warning, the end came. On March 15, 1882, he completed his The Bells of San Blas," with the words, last poem, "Out of the shadows of night The world rolls into light; It is daybreak everywhere." A little more than a week later, March 23, he passed away. The funeral service, in keeping with his unassuming character, was simple. Only his family and a few intimate friends - among them Curtis, Emerson, and Holmes — were present; but two continents were mourning his death. "His gracious presence upon earth Was as a fire upon a hearth; As pleasant songs, at morning sung, The words that dropped from his sweet tongue FOR FURTHER READING AND STUDY The annotated selections, pages 530-554, include "A Psalm of Life," Footsteps of Angels," "The Skeleton in Armor," "The Arsenal at Springfield," and " The Building of the Ship." Read also "My Lost Youth," "Three Friends of Mine," "The Wreck of the Hesperus," "The Village Blacksmith," "The Bridge," "The Warning," "The Belfry of Bruges," "The Day is Done," "The Old Clock on the Stairs," "The Two Angels," "The Children's Hour," "Paul Revere's Ride," "The Hanging of the Crane," Keramos," "Morituri Salutamus,' ""Hiawatha's Wooing," "The Courtship of Miles Standish," and "Evangeline." 99 66 Samuel Longfellow's "Life of Longfellow" (3 vols.); E. S. Robertson's "Henry W. Longfellow " (Great Writers Series). For critical estimates consult the general bibliography and Poole's "Index," particularly Geo. Wm. Curtis's "Longfellow,” Harper, June, 1882; Horace E. Scudder's "Men and Letters," and E. C. Stedman's "Poets of America." JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL 457. More than a Writer. -Lowell was more than a writer. His writings, numerous and excellent as they are, do not fully represent him. He tried to follow his own precept: "The epic of a man rehearse; Be something better than thy verse." JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL None of our literary men were great in so many ways. He ranks high as a poet. His critical papers are among the most elaborate and excellent produced in this country. He was a speaker of no mean ability, and a scholar of wide attainments. But overshadowing all these literary accomplishments stands his personality, a man of strong intellect, with wide sympathies, and sterling integrity. 458. Forceful Originality. He appeared among the earlier singers of the century. Though influenced for a time, as all young writers are apt to be, by favorite authors, Lowell is strikingly original. In his earlier verse we detect an occasional note from Tennyson or Wordsworth; but his strong intellect soon hewed out a course of its own. His mind was tumultuous with the interests of his day. He rushed to the combat for truth and freedom with abounding zeal. He proclaimed his message in verse distinguished, not for harmony and grace, but for vehemence and force. He was armed with heroic courage: "They are slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three.” He believed in bravely doing his part to right existing wrongs; for "God hates your sneakin' creturs that believe He'll settle things they run away and leave." 459. New England Spirit. Lowell was a New Englander, not only by birth, but by spirit and affection. He was proud of his Puritan ancestry. He loved the landscape of New England and the character of its people. This affection gave him a keen insight into the strength and weakness of New England character, and made him delight in its peculiar dialect: "For puttin' in a downright lick 'Twixt Humbug's eyes, there's few can metch it, And then it helves my thoughts ez slick Ez stret-grained hickory doos a hetchet." Though a broad-minded patriot, he remained throughout life a doughty champion of New England. 460. Distinguished Ancestry. The Lowell name has an honored place in the history of Massachusetts. Each generation, since the first settlement of the family at Newbury in 1639, has had its distinguished representative. The city of Lowell is named after Francis Cabot Lowell, who was among the first to perceive that the prosperity of New England was to come from its manufactures. John Lowell was an eminent judge, and introduced into the Constitution the section by which slavery was abolished in Massachusetts. John Lowell, Jr., by a bequest of $250,000, founded Lowell Institute in Boston. As a family, the Lowells have been distinguished for practical sense, liberal thought, and earnest character. 461. Parentage. James Russell Lowell was born in Cambridge, Feb. 22, 1819. His father, as well as his grandfather, was an able and popular minister. The poetic strain in Lowell's character seems to have been inherited from his mother. She was of Scotch descent, had a talent for languages, and was passionately fond of old ballads. Thus Lowell's opening mind was nourished on minstrelsy and romance. He early learned to appreciate what is beautiful in nature and in life. 462. Career at Harvard. He entered Harvard College in 1835; but no part of his fame rests on his record as a student. He had an invincible repugnance to mathematics; and he read everything else, it has been said, but his text-books. For irregularity in attending morning prayers, he was suspended for a time; but prayers were then held at sunrise! His genial nature and recognized ability made him a favorite among his fellow students. When he graduated, in 1838, he was chosen poet of his class. Then followed the study of law. He opened an office in Boston, but his heart was not in his profession. Various poets - Byron, Shelley, Keats, Coleridge, Tennyson - were more to him than his law-books. In his abundant leisure he wrote a story entitled "My First Client," but it is doubtful if he ever got that far in a successful legal career. 463. A Year's Life.' While waiting for the clients that never came, he found solace in poetry. Love touched his heart, and caused a copious fountain of verse to gush forth. In 1841 he published a little volume with the title "A Year's Life." Its motto, borrowed from Schiller, gave the key-note to the poetry: “Ich habe gelebt und geliebet." The verse was inspired by Miss Maria White, a refined, beautiful, and sympathetic woman, whom the poet married three years later, and with whom for nearly a decade he lived in almost ideal union. This volume revealed the presence of poetic gifts of a high order. 464. The Pioneer. The next step in Lowell's career was to become an editor, — a calling in which he subsequently achieved enviable distinction. In company with Robert Carter, he estab : lished the Pioneer in 1843. It was a literary journal of high excellence. Among its contributors were Hawthorne, Poe, Whittier, Story, and Parsons, a galaxy sufficient, one would think, to insure success. But only three numbers appeared. The public of that time was not distinguished for literary culture. The Pioneer was in advance of its day; and, after a brief career, it be said to have died a glorious death. 465. Second Volume of Poetry. In 1844 appeared a second volume of poems, in which the hand of a master is apparent. He aims to rise above the empty rhymer, "Who lies with idle elbow on the grass, And fits his singing, like a cunning timer, To all men's prides and fancies as they pass." He sings of love, truth, patriotism, humanity, religion, courage, hope great themes which his large soul expands to meet. His verse may be at times exuberant and rhetorical, but it embodies virile power of thought and emotion. The fundamental principles, not only of all his poetry but of his character, are found in this volume. In An Incident in a Railroad Car" we see his sense of human worth, regardless of the accidents of fortune: "All that hath been majestical In life or death, since time began, And thus, among the untaught poor, Great deeds and feelings find a home, 466. Fundamental Beliefs. He had unwavering confidence in the indestructible power of truth. In "A Glance Behind the Curtain," he says: |
