for ev. m any for1; part'; i on the partly from natural sviprry with all t He a quod d ag his tou of 】 leach, te* Ma”, I.. an, and Jatin is ce with the best writers e luge sorte aptitude for vet Dcation a abroad to fit oselt for the position of his in stros der out life is cvicence of an to America ai tok te profe so 1 modern l Mation, al work, Coplas' (couplets or versesa de Mouridse Such verse. Hits graduary i chasing pesnite low as d What 1 Sructor d to his for young scholy, kely to add to the ANN Beate entering upon his new detics - went HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW (1807-1882) BY CHARLES FREDERICK JOHNSON HE poet Longfellow was born February 27th, 1807, in the town of Portland, Maine; and died at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1882. He came of the best New England ancestry, tracing his descent in one line back to John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of the original Plymouth Colony, whose marriage he celebrates in the 'Courtship of Miles Standish.' He graduated from Bowdoin in 1825, in the same class with Nathaniel Hawthorne. Even in his boyhood he evinced the refinement, the trustworthy, equable judgment, and the love for the quietly beautiful in literature, which were his most strongly marked characteristics through life. Such elements are sure to develop, and it was safe to send the young Longfellow at nineteen for a three-years' stay in Europe. His nature had no affinity for evil in any form; partly from the lack of emotional intensity, and partly from natural sympathy with all that was beautiful and of good report. He acquired during his tour of Europe a knowledge of the French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages, and a general literary acquaintance with the best writers in them. He had shown in college some aptitude for versification and for languages, and went abroad to fit himself for the position of professor of modern languages in Bowdoin. His industrious devotion to true culture throughout life is evidence of an overmastering bent. In 1829 he returned to America and took the professorship of modern languages at Bowdoin. In 1831 he married Mary Potter. In 1835 he published 'Outre Mer,' a sketchy account of his years abroad, in a form evidently suggested by Irving's Sketch Book,' though by no means rivaling Irving's quaint and charming humor. From 1831 he contributed a number of articles on literary subjects to the North American Review; and in 1833 he published his first poetical work, Coplas (couplets or verses) 'de Manrique,'- translations of Spanish verse. His gradually increasing reputation as a writer and enthusiastic instructor led to his appointment in 1835 as professor of modern languages at Harvard,-then as now on the lookout for young scholars likely to add to the reputation of the University. Before entering upon his new duties he went abroad to perfect his |