Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1885 — Hawthorne and Emerson. [ARTICLE]

Hawthorne and Emerson.

In Mrs. Hawthorne’s letters to> her mother there is a sketch of her husband’s ways which is too good not to be quoted. She says: “Mr. Hawthorne’s abomination of visiting still holds strong, be it to see no matter what angel. Bat he is very hospitable, and receives straagers with great loveliness and graciousness. Mr. Emerson says his way is regal, like a Prince or General, even wliea at table he hands the the bread. Elizabeth Hoar remarked that, though his shyness was very evident, yet she liked his manner, because he always faced the occasion like a man when it came to the point.. Of what moment will it be, a thousand years hence, whether he saw this, or that person? If he had the gift of speech like some others—Mr. Emerson, for instance—it would be different, but be was not bom to mix in general society. His vocation is to observe, and not to be observed. Mr Emerson; delights in him;: he talks to Urn all the time, and Mr. Hawthorne looks answers. He seems to fascinate- Mr. Emerson. Whenever he comes to see him he takes him away, so> that no one may interrupt him in his close and dead-set attack upon his ear; Miss Hoar savs that persons about Mr. Emerson so generally echo him. that it is refreshing to him to find this perfect individual, all himself and nobody else. He loves power as little as anybody I ever knew;, and it is never a question of private will between us, but of absolute right. His conscience is too fine and high to permit him to be arbitrary. His will is strong, but not to govern others. He is so simple, so transparent, so just, so tender, so- magnanimous, that my highest instinct could only correspond with his will. I never knew such delicacy of nature. His panoply of reserve is a providential shield and breastplate. I can testify to it now as I could not before. He is completely pure from earthliness. Hb is under the dominion of his intellect and sentiments. Was ever such a union of power and gentleness, softness and spirit, passion and reason ? I think it mnst be partly smiles of angels that make the air and light so pleasant here.”