DuringthefouryearsofmylifeinVenicetheliteraryintentionwaspresentwithmeatalltimesandinallplaces。Iwrotemanythingsinverse，whichIsenttothemagazinesineverypartoftheEnglish—
speakingworld，buttheycameunerringlybacktome，exceptinthreeinstancesonly，whentheywerekeptbytheeditorswhofinallyprintedthem。OneofthesepieceswaspublishedintheAtlanticMonthly；anotherinHarpersMagazine；thethirdwasgotintotheNewYorkLedgerthroughthekindnessofDoctorEdwardEverettHale，whousedIknownotwhatmightymagictothatend。Ihadnotyetmethim；butheinterestedhimselfinmyballadasifithadbeenhisown。Hisbrother，CharlesHale，laterConsul—GeneralforEgypt，whomIsawalmosteverymomentofthetwovisitshepaidVeniceinmytime，hadsentittohim，aftercopyingitinhisownlarge，fairhand，sothatitcouldberead。
HewasnotquiteofthatliteraryBostonwhichIsofondlyrememberedmyglimpsesof；hewasratherofajournalisticandliteraryBostonwhichI
hadneverknown；buthewasofBoston，afterall。HehadbeeninLowell’sclassesatHarvard；hehadoftenmetLongfellowinCambridge；heknewDoctorHolmes，ofcourse；andheletmetalkofmyidolstomyheart’scontent。Ithinkhemusthavebeenamusedbymyraptures；mostpeoplewouldhavebeen；buthewaskindandpatient，andhelistenedtomewithasweetintelligencewhichIshallalwaysgratefullyremember。
Hediedtooyoung，withhislife’spossibilitiesmainlyunfulfilled；butnonewhoknewhimcouldfailtoimaginethem，ortolovehimforwhathewas。
I。
Besidesthosefewpitifulsuccesses，IhadnothingbutdefeatsinthesortofliteraturewhichIsupposedwastobemycalling，andthedefeatsthrewmeuponprose；forsomesortofliterarything，ifnotone，thenanother，ImustdoifIlived；andIbegantowritethosestudiesofVenetianlifewhichafterwardsbecameabook，andwhichIcontributedasletterstothe’BostonAdvertiser’，aftervainlyofferingthemtomoreaestheticperiodicals。However，Idonotimaginethatitwasaverysmilingtimeforanyliteraryendeavorerathomeinthelife—and—deathcivilwarthenwaging。SomefewyoungmenarosewhomadethemselvesheardamidthedinofarmsevenasfarasVenice，butmostofthesewerehushedlongago。IfancyTheodoreWinthrop，whobegantospeak，asitwere，fromhissoldier’sgrave，sosoondidhisdeathfollowtheearliestrecognitionbythepublic，andsomanywerehisposthumousworks，waschiefofthese；buttherewereotherswhomthepresentreadersmustmakegreaterefforttoremember。ForceytheWillson，whowroteTheOldSergeant，becameknownfortherarequalityofhispoetry；andnowandthentherecameapoemfromAldrich，orStedman，orStoddard。Thegreatnewseriesofthe’BiglowPapers’gatheredvolumewiththeforcetheyhadfromthebeginning。TheAutocratwasofteninthepagesoftheAtlantic，whereoneoftenfoundWhittierandEmerson，withmanyafreshnamenowfaded。InWashingtonthePiattswerewritingsomeofthemostbeautifulverseofthewar，andBrownellwassoundinghisbattlelyricslikesomanytrumpetblasts。Thefictionwhichfollowedthewarwasyetalltocome。Whateverwasdoneinanykindhadsomehintofthewarinit，inevitably；thoughintheveryheartofitLongfellowwassettingabouthisgreatversionofDantepeacefully，prayerfully，ashehastoldinthenoblesonnetswhichregisterthemoodofhisundertaking。
AtVenice，ifIwasbeyondtherangeofliteraryrecognitionIwasindirectrelationswithoneofourgreatestliterarymen，whowasagainofthatliteraryBostonwhichmainlyrepresentedAmericanliteraturetome。
TheofficialchiefoftheconsulatVenicewastheUnitedStatesMinisteratVienna，andinmytimethisministerwasJohnLothropMotley，thehistorian。Hewasremoved，later，bythatJohnsonadministrationwhichfollowedLincoln’ssoforgottenlythatInameitwithasenseofsomethingalmostprehistoric。Amongitsworsterrorswastheattempteddiscreditofamanwhohadgivenlustretoournamebyhiswork，andwhowasanardentpatriotaswellasaccomplishedscholar。HevisitedVeniceduringmyfirstyear，whichwasthedarkestperiodofthecivilwar，andIrememberwithwhatinstantsecurity，nottosayseverity，herebukedmyscarcelywhisperedmisgivingsoftheend，whenIventuredtoaskhimwhathethoughtitwouldbe。AustriahadneverrecognizedtheSecessionistsasbelligerents，andinthecomplicationswithFranceandEnglandtherewaslittleforourministerbuttosharethehomeindignationatthesympathyofthosepowerswiththeSouth。InMotleythiswasheightenedbythatfeelingofastonishment，ofwoundedfaith，whichallAmericanswithEnglishfriendshipsexperiencedinthosedays，andwhichhe，whoseEnglishfriendshipsweremany，experiencedinpeculiardegree。
Idriftedaboutwithhiminhisgondola，andrefreshedmyself，longa—hungeredforsuchtalk，withhistalkofliterarylifeinLondon。
ThroughsomeacquaintanceIhadmadeinVeniceIwasabletobeofusetohimingettingdocumentscopiedforhimintheVenetianArchives，especiallytheRelationsoftheVenetianAmbassadorsatdifferentcourtsduringtheperiodandeventshewasstudying。Allsuchpaperspassedthroughmyhandsintransmissiontothehistorian，thoughnowIdonotquiteknowwhytheyneedhavedoneso；butperhapshewaswillingtogivemethepleasureofbeingapartner，howeverhumble，intheenterprise。
Myrecollectionofhimisofcourtesytoafaryoungermanunqualifiedbypatronage，andofapresenceofsingulardignityandgrace。HewasoneofthehandsomestmenIeversaw，withbeautifuleyes，afineblondbeardofmodishcut，andasensitivenose，straightandfine。Hewasaltogetherafigureofworldlysplendor；andIhadreasontoknowthathedidnotletthecreditofournationsufferatthemostaristocraticcourtinEuropeforwantofafitdiplomaticcostume，whensomeofourministersweretryingtomaketheirofficedoitsfulleffectuponalloccasionsin\"thedressofanAmericangentleman。\"ThemorningafterhisarrivalMr。Motleycametomewithahandfulofnewspaperswhich，accordingtotheAustriancustomatthatday，hadbeenopenedintheVenetianpost—office。Hewishedmetoprotestagainstthisonhisbehalfasaninfringementofhisdiplomaticextra—territoriality，andIproposedtogoatoncetothedirectorofthepost：Ihadmyselfsufferedinthesameway，andthoughIknewthatamereconsulwashelpless，Iwaswillingtoseethedouble—headedeagletroddenunderfootbyaMinisterPlenipotentiary。Mr。Motleysaidthathewouldgowithme，andweputoffinhisgondolatothepost—office。Thedirectorreceiveduswiththeutmostdeference。Headmittedtheirregularitywhichtheministercomplainedof，anddeclaredthathehadnochoicebuttoopeneveryforeignnewspaper，towhomsoeveraddressed。Hesuggested，however，thatiftheministermadehisappealtotheLieutenant—GovernorofVenice，CountToggenburgwouldnodoubtinstantlyordertheexemptionofhisnewspapersfromthegeneralrule。
Mr。MotleysaidhewouldgivehimselfthepleasureofcallingupontheLieutenant—Governor，and\"Howfortunate，\"headded，whenweweregotbackintothegondola，\"thatIshouldhavehappenedtobringmycourtdresswithme！\"Ididnotseetheencounterofthehighcontendingpowers，butIknowthatitendedinacompletevictoryforourminister。
IhadnofurtheractiverelationsofanofficialkindwithMr。Motley，exceptinthecaseofanaturalizedAmericancitizen，whosepropertywasslowlybutsurelywastingawayinthekeepingoftheVenetiancourts。
Anorderhadatlastbeengivenforthesurrenderoftheremnanttotheowner；buttheLombardo—VenetianauthoritiesinsistedthatthisshouldbedonethroughtheUnitedStatesMinisteratVienna，andMr。MotleyheldasfirmlythatitmustbedonethroughtheUnitedStatesConsulatVenice。
IcouldonlyreporttohimfromtimetotimetheunyieldingattitudeoftheCivilTribunal，andatlastheconsented，ashewrote，\"toactofficiously，notofficially，inthematter，\"andthehaplessclaimantgotwhatwasleftofhisestate。
IhadaglimpseofthehistorianafterwardsinBoston，butitwasonlyforamoment，justbeforehisappointmenttoEngland，wherehewasmadetosufferforSumnerinhisquarrelwithGrant。Thatinjusticecrownedtheinjurieshiscountryhaddoneamostfaithfulpatriotandhigh—
spiritedgentleman，whosefameasanhistorianoncefilledtheearoftheEnglish—speakingworld。Hisbooksseemedtohavebeenwritteninaspiritalreadynolongermodern；andIdidnotfindthegreatestofthemsomovingasIexpectedwhenIcametoitwithalltheardorofmyadmirationforthehistorian。WilliamtheSilentseemedtome，byhisworshipper’sownshowing，scarcelylevelwiththepopularmovementwhichhedidnotsomuchdirectasfollow；butitisagooddealforaprincetobeableeventofollowhispeople；anditcannotbesaidthatMotleydoesnotfullyrecognizethegreatnessoftheDutchpeople，thoughhemayseethePrinceofOrangetoolarge。Thestudyoftheircharactermadeatleastatheoreticaldemocratofascholarwhoseinstinctswerenotperhapsdemocratic，andhissympathywiththatbravelittlerepublicbetweenthedikesstrengthenedhiminhisfealtytothegreatcommonwealthbetweentheoceans。Ibelievethatsofarashewasofanypoliticaltradition，hewasoftheoldBostonWhigtradition；butwhenI
methimatVenicehewasintheglowofagenerousprideinourwarasawaragainstslavery。Hespokeofthenegroesandtheirsimple—hearted，single—mindeddevotiontotheUnioncauseintermsthatanoriginalabolitionistmighthaveused，atatimewhenoriginalabolitionistswerenotsomanyastheyhavesincebecome。
Fortherest，IfancyitwasverywellforustoberepresentedatViennainthosedaysbyanidealdemocratwhowasalsoarealswell，andwhowasnotlikelytodiscreditussociallywhenwesomuchneededtobewellthoughtofineveryway。
AtacourtwherethefamilyofCountSchmerling，thePrimeMinister，couldnotbereceivedforwantoftherequisitedescents，itwaswelltohaveaministerwhowouldnotcommitthemistakeofinvitingtheFirstSocietytomeettheSecondSociety，asaformerEnvoyExtraordinaryhaddone，withtheeffectoffindinghimselfleftentirelytotheSecondSocietyduringtherestofhisstayinVienna。
II。
OneofmyconsularcolleaguesunderMotleywasanotherhistorian，ofnosuchpopularity，indeed，norevenofsuchsuccess，butperhapsnotofinferiorpowers。ThiswasRichardHildreth，atTrieste，theauthorofoneofthesincerestifnotthetruesthistoriesoftheUnitedStates，accordingtothetestimonybothofhislikingandhismislikingcritics。
Ihaveneverreadhishistory，andIspeakofitonlyatsecondhand；butIhadread，beforeImethim，hisnovelof’ArchyMoore，orTheWhiteSlave’，whichleftanindelibleimpressionofhisimaginativeverityuponme。TheimpressionisstillsodeepthatafterthelapseofnearlyfortyyearssinceIsawthebook，Ihavenomisgivinginspeakingofitasapowerfulpieceofrealism。Ittreatedpassionately，intensely，thoughwithasuperficialcoldness，ofwrongsnowsoremotefromusintheabolitionofslaverythatitisuselesstohopeitwilleverbeggenerallyreadhereafter，butitcansafelybepraisedtoanyonewhowishestostudythatbygonecondition，andtheliteraturewhichgrewoutofit。Ifancyitdidnotlackrecognitioninitstime，altogether，forIusedtoseeitinItalianandFrenchtranslationsonthebookstalls。
Ibelieveneitherhishistorynorhisnovelbroughttheauthormoregainthanfame。HehadwornhimselfoutonanewspaperwhenhegothisappointmentatTrieste，andIsawhimintheshadowofthecloudthatwaswhollytodarkenhimbeforehedied。Hewasatallthinman，absent，silent：alreadyaphantomofhimself，butwithascholarlyserenityanddignityamidsttheruin，whentheworstcame。
IfirstsawhimattheprettyvillawherehelivedinthesuburbsofTrieste，andwhereIpassedseveraldays，andIrememberhimalwaysreading，reading，reading。Hecouldwithdifficultyberousedfromhisbookbysomestrenuousappealfromhisfamilytohisconscienceasahost。ThelastnighthesatwithParadiseLostinhishand，andnothingcouldwinhimfromittillhehadfinishedit。Thenherosetogotobed。Wouldnothebidhispartingguestgood—bye？Theideaoffarewellperhapsdimlypenetratedtohim。Herespondedwithoutlookinground，\"They，handinhand，withwanderingstepsandslow，ThroughEdentooktheirsolitaryway，\"
andsolefttheroom。
Ihadearlierhadsomedealingswithhimasafellow—consulconcerningadeserterfromanAmericanshipwhomIinheritedfrommypredecessoratVenice。Themanhadalreadybeenfourorfivemonthsinprison，andhewasinafairwaytoendhislifethere；foritisourlawthatadesertingsailormustbekeptintheconsul’scustodytillsomevesselofourflagarrives，whentheconsulcanobligethemastertotakethedeserterandlethimworkhispassagehome。SuchavesselrarelycametoVeniceevenintimesofpeace，andintimesofwartherewasnohopeofany。SoIgotleaveoftheconsulatTriestetotransfermycaptivetothatport，wherenowandthenanAmericanshipdidtouch。Theflagdeterminesthenationalityofthesailor，andthisunhappywretchwastheoreticallyourfellow—citizen；butwhenhegottoTriestehemadeacleanbreastofittotheconsul。HeconfessedthatwhenheshippedunderourflaghewasadeserterfromaBritishregimentatMalta；andhebeggedpiteouslynottobesenthometoAmerica，wherehehadneverbeeninhislife，noreverwishedtobe。HewishedtobesentbacktohisregimentatMalta，andtowhateverfateawaitedhimthere。Thecasecertainlyhaditsembarrassments；buttheAmericanconsulcontrivedtoletourpresumptivecompatriotslipintothekeepingoftheBritishconsul，whopromptlyshippedhimtoMalta。InviewofthestrainedrelationsbetweenEnglandandAmericaatthattimethiswasapieceofmasterlydiplomacy。
BesidesmyoldOhio—timefriendMoncureD。Conway，whopaidusavisit，andinhisimmediaterelationswithliteraryBostonseemedtobringthemountaintoMahomet，IsawnooneelsemoreliterarythanHenryWardBeecher。HewaspassingthroughVeniceonhiswaytothoseeffortsinEnglandinbehalfoftheUnionwhichhadacertaingreateffectatthetime；andinthetinyparlorofourapartmentontheGrandCanal，Icanstillseehimsittingathletic，almostpugilistic，ofpresence，withhisstrongface，butkind，framedinlonghairthatsweptabovehismassiveforehead，andfelltothelevelofhishumorouslysmilingmouth。Hiseyesquaintlygleamedatthethingswetoldhimofourlifeinthestrangeplace；butheonlypartlyrelaxedfromhisstrenuouspose，andthehandsthatlayuponhiskneeswereclinched。Afterwards，ashepassedourbalconyinagondola，heliftedthebraveredfezhewaswearing（manypeopleworethefezforonecapriceoranother）andsalutedoureagleandus：wewereoftenonthebalconybehindtheshieldtoattesttheauthenticityoftheAmericaneagle。
III。
BeforeIleftVenice，however，therecameaturninmyliteraryluck，andfromthehandIcouldmosthavewishedtoreversetheadversewheeloffortune。IhadlaboredoutwithgreatpainsapaperonrecentItaliancomedy，whichIsenttoLowell，thenwithhisfriendProfessorNortonjointlyeditoroftheNorthAmericanReview；andhetookitandwrotemeoneofhisloveliestlettersaboutit，consolingmeinaninstantforallthedefeatIhadundergone，andmakingitsweetandworthytohavelivedthroughthatmisery。Itisoneofthehardconditionsofthisstatethatwhilewecanmostlymakeouttoletpeopletastethelastdropofbitternessandill—willthatisinus，ourloveandgratitudeareonlysemi—articulateatthebest，andusuallyaltogethertongue—tied。AsoftenasItriedafterwardstotellLowellofthebenediction，thesalvation，hisletterwastome，Ifailed。Butperhapshewouldnothaveunderstood，ifIhadspokenoutallthatwasinmewiththefulnessI
couldhavegivenaresentment。Hismessagecameafteryearsofthwartedendeavor，andreinstatedmeinthebeliefthatIcouldstilldosomethinginliterature。Tobesure，thelettersintheAdvertiserhadbeguntomaketheirimpression；amongthefirstgreatpleasurestheybroughtmewasarecognitionfrommydiplomaticchiefatVienna；butIvaluedmyadmissiontotheNorthAmericanpeculiarlybecauseitwasLowellletmein，andbecauseIfeltthatinhischargeitmustbetheplaceofhighesthonor。Hespokeofthepayformyarticle，inhisletter，andaskedmewhereheshouldsendit，andIanswered，tomyfather—in—law，whoputitinhissavings—bank，wherehelived，inBrattleboro，Vermont。Thereitremained，andIforgotallaboutit，sothatwhenhisaffairsweresettledsomeyearslaterandIwasnotifiedthattherewasasumtomycreditinthebank，Isaid，withtheconfidenceIhavenearlyalwaysfeltwhenwrong，thatIhadnomoneythere。Theproofofmyerrorwassentmeinacheck，andthenIbethoughtmeofthepayfor\"RecentItalianComedy。\"
ItwasnotadaywhenIcouldreallyaffordtoforgetmoneydueme，butthenitwasnotagreatdealofmoney。TheReviewwasaspoorasitwasproud，andIhadtwodollarsaprintedpageformypaper。ButthiswasmorethanIgotfromtheAdvertiser，whichgavemefivedollarsacolumnformyletters，printedinatypesofinethatthemoney，whentranslatedfromgreenbacksintogoldatadiscountof$2。80，musthavebeenaboutadollarathousandwords。However，Iwasrichlycontentwiththat，andwouldgladlyhaveletthemhavethelettersfornothing。
BeforeIleftVeniceIhadmademysketchesintoabook，whichIsentontoMessrs。Trubner&Co。，inLondon。TheyhadconsentedtolookatittoobligemyfriendConway，whoduringhissojournwithusinVenice，beforehissettlementinLondon，hadbeenforcedtolistentosomeofit。Theyansweredmeinduetimethattheywouldpublishaneditionofathousand，athalfprofits，ifIcouldgetsomeAmericanhousetotakefivehundredcopies。WhenIstoppedinLondonIhadsolittlehopeofbeingabletodothisthatIaskedtheTrubnersifImight，withoutlosingtheiroffer，trytogetsomeotherLondonhousetopublishmybook。TheysaidYes，almostjoyously；andIbegantotakemymanuscriptabout。Atmostplacestheywouldnotlookatmeorit，andtheynowhereconsentedtoreadit。
Thehousepromptestinrefusingtoconsideritafterwardspiratedoneofmynovels，andwithsomeexpressionsofgoodintentioninthatdirection，neverpaidmeanythingforit；thoughIbelievetheEnglishstillthinkthatthissortofbehaviorwaspeculiartotheAmericanpublisherintheoldbuccaneeringtimes。IwasgladtogobacktotheTrubnerswithmybook，andonmywayacrosstheAtlanticImetapublisherwhofinallyagreedtotakethosefivehundredcopies。ThiswasMr。M。M。Hurd，ofHurd&Houghton，ahousethennewlyestablishedinNewYorkandCambridge。Weplayedring—tossandshuffleboardtogether，andbecameofafriendshipwhichlaststothisday。Butitwasnottillsomemonthslater，whenIsawhiminNewYork，thatheconsentedtopublishmybook。
Irememberhowhesaid，withanairofvaguemisgiving，andaneffectoftryingtojustifyhimselfinanimprudence，thatitwasnotagreatmatteranyway。Iperceivedthathehadnofaithinit，andtotellthetruthIhadnotmuchmyself。Butthebookhadaninstantsuccess，andithasgoneonfromeditiontoeditioneversince。TherewasjustthentheinterestofanotwhollygeneroussurpriseatAmericanthingsamongtheEnglish。OursuccessinputtingdownthegreatConfederaterebellionhadcaughtthefancyofourcousins，andIthinkitwastothismoodoftheirsthatIowedlargelythekindnesstheyshowedmybook。TherewerelongandcordialreviewsinallthegreatLondonjournals，whichIusedtocarryaboutwithmelikelove—letters；whenItriedtoshowthemtootherpeople，Icouldnotunderstandtheircoldnessconcerningthem。
AtBoston，wherewelandedonourreturnhome，therewasamomentwhenitseemedasifmysmalldestinymightbelinkedatoncewiththatofthecitywhichlaterbecamemyhome。IranintotheofficeoftheAdvertisertoaskwhathadbecomeofsomesketchesofItaliantravelIhadsentthepaper，andthemanagingeditormademepromisenottotakeaplaceanywherebeforeIhadheardfromhim。Igladlypromised，butIdidnothearfromhim，andwhenIreturnedtoBostonafortnightlater，Ifoundthatafatalpartnerhadrefusedtoagreewithhiminengagingmeuponthepaper。Theyevengavemebackhalfadozenunprintedlettersofmine，andIpublishedthemintheNation，ofNewYork，andafterwardsinthebookcalledItalianJourneys。
ButafterIhadencounteredfortuneinthisfrowningdisguise，IhadamostjoyfullittlevisitwithLowell，whichmademeforgettherewasanythingintheworldbutthedelightandgloryofsittingwithhiminhisstudyatElmwoodandhearinghimtalk。ItmusthavebeenmyfreshnessfromItalywhichmadehimtalkchieflyofhisownhappydaysinthelandwhichsosympatheticallybrevetsallitsloversfellow—citizens。
Atanyratehewouldtalkofhardlyanythingelse，andhetalkedlateintothenight，andearlyintothemorning。Abouttwoo’clock，whenallthehousewasstill，helightedacandle，andwentdownintothecellar，andcamebackwithcertainbottlesunderhisarms。Ihadnotaverylearnedpalateinthosedays（orinthese，forthatmatter），butIknewenoughofwinetounderstandthatthesebottleshadbeenchosenuponthatprinciplewhichLongfellowputinverse，andusedtorepeatwithahumorousliftingoftheeyebrowsandhollowingofthevoice：
\"Ifyouhaveafriendtodine，Givehimyourbestwine；
Ifyouhavetwo，Thesecond—bestwilldo。\"
Aswesatintheirmellowafterglow，Lowellspoketomeofmyownlifeandprospects，wiselyandtruly，ashealwaysspoke。Hesaidthatitwasenoughforamanwhohadstuffinhimtobeknowntotwoorthreepeople，fortheywouldnotsufferhimtobeforgotten，anditwouldrestwithhimselftogeton。ItoldhimthatthoughIhadnotgivenupmyplaceatVenice，Iwasnotgoingback，ifIcouldfindanythingtodoathome，andIwasnowonmywaytoOhio，whereIshouldtrymybesttofindsomething；attheworst，Icouldturntomytradeofprinter。Hedidnotthinkitneedevercometothat；andhesaidthathebelievedIshouldhaveanadvantagewithreaders，ifnotwitheditors，inhailingfromtheWest；Ishouldbemoreofanovelty。IknewverywellthateveninmyownWestIshouldnothavethisadvantageunlessIappearedtherewithanEasternimprint，butIcouldnotwishtourgemymisgivingagainsthisfaith。WasInotalreadyrichlysuccessful？Whatbetterthingpersonallycouldbefallme，ifIlivedforeverafteronmilkandhoney，thantobesittingtherewithmyhero，mymaster，andhavinghimtalktomeasifwewereequalindeedandinfame？
Thecat—birdcalledinthesyringathicketathisdoor，beforewesaidthegood—nightwhichwasgoodmorning，usingthesweetItalianwords，andbiddingeachotherthe’Dormabene’whichhasthequalityofabenediction。Heheldmyhand，andlookedintomyeyeswiththesunnykindnesswhichneverfailedme，worthyorunworthy；andIwentawaytobed。Butnottosleep；onlytodreamsuchdreamsasfilltheheartofyouthwhentherecognitionofitsendeavorhascomefromtheachievementitholdshighestandbest。
IV。
IfoundnothingtodoinOhio；someplacesthatIheardofprovedimpossibleonewayoranother，inColumbusandCleveland，andCincinnati；
therewasalwaysthefatalpartner；andafterthreeweeksIwasagainintheEast。IcametoNewYork，resolvedtofightmywayin，somewhere，andIdidnotrestamomentbeforeIbeganthefight。
MynotionwasthatwhichafterwardsbecameBartleyHubbard’s。\"Getabasis，\"saidthesofteningcynicoftheSaturdayPress，whenIadvisedwithhim，amongotheracquaintances。\"Getasalariedplace，somethingregularonsomepaper，andthenyoucaneasilymakeuptherest。\"ButitwasamonthbeforeIachievedthisvantage，andthenIgotitinaquarterwhereIhadnotlookedforit。IwroteeditorialsonEuropeanandliterarytopicsfordifferentpapers，butmostlyfortheTimes，andtheypaidmewellandmorethanwell；butIwasnowhereofferedabasis，thoughonceIgotsofartowardsitastosecureapersonalinterviewwiththeeditor—in—chief，whomademefeelthatIhadseldommetsobusyaman。Hepraisedsomeworkofminethathehadreadinhispaper，butI
wasneverrecalledtohispresence；andnowIthinkhejudgedrightlythatIshouldnotbealastinglygoodjournalist。Mypointofviewwasartistic；Iwantedtimetopreparemyeffects。
Therewasanotherandclearerprospectopenedtomeonaliterarypaper，thennewlycometothelight，butlongsincegoneoutinthedark。Hereagainmyworkwastaken，andlikedsomuchthatIwasofferedthebasis（attwentydollarsaweek）thatIdesired；IwasevenassignedtoadeskwhereIshouldwriteintheoffice；andthenextmorningIcamejoyfullydowntoSpruceStreettooccupyit。ButIwasmetatthedoorbyoneoftheeditors，whosaidlightly，asifitwereatriflingaffair，\"Well，we’veconcludedtowaivetheideaofanengagement，\"andoncemoremybrighthopesofabasisdispersedthemselves。Isaid，withwhatcalmIcould，thattheymustdowhattheythoughtbest，andIwentonskirmishingbaselesslyaboutforthisandtheotherpaperswhichhadbeenbuyingmymaterial。
Ihadbegunprintinginthe’Nation’thoselettersaboutmyItalianjourneysleftoverfromtheBostonAdvertiser；theyhadbeenlikedintheoffice，andonedaytheeditorastonishedanddelightedmebyaskinghowIwouldfancygivingupoutsideworktocomethereandwriteonlyforthe’Nation’。Weaveragedmygainsfromallsourcesatfortydollarsaweek，andIhadmybasisasunexpectedlyasifIhaddroppeduponitfromtheskies。
ThismusthavebeensometimeinNovember，andthenextthreeorfourmonthswereashappyatimeformeasIhaveeverknown。IkeptonprintingmyItalianmaterialintheNation；Iwrotecriticismsforit（notverygoodcriticisms，Ithinknow），andIamusedmyselfverymuchwiththetreatmentofsocialphasesandeventsinadepartmentwhichgrewupundermyhand。Myassociationspersonallywereofthemostagreeablekind。Iworkedwithjoy，withardor，andIlikedsomuchtobethere，inthatplaceandinthatcompany，thatIhatedtohaveeachdaycometoanend。
IbelievedthatmylineswerecastinNewYorkforgoodandall；andI
renewedmyrelationswiththeliteraryfriendsIhadmadebeforegoingabroad。Ioftenstopped，onmywayuptown，atanapartmenttheStoddardshadinLafayettePlace，ornearit；IsawStedman，andreasonedhigh，tomyheart’scontent，ofliterarythingswiththemandhim。
WiththewinterBayardTaylorcameonfromhishomeinKennettandtookanapartmentinEastTwelfthStreet，andonceaweekMrs。Taylorandhereceivedalltheirfriendsthere，withasimpleandcharminghospitality。
Therewasanotherhousewhichwemuchresortedto——thehouseofJamesLorrimerGraham，afterwardsConsul—GeneralatFlorence，wherehedied。
IhadmadehisacquaintanceatVenicethreeyearsbefore，andIcameinformyshareofthatloveforliterarymenwhichalltheirperversitiescouldnotextinguishinhim。Itwasaveritablepassion，whichIusedtothinkhecouldnothavefeltsodeeplyifhehadbeenaliterarymanhimself。Thereweredelightfuldinnersathishouse，wherethewitoftheStoddardsshone，andTaylorbeamedwithjoyousgood—fellowshipandoverflowedwithinvention；andHuntington，longPariscorrespondentoftheTribune，humorouslytriedtotalkhimselfintotheresolutionofspendingtherestofhislifeinhisowncountry。TherewasoneeveningwhenC。P。Cranch，alwaysofamostpensivepresenceandaspect，sangthemostkillinglycomicsongs；andtherewasanothereveningwhen，afterweallwentintothelibrary，somethingtragicalhappened。EdwinBoothwasofournumber，agentle，rathersilentpersonincompany，orwithatleastlittlesocialinitiative，who，ashisfatewould，wentuptothecastofahugehandthatlayupononeoftheshelves。\"Whosehandisthis，Lorry？\"heaskedourhost，ashetookitupandturneditoverinbothhisownhands。Grahamfeignednottohear，andBoothaskedagain，\"whosehandisthis？\"ThentherewasnothingforGrahambuttosay，\"It’sLincoln’shand，\"andthemanforwhomitmeantsuchunspeakablethingsputitsoftlydownwithoutaword。
V。
ItwasoneofthedisappointmentsofatimewhichwasnearlyalljoythatIdidnotthenmeetamanwhomeanthardlylessthanLowellhimselfforme。GeorgeWilliamCurtiswasduringmyfirstwinterinNewYorkawayononeofthelonglecturingroundstowhichhegavesomanyofhiswinters，andIdidnotseehimtillsevenyearsafterwards，atMr。Norton’sinCambridge。HethencharacteristicallyspentmostoftheeveningindiscussinganobscurepointinBrowning’spoemof’MyLastDuchess’。
Ihavelongforgottenwhatthepointwas，butnotthecharmofCurtis’spersonality，hisfinepresence，hisbenignpoliteness，hisalmostdeferentialtoleranceofdifferenceinopinion。AfterwardsIsawhimagainandagaininBostonandNewYork，butalwayswithasenseofsomethingelusiveinhisgraciousness，forwhichsomethinginmemusthavebeentoblame。Cold，hewasnot，eventotheyouththatinthosedayswasapttoshiverinanybutthehighertemperatures，andyetIfeltthatImadenoadvanceinhiskindnesstowardsanythinglikethefriendshipIknewintheCambridgemen。PerhapsIwassothoroughlyattunedtotheirmoodthatIcouldnotbeputinunisonwithanother；andperhapsinCurtistherewasreallynotthematerialofmuchintimacy。
Hehadthepotentialityofpublicityinthesortofwelcomehegaveequallytoallmen；andifIaskedmoreIwasnotreasonable。Yethewasneverfarfromanymanofgood—will，andhewastheintimateofmultitudeswhoseseveralexistenceheneverdreamtof。InthissorthehadbecomemyfriendwhenhemadehisfirstgreatspeechontheKansasquestionin1855，whichwillseenasremotetotheyoungmenofthisdayastheThermopylaequestiontowhichhelikenedit。Iwashisadmirer，hislover，hisworshipperbeforethatforthethingshehaddoneinliterature，forthe’Howadji’books，andforthelovelyfantasiesof’PrueandI’，andforthesound—heartedsatireofthe’PotipharPapers’，andnowsuddenlyIlearntthatthisbrilliantandgracefultalent，thistravelledandaccomplishedgentleman，thisstarofsocietywhohaddazzledmewithhissplendorfaroffinmyWesternvillageobscurity，wasamanwiththehearttofeelthewrongsofmensolittlefriendedthenastobedeniedalltherightsofmen。Idonotrememberanypassageofthespeech，oranywordofit，butIrememberthejoy，thepridewithwhichthesoulofyouthrecognizesinthegreatnessithashonoredthegoodnessitmaylove。Merepoliticiansmightbepro—slaveryoranti—slaverywithouttouchingmeverymuch，butherewasthecitizenofaworldfargreaterthantheirs，alightoftheuniversalrepublicofletters，whowaswillingandeagertostandorfallwiththejustcause，andthatwasallinalltome。Hiscountrywasmycountry，andhiskindredmykindred，andnothingcouldhavekeptmefromfollowingafterhim。
Hiswholelifetaughtthelessonthattheworldiswelllostwhenevertheworldiswrong；butnever，Ithink，didanylifeteachthissosweetly，sowinningly。Thewrongworlditselfmighthavebeenentreatedbyhimtoberight，forhewasoneofthefewreformerswhohavenotinsomemeasuremixedtheirloveofmanwithhateofmen；hisquarrelwaswitherror，andnotwiththepersonswhowereinit。Hewassogentlysteadfastinhisopinionsthatnooneeverthoughtofhimasafanatic，thoughmanywhoheldhisopinionswereassailedasfanatics，andsufferedtheshameiftheydidnotwinthepalmofmartyrdom。Inearlylifehewasacommunist，andthenwhenhecameoutofBrookFarmintotheworldwhichhewassowellfittedtoadorn，andwhichwouldsogladlyhavekepthimallitsown，hebecameanabolitionistintheveryteethoftheworldwhichabhorredabolitionists。Hewasabelieverinthecauseofwomen’srights，whichhasnopicturesqueness，andwhichchieflyappealstothesenseofhumorinthemenwhoneverdreamtoflaughingathim。Themanwhowasinthelastdegreeamiablewastothelastdegreeunyieldingwhereconsciencewasconcerned；thesoulwhichwassotenderhadnoweaknessinit；hislenitywasthedivinationofafinerjustice。Hishonestymadeallmentrusthimwhentheydoubtedhisopinions；hisgoodsensemadethemdoubttheirownopinions，whentheyhadaslittlequestionoftheirownhonesty。
Ishouldnotfinditeasytospeakofhimasamanoflettersonly，forhumanitywasabovethehumanitieswithhim，andweallknowhowheturnedfromthefairestcareerinliteraturetotreadthethornypathofpoliticsbecausehebelievedthatdutyledtheway，andthatgoodcitizenswereneededmorethangoodromancers。Nodoubttheyare，andyetitmustalwaysbeakeenregretwiththemenofmygenerationwhowitnessedwithsuchrapturetheearlyproofsofhistalent，thathecouldnothavedevoteditwhollytothebeautiful，andletotherslookafterthetrue。NowthatIhavesaidthisIamhalfashamedofit，forIknowwellenoughthatwhathedidwasbest；butifmyregretismean，Iwillletitremain，foritisfaithfultothemoodwhichmanyhavebeeninconcerninghim。
Therecanbenodispute，Iamsure，astothevalueofsomeoftheresultsheachievedinthatotherpath。Hedidindeedcreateanewforusthetypeofgood—citizenship，well—nigheffacedinasordidandselfishtime，andofanhonestpoliticianandapure—mindedjournalist。Heneverreallyforsookliterature，andtheworldofactualinterestsandexperiencesaffordedhimoutlooksandperspectives，withoutwhichaestheticendeavorisself—limitedandpurblind。Hewasagreatmanofletters，hewasagreatorator，hewasagreatpoliticaljournalist，hewasagreatcitizen，hewasagreatphilanthropist。Butthatlastwordwithitsconventionalapplicationscarcelydescribesthebraveandgentlefriendofmenthathewas。Hewasonethathelpedothersbyallthathedid，andsaid，andwas，andthecircleofhisusewasaswideashisfame。Thereareothergreatmen，plentyofthem，commongreatmen，whomweknowasnamesandpowers，andwhomwewillinglylettheageshavewhentheydie，for，livingordead，theyarealikeremotefromus。Theyhaveneverbeenwithuswherewelive；butthisgreatmanwastheneighbor，thecontemporary，andthefriendofallwhoreadhimorheardhim；andevenintheswiftforgettingofthiselectricalagethestampofhispersonalitywillnotbeeffacedfromtheirmindsorhearts。
VI。
OfthoseeveningsattheTaylors’inNewYork，Icanrecallbesttheonewhichwasmostsignificantforme，andevenfatefullysignificant。
Mr。andMrs。Fieldswerethere，fromBoston，andIrenewedallthepleasureofmyearliermeetingswiththem。AttheendFieldssaid，mockingly，\"Don’tdespiseBoston！\"andIanswered，asweshookhands，\"FewareworthytoliveinBoston。\"ItwasNew—Year’seve，andthatnightitcameontosnowsoheavilythatmyhorse—carcouldhardlyploughitswayuptoForty—seventhStreetthroughthedrifts。Thenextday，andthenext，Iwroteathome，becauseitwassohardtogetdown—town。ThethirddayIreachedtheofficeandfoundaletteronmydeskfromFields，askinghowIshouldliketocometoBostonandbehisassistantonthe’AtlanticMonthly’。Isubmittedthematteratoncetomychiefonthe’Nation’，andwithhisfrankgoodwillItalkeditoverwithMr。Osgood，ofTicknor&Fields，whowastoseemefurtheraboutitifIwished，whenhecametoNewYork；andthenIwenttoBostontoseeMr。Fieldsconcerningdetails。Iwastosiftallthemanuscriptsandcorrespondwithcontributors；Iwastodotheliteraryproof—readingofthemagazine；andIwastowritethefourorfivepagesofbook—notices，whichwerethenprintedattheendoftheperiodicalinfinertype；andI
wastohavefortydollarsaweek。IsaidthatIwasgettingthatalreadyforlesswork，andthenMr。Fieldsofferedmetendollarsmore。Uponthesetermsweclosed，andonthe1stofMarch，whichwasmytwenty—ninthbirthday，IwenttoBostonandbeganmywork。IhadnotdecidedtoaccepttheplacewithoutadvisingwithLowell；hecounselledthestep，andgavemesomeshrewdandusefulsuggestions。ThewholeaffairwasconductedbyFieldswithhisunfailingtactandkindness，butitcouldnotbekeptfrommethatthequalificationIhadaspracticalprinterfortheworkwasmostvalued，ifnotthemostvalued，andthatasproof—
readerIwasexpectedtomakeitavailonthesideofeconomy。Somewhereinlife’sfeastthecourseofhumble—piemustalwayscomein；andifI
didnotwhollyrelishthis，bitofit，Idaresayitwasgoodforme，andIdigesteditperfectly。