be superseded in the interest of those who value thorough research and
temperate expression。 It is very just； and without endeavor for picture
or drama it is to me very attractive。 Much that has to be recorded of
New England lacks charm； but he gave form and dignity and presence to the
memories of the past； and the finer moments of that great story； he gave
with the simplicity that was their best setting。 It seems to me such an
apology （in the old sense） as New England might have written for herself；
and in fact Doctor Palfrey was a personification of New England in one of
the best and truest kinds。 He was refined in the essential gentleness of
his heart without being refined away； he kept the faith of her Puritan
tradition though he no longer kept the Puritan faith； and his defence of
the Puritan severity with the witches and Quakers was as impartial as it
was efficient in positing the Puritans as of their time； and rather
better and not worse than other people of the same time。 He was himself
a most tolerant man； and his tolerance was never weak or fond； it stopped
well short of condoning error； which he condemned when he preferred to
leave it to its own punishment。 Personally he was without any flavor of
harshness； his mind was as gentle as his manner； which was one of the
gentlest I have ever known。
Of as gentle make but of more pensive temper； with unexpected bursts of
lyrical gaiety； was Christopher Pearse Cranch； the poet； whom I had known
in New York long before he came to live in Cambridge。 He could not only
play and sing most amusing songs； but he wrote very good poems and
painted pictures perhaps not so good。 I always liked his Venetian
pictures； for their poetic； unsentimentalized veracity； and I printed as
well as liked many of his poems。 During the time that I knew him more
than his due share of troubles and sorrows accumulated themselves on his
fine head； which the years had whitened； and gave a droop to the
beautiful； white…bearded face。 But he had the artist soul and the poet
heart； and no doubt he could take refuge in these from the cares that
shadowed his visage。 My acquaintance with him in Cambridge renewed
itself upon the very terms of its beginning in New York。 We met at
Longfellow's table； where he lifted up his voice in the Yankee folk…song；
〃On Springfield Mountain there did dwell；〃 which he gave with a perfectly
killing mock…gravity。
XI。
At Cambridge the best society was better； it seems to me； than even that
of the neighboring capital。 It would be rather hard to prove this； and I
must ask the reader to take my word for it； if he wishes to believe it。
The great interests in that pleasant world； which I think does not
present itself to my memory in a false iridiscence； were the intellectual
interests； and all other interests were lost in these to such as did not
seek them too insistently。
People held themselves high； they held themselves personally aloof from
people not duly assayed； their civilization was still Puritan though
their belief had long ceased to be so。 They had weights and measure；
stamped in an earlier time； a time surer of itself than ours； by which
they rated the merit of all comers； and rejected such as did not bear the
test。 These standards were their own； and they were satisfied with them；
most Americans have no standards of their own； but these are not
satisfied even with other people's； and so our society is in a state of
tolerant and tremulous misgiving。
Family counted in Cambridge； without doubt； as it counts in New England
everywhere； but family alone did not mean position； and the want of
family did not mean the want of it。 Money still less than family
commanded； one could be openly poor in Cambridge without open shame； or
shame at all； for no one was very rich there； and no one was proud of his
riches。
I do not wonder that Turguenieff thought the conditions ideal； as Boyesen
portrayed them to him； and I look back at my own life there with wonder
at my good fortune。 I was sensible； and I still am sensible this had its
alloys。 I was young and unknown and was making my way； and I had to
suffer some of the penalties of these disadvantages； but I do not believe
that anywhere else in this ill…contrived economy； where it is vainly
imagined that the material struggle forms a high incentive and
inspiration； would my penalties have been so light。 On the other hand；
the good that was done me I could never repay if I lived all over again
for others the life that I have so long lived for myself。 At times； when
I had experienced from those elect spirits with whom I was associated；
some act of friendship； as signal as it was delicate； I used to ask
myself； how I could ever do anything unhandsome or ungenerous towards any
one again； and I had a bad conscience the next time I did it。
The air of the Cambridge that I knew was sufficiently cool to be bracing；
but what was of good import in me flourished in it。 The life of the
place had its lateral limitations； sometimes its lights failed to detect
excellent things that lay beyond it； but upward it opened illimitably。
I speak of it frankly because that life as I witnessed it is now almost
wholly of the past。 Cambridge is still the home of much that is good and
fine in our literature： one realizes this if one names Colonel Thomas
Wentworth Higginson； Mr。 John Fiske； Mr。 William James； Mr。 Horace E。
Scudder； not to name any others； but the first had not yet come back to
live in his birthplace at the time I have been writing of； and the rest
had not yet their actual prominence。 One； in deed among so many absent；
is still present there； whom from time to time I have hitherto named
without offering him the recognition which I should have known an
infringement of his preferences。 But the literary Cambridge of thirty
years ago could not be clearly imagined or justly estimated without
taking into account the creative sympathy of a man whose contributions to
our literature only partially represent what he has constantly done for
the humanities。 I am sure that； after the easy heroes of the day are
long forgot； and the noisy fames of the strenuous life shall dwindle to
their essential insignificance before those of the gentle life； we shall
all see in Charles Eliot Norton the eminent scholar who left the quiet of
his books to become our chief citizen at the moment when he warned his
countrymen of the ignominy and disaster of doing wrong。
End