemadethiscalluponusindueform，bringingMrs。Holmeswithhimasiftoaccenttherecognitionsocially。Wewerethenincrediblyyoung，muchyoungerthanIfindpeopleeverarenowadays，andintheconsciousnessofouryouthwefelt，tothelastexquisitevalueofthefact，whatitwastohavetheAutocratcometoseeus；andIbelievehewasnotdispleasedtoperceivethis；helikedtoknowthatyoufelthisqualityineveryway。Thatfirstwinter，however，Ididnotseehimoften，andinthespringwewenttoliveinCambridge，andthereafterImethimchieflyatLongfellow’s，orwhenI
cameintodineattheFieldses’，inBoston。ItwasatcertainmeetingsoftheDanteClub，whenLongfellowreadaloudhistranslationforcriticism，andtherewassupperlater，thatonesawthedoctor；andhisvoicewasheardatthesupperratherthanatthecriticism，forhewasnoItalianate。Healwaysseemedtolikeacertainturnofthetalktowardthemystical，butwithspaceforthefeetonafirmgroundoffactthissideoftheshadows；whenitcametogoingoveramongthem，andlayingholdofthemwiththebandoffaith，asiftheyweresubstance，hewasnotoftheexcursion。Itiswellknownhowfervent，Icannotsaydevout，aspiritualistLongfellow’sbrother—in—law，Appleton，was；andwhenhewasatthetabletoo，ittookallthepoet’sdelicateskilltokeephimandtheAutocratfrominvolvingthemselvesinacataclysmalcontroversyuponthematterofmanifestations。WithDoctorHolmestheinquirywasinquiry，tothelast，Ibelieve，andtheburdenofproofwaslefttotheghostsandtheirfriends。Hisattitudewasstrictlyscientific；hedeniednothing，butheexpectedthesupernaturaltobeatleastasconvincingasthenatural。
Therewasatimeinhishistorywhenthepopularignoranceclassedhimwiththosewhowereoncerudelycalledinfidels；buttheworldhassincegonesofastandsofarthatthemindhewasofconcerningreligiousbeliefwouldnowbethoughtreligiousbyagoodhalfofthereligiousworld。ItistruethathehadandalwayskeptagrudgeagainsttheancestralCalvinismwhichafflictedhisyouth；andhewasthroughallrisesandlapsesofopinionessentiallyUnitarian；butofthehonestbeliefofanyone，Iamsureheneverfeltorspokeotherwisethanmosttolerantly，mosttenderly。Asoftenashespokeofreligion，andhistalktendedtoitveryoften，Ineverheardanirreligiouswordfromhim，farlessascofforsneeratreligion；andIamcertainthatthiswasnotmerelybecausehewouldhavethoughtitbadtaste，thoughundoubtedlyhewouldhavethoughtitbadtaste；Ithinkitannoyed，ithurthim，tobecountedamongtheiconoclasts，andhewouldhavebeenprofoundlygrievedifhecouldhaveknownhowwidelythisfalsenotionofhimonceprevailed。ItcandonoharmatthislatedaytoimpartfromthesecretsofthepublishinghousethefactthatasupposedinfidelityinthetoneofhisstoryTheGuardianAngelcosttheAtlanticMonthlymanysubscribers。Nowthetoneofthatstorywouldnotbethoughtevenmildlyagnostic，Ifancy；andlongbeforehisdeaththeauthorhadoutlivedtheerrorconcerninghim。
Itwasnotthebestofhisstories，byanymeans，anditwouldnotbetooharshtosaythatitwasthepoorest。HisnovelsallbelongedtoanorderofromancewhichwasasdistinctlyhisownastheformofdramatizedessaywhichheinventedintheAutocrat。Ifhedidnotthinkpoorlyofthem，hecertainlydidnotthinktooproudly，andIheardhimquotewithrelishthephraseofaladywhohadspokenofthemtohimashis"medicatednovels。"That，indeed，wasperhapswhattheywere；afaint，faintodorofthepharmacopoeiaclungtotheirpages；theirmagicwasscientific。Heknewthisbetterthananyoneelse，ofcourse，andifanyonehadsaiditinhisturnhewouldhardlyhavemindedit。Butwhathedidmindwasthepersistentmisinterpretationofhisintentionincertainquarterswherehethoughthehadtherighttorespectfulcriticisminsteadofthesuccessionofsneersthatgreetedthesuccessivenumbersofhisstory；anditwasnosecretthathefeltthepersecutionkeenly。Perhapshethoughtthathehadalreadyreachedthattimeinhisliterarylifewhenhewasafactratherthanaquestion，andwhenreasonsandnotfeelingsmusthavetodowithhisacceptanceorrejection。Buthehadtolivemanyyearsyetbeforehereachedthisstate。Whenhedidreachit，happilyagoodwhilebeforehisdeath，Idonotbelieveanymaneverenjoyedthelikeconditionmore。Helovedtofeelhimselfoutofthefight，withmuchworkbeforehimstill，butwithnothingthatcouldprovokeill—willinhisactivities。Helovedatalltimestotakehimselfobjectively，ifImaysoexpressmysenseofamentalattitudethatmisledmany。AsIhavesaidbefore，hewasuniversallyinterested，andhestudiedtheuniversefromhimself。Idonotknowhowoneistostudyitotherwise；theimpersonalhasreallynoexistence；butwithallhissubtletyanddepthhewasofamakesosimple，ofaspiritsonaive，thathecouldnotpractisethefeintssomeusetoconcealthatinterestinselfwhich，afterall，everyoneknowsisonlyconcealed。Hefranklyandjoyouslymadehimselfthestarting—pointinallhisinquestoftheheartsandmindsofothermen，butsofarfromsinglinghimselfoutinthis，andstandingapartinit，thereneverwasanyonewhowasmoreeagerlyandgladlyyourfellow—beinginthethingsofthesoul。
IV。
Inthethingsoftheworld，hehadfences，andlookedatsomepeoplethroughpalingsandevenoverthebrokenbottlesonthetopsofwalls；
andIthinkhewastheloserbythis，aswellasthey。ButthenIthinkallfencesarebad，andthatGodhasmadeenoughdifferencesbetweenmen；
weneednottroubleourselvestomultiplythem。Evenbehindhisfences，however，Holmeshadaheartkindfortheoutsiders，andIdonotbelieveanyonecameintopersonalrelationswithhimwhodidnotexperiencethiskindness。InthatlonganddelightfultalkIhadwithhimonmyreturnfromVenice（Icanpraisethetalkbecauseitwasmainlyhis），wespokeofthestatusofdomesticsintheOldWorld，andhowfraternaltherelationofhighandlowwasinItaly，whileinEngland，betweenmasterandman，itseemedwithoutacknowledgmentoftheircommonhumanity。
"Yes，"hesaid，"IalwaysfeltasifEnglishservantsexpectedtobetrampledon；butIcan’tdothat。Iftheywanttobetrampledon，theymustgetsomeoneelse。"HethoughtthatourAmericanwaywasinfinitelybetter；andIbelievethatinspiteofthefencestherewasalwaysaninstinctiveimpulsewithhimtogetuponcommongroundwithhisfellow—
man。IusedtonoticeintheneighborhoodcabmanwhoservedourblockonBeaconStreetasortofaffectionatereverencefortheAutocrat，whichcouldhavecomefromnothingbutthekindlytermsbetweenthem；ifyouwenttohimwhenhewasengagedtoDoctorHolmes，hetoldyousowithasortofimplicationinhismannerthatthethoughtofanythingelseforthetimewasprofanation。ThegoodfellowwhotookhimhisdrivesabouttheBeverlyandManchestershoresseemedtobequiteinthejokeofthedoctor’shumor，andwithintheboundsofhispersonalmodestyandhisfunctionaldignitypermittedhimselfasmileatthedoctor’ssallies，whenyoustoodtalkingwithhim，orlisteningtohimatthecarriage—
side。
Thecivicandsocialcircumstancethatamanvalueshimselfoniscommonlynopartofhisvalue，andcertainlynopartofhisgreatness。
Rather，itistheverythingthatlimitshim，andIthinkthatDoctorHolmesappearedinthefullmeasureofhisgenerouspersonalitytothosewhodidnotandcouldnotappreciatehiscircumstance，andnottothosewhoformedit，andwhofromlife—longassociationweresodearandcomfortabletohim。Thosewhobestknewhowgreatamanhewaswerethosewhocamefromfartopayhimtheirduty，ortothankhimforsomehelptheyhadgotfromhisbooks，ortoaskhiscounselorseekhissympathy。Withallsuchhewasmostwinninglytender，mostintelligentlypatient。Isupposenogreatauthorwasevermorevisitedbyletterandinpersonthanhe，orkeptafaithfulerconscienceforhisguests。Withthosewhoappearedtohiminthefleshheusedamiraculoustact，andI
fancyinhistreatmentofallthephysiciannativeinhimboreacharacteristicpart。Nooneseemedtobedeniedaccesstohim，butitwasafteramomentofpreparationthatonewasadmitted，andanyonewhowasatallsensitivemusthavefeltfromthefirstmomentinhispresencethattherecouldbenotrespassinginpointoftime。Ifnowandthensomeinsensitivebegantotrespass，therewasasliding—scaleofdismissalthatneverfailedofitswork，andthatreallysavedtheauthorfromtheeffectofintrusion。Hewasnotboredbecausehewouldnotbe。
Itransferatrandomtheimpressionsofmanyyearstomypage，andI
shallnottrytoobserveachronologicalorderinthesememories。VividamongthemisthatofavisitwhichIpaidhimwithOsgoodthepublisher，thennewlytheowneroftheAtlanticMonthly，whenIhadnewlybecomethesoleeditor。Wewishedtosignalizeouraccessiontothecontrolofthemagazinebyastrokethatshouldtellmostinthepubliceye，andwethoughtofaskingDoctorHolmestodosomethingagaininthemanneroftheAutocratandtheProfessorattheBreakfastTable。Somelettershadpassedbetweenhimandthemanagementconcerningourwish，andthenOsgoodthoughtthatitwouldberightandfitforustogotohiminperson。Heproposedthevisit，andDoctorHolmesreceiveduswithamindinwhichhehadevidentlyformulatedallhisthoughtsuponthematter。
Hismainquestionwaswhetherathisageofsixtyyearsamanwasjustifiedinseekingtorecallapublicofthepast，ortocreateanewpublicinthepresent。Heseemedtohavelookedthegroundovernotonlywithapersonalinterestinthequestion，butwithakeenscientificzestforitassomethingwhichitwasdelightfultoconsiderinitsgenericrelations；andIfancythatthepleasureofthisinquirymorethanconsoledhimforsuchpangsofmisgivingashemusthavehadinthepersonalquestion。Ascommonlyhappensinthesolutionofsuchproblems，itwasnotsolved；hewasverywillingtotakeourmindsuponit，andtoincurtherisk，ifwethoughtitwellandwerewillingtoshareit。
Wecameawayrejoicing，andthenewseriesbeganwiththenewyearfollowing。Itwasbynomeansthepopularsuccessthatwehadhoped；
notbecausetheauthorhadnotathousandnewthingstosay，orfailedtosaythemwiththegustandfreshnessofhisimmortalyouth，butbecauseitwasnotwelltodisturbaformassociatedinthepublicmindwithanachievementwhichhadbecomeclassic。ItisoftheAutocratoftheBreakfastTablethatpeoplethink，whentheythinkofthepeculiarspeciesofdramaticessaywhichtheauthorinvented，andtheythinkalsooftheProfessorattheBreakfastTable，becausehefollowedsosoon；
butthePoetattheBreakfastTablecamesolongafterthathisadventalienatedratherthanconciliatedliking。Verylikely，ifthePoethadcomefirsthewouldhavehadnosecondplaceintheaffectionsofhisreaders，forhistalkwasfullofdelightfulmatter；andatleastoneofthepoemswhichgracedeachinstalmentwasoneofthefinestandgreatestthatDoctorHolmeseverwrote。Imean"HomesickinHeaven，"whichseemstomenotonlywhatIhavesaid，butoneofthemostimportant，themostprofoundlypatheticinthelanguage。Indeed，Idonotknowanyotherthatinthesamedirectiongoessofarwithsuggestionsopenetrating。
Theotherpoemsweremainlyofacastwhichdidnotwin；themetaphysicsinthemweretoomuchforthehumaninterest，andagainthereroseafoolishclamorofthecreedsagainsthimonaccountofthem。Thegreattalent，thebeautifulandgracefulfancy，theeagerimaginationoftheAutocratcouldnotavailinthisthirdattempt，andIsupposethePoetattheBreakfastTablemustbeconfessedasnearafailureasDoctorHolmescouldcome。ItcertainlywassointhemagazinewhichthebrilliantsuccessofthefirsthadavailedtoestablishinthehighplacetheperiodicalmustalwaysholdinthehistoryofAmericanliterature。
Lowellwasnevertiredofsaying，whenherecurredtothefirstdaysofhiseditorship，thatthemagazinecouldneverhavegoneatallwithouttheAutocratpapers。HewasproudofhavinginsisteduponHolmes’sdoingsomethingforthenewventure，andhewasfondofrecallingtheauthor’smisgivingsconcerninghiscontributions，whichlaterrepeatedthemselveswithtoomuchreason，thoughnotwiththereasonthatwasinhisownmind。
V。
Helivedtwenty—fiveyearsafterthatself—questionatsixty，andaftereightyhecontinuedtoprovethatthreescorewasnotthelimitofaman’sintellectualactivityorliterarycharm。Duringallthattimetheworkhedidinmerequantitywastheworkthatamanintheprimeoflifemightwellhavebeenvainofdoing，anditwasofaqualitynotlesssurprising。IfIaskedhimwithanysortoffairnoticeIcouldrelyuponhimalwaysforsomethingfortheJanuarynumber，andthroughouttheyearIcouldcountuponhimforthoseoccasionalpiecesinwhichhesoeasilyexcelledallformerwritersofoccasionalverse，andwhichhelikedtokeepfromthenewspapersforthemagazine。Hehadaprideinhispromptnesswithcopy，andyoucouldalwaystrusthispromise。Theprinter’stoenevergalledtheauthor’skibeinhiscase；hewishedtohaveanearlyproof，whichhecorrectedfastidiously，butnotovermuch，andhedidnotkeepitlong。Hehadreallydoneallhisworkinthemanuscript，whichcameprint—perfectandbeautifullyclearfromhispen，inthatflowing，gracefulhandwhichtothelastkeptasuggestionofthepleasurehemusthavehadinit。Likeallwisecontributors，hewasnotonlypatient，butverygladofallthequeriesandchallengesthatproof—
readerandeditorcouldaccumulateonthemarginofhisproofs，andwhentheywerebothaltogetherwronghewasstillgrateful。InoneofhispoemstherewassomeLatin—QuarterFrench，whichourcollectivepurismquestioned，andIrememberhowtenderofushewasinmaintainingthatinhisParisiantime，atleast，someladiesbeyondtheSeinesaid"Eh，b’en，"insteadof"Eh，bien。"Heknewthatwemustbealwaysonthelookoutforsuchlittlematters，andhewouldnotwoundourignorance。
Idonotthinkanyoneenjoyedpraisemorethanhe。Ofcoursehewouldnotprovokeit，butifitcameofitself，hewouldnotdenyhimselfthepleasure，aslongasarelishofitremained。Heusedhumorouslytorecognizehisdelightinit，andtosayofthelectureaudienceswhichinearliertimeshesitatedapplause，"Whydon’ttheygivemethreetimesthree？Icanstandit！"Hehimselfgaveinthegenerousfulnesshedesired。Hedidnotpraisefoolishlyordishonestly，thoughhewouldspareanopendislike；butwhenathingpleasedhimheknewhowtosaysocordiallyandskilfully，sothatitmighthelpaswellasdelight。
Isupposenogreatauthorhastriedmoresincerelyandfaithfullytobefriendthebeginnerthanhe；andfromtimetotimehewouldcommendsomethingtomethathethoughtworthlookingat，butneverinsistently。
Incertaincases，wherehehadsimplytoeaseaburden，fromhisowntotheeditorialshoulders，hewouldaskthattheaspirantmightbedelicatelytreated。Theremightbepersonalreasonsforthis，butusuallyhiskindnessofheartmovedhim。Histasteshadtheirgeographicallimit，buthissympathieswereboundless，andthehopelesscreatureforwhomheintercededwasoftenerremotefromBostonandNewEnglandthanotherwise。
Itseemstomethathehadanaturesingularlyaffectionate，andthatitwasthiswhichwasatfaultifhegavesomewhattoomuchofhimselftothecelebrationoftheClassof’29，andallthemultitudeofBostonoccasions，largeandlittle，embalmedintheclearamberofhisverse，somewhattothedisadvantageoftheamber。Ifhewereaskedhecouldnotdenythemanyfriendshipsandfellowshipswhichunitedintheasking；
theimmediatereclamefromthesethingswassweettohim；buthelovedtocomplyasmuchashelovedtobepraised。Inthepleasurehegothecouldfeelhimselfaprophetinhisowncountry，butthecountrywhichownedhimprophetbeganperhapstofeelrathertoomuchasifitownedhim，anddidnotprizehisvaticinationsatalltheirworth。SomepoliteBostoniansknewhimchieflyonthisside，andjudgedhimtotheirowndetrimentfromit。
VI。
AfterwewenttoliveinCambridge，mylifeandthedelightinitweresowhollytherethatintenyearsIhadhardlybeeninasmanyBostonhouses。AsIhavesaid，ImetDoctorHolmesattheFieldses’，andatLongfellow’s，whenhecameouttoaDantesupper，whichwasnotoften，andsomewhatlaterattheSaturdayClubdinners。Oneparloustimeatthepublisher’sIhavealreadyrecalled，whenMrs。HarrietBeecherStoweandtheAutocratclasheduponhomeopathy，anditrequiredallthetactofthehosttolurethemawayfromthedangeroustheme。Asitwas，abattlewagedinthecourteousformsofFontenoy，wentonprettywellthroughthedinner，anditwasonlyoverthecoffeethatatrucewascalled。Ineednotsaywhichwasheterodox，orthateachhadadeepandstrenuousconscienceinthematter。Ihavealwaysfeltitaproofofhisextremeleniencytome，unworthy，thatthedoctorwasabletotoleratemyowndefectionfromtheelderfaithinmedicine；andIcouldnotfeelhiskindnesslesscaressingbecauseIknewitaconcessiontoaninfirmity。
Hesaidsomethinglike，Afterallagoodphysicianwasthegreatmatter；
andIeagerlyturnedhisclemencytopraiseofourfamilydoctor。
HewasveryconstantattheSaturdayClub，aslongashisstrengthpermitted，andfewofitsmembersmissedfewerofitsmeetings。
HecontinuedtositatitstableuntiltheghostsofHawthorne，ofAgassiz，ofEmerson，ofLongfellow，ofLowell，outofotherslessfamous，borehimcompanythereamongtheyoungermenintheflesh。
Itmusthavebeenverymelancholy，butnothingcoulddeeplycloudhismostcheerfulspirit。Hisstrenuousinterestinlifekepthimalivetoallthethingsofit，aftersomanyofhisfriendsweredead。Thequestionswhichhewaswonttodealwithsofondly，sowisely，thegreatproblemsofthesoul，wereallthemorevital，perhaps，becausethepersonalconcerninthemwasincreasedbythetranslationtosomeotherbeingofthemenwhohadsooftentriedwithhimtofathomthemhere。