The Final Memorials of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Edited by Samuel
Longfellow. (Kegan Paul, Trench, and Co.)—This is a supplementary volume to the two which contain the poet's life. The editor has been asked for it by some readers, and he disarms the criticism of others by saying that it is intended for these only. It contains the journals and correspondence of the last fifteen years of Longfellow's life in the same fellness as they were given for the earlier portions, some earlier letters and memoranda, beginning with the year 1829, and some letters that the editor has received since the publication of the earlier volumes. We have also some reminiseencee, —vie., a paper of considerable length, by Mr. William Winter, whose acquaintance with the poet dated from 1854, a sketch of an evening at the Dante Club when his translation of the " Inferno " was under consideration, and other like matters. A few pages are given to " Table-Talk " and to some fragments of verses, and we have also some contributions to the Longfellow bibliography. Here is an interesting proof of Longfellow's greatest title to fame, the fact that the "people beard him gladly "A lady relates that, passing one day a jeweller's window in New York, her attention was arrested by hearing from a crowd gathered round it, a voice in unmistakable brogue eaying, ' Shure ! and that'a for Hiawatha.' The speaker was a ragged Irish labourer, unshaven and unshorn. She looked, and saw a silver boat, with the figure of an Indian standing in the prow. That most be,' continued the speaker, 'for a prisintation to the poet Longfellow thins two lines cut on the aide of the boat are from his poethry.' " And here is one of the verse-fragments " ROM.
I see it in a vision in the dark,— Thu river, the great river, flowing, flowing, Forever throngh the shadowlees, white land. Upon its banks the gods of Abou Simbol Sit patient, with their hands upon their knees, And listen to the voice of cataracts.
And seem to say • Why hurry with Pooh speed? Fternity is long the gods can wait Wait, wait like us Along the river shores The red flamingoes etand ; and over there Against tho sky, dark caravans of camels Pass underneath the palm-trees, and are gone."
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