A Thorough Gentleman.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2087, 21 November 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Thorough Gentleman.

Tjje poet Longfellow was suoh a thoroughbred gentleman that the most timid wove at eaao in his society, and the presumptuous were held in cheok. 11 All the vulgar and pretentious people in the world," exclaimed a young man, fascinated by the elegant simplicity of the poeiffl manners, " ought to bo cent to see Mr. Longfellow, to learn how to behave 1 " The poet was gifted with rare insight into character, and always said the right word to the right person. On being introduced to the* late Nicholas Longworth, of Cinoinnati, ft quiok-witted old gentleman who dearly loved a joke, reference was made to the similarity of the fir ft syllables of their names. 11 Worth makes tho man, and want of it bhefelbw," replied Mr. Longfellow, quoting Pope's famous line, and thereby making one of the beat repartees on record. Probably no American, unless it was the President of tho United States, received bo many visitois as the poet. They came from all parts of the world, and were received — even tho humblest — with a gracious kindness which aoid, " The man who wishes to flee me is the man I wish to see." Sometimes these visitors amused him. Onoo an Englishman thus abruptly introduced himself — " I "Is this Mr. Longfellow I Well, sir, as you j hate no ruins in your country, I thought — I thought — " and his embarrassment checked him for a moment—" I thought I would call and see you." Not a smile flickered across the faco of the oourteous poet as he welcomed the well-in-tentioned but awkward John Bull.

" Mtijou, Professor of Physiology at Genoa, i having produced at Paris an investigation of the results of the guillotine, states that, having exposed the heads, a quarter of an hour after deoapation, to a strong light, the eyelids olosed suddenly ; tho tongue, which protruded from the lips, being pricked with ft needle, was drawn back into the mouth, and the countenance expressed sudden pain. The head of a criminal named Tillier, beinjj submitted to examination after the guillqtino, turned in every direction from whence it wa« called by name. A report hitherto treated »» fabulous, may, thereforo, bo btfieved — that when the executioner gave a blow on the lace of Charlotte Corday'a head, tha countenance exprosfled violent indignation. Fontenelle asserts that he han frequently neon the heads of guillotined persona movo tbelir lips, and 'oil memoirs contain many othfr apparently inoredible but equally authent icated fact*. Biveling declares that by touohL ig the spina? cord tho most horrible demon st* ations of agony succeed."— VtrstJM Ycarjiey m /Cnwiilcdge. ' >