LONGFELLOW

Description:

LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH (1807-1882) Autograph Letter Signed, Cambridge, July 4, 1843, four pages, to A.M. Ide, Jr., in which he apologizes for being a negligent correspondent, how he spent the fourth of July in Boston, sending along a copy of Hyperion and critiquing recent work sent for his advice. Partial text: "I should like to see in print the last poem of yours. If Willis published it send it me. I liked it much - that is to say the one stanza you sent. It is far, far better that the others and is in the vein I want you to labor in. I am glad to see, also, by your letters, that you do not despise your position in the world. Labor alone is honorable; and will inherit the earth and sky. As to College education, I do not think it necessary...Read the English Classics. Read Homer in Chapman's translation which you can get from Professor Elton of Brown University...Read also Dante, in Cary's translation...Homer and Dante! these are great names! What you want is neither to weaken your mind by reading effeminate productions, nor to overload it with too much learning, but to develop and strengthen it with sufficient and convenient food."
Estimate $1,000-1,500

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