Carlyle's laugh, and other surprisesHigginson, Thomas Wentworth
History
Carlyle's laugh, and other surprises
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth
American literature -- History and criticism; Authors, American
once admitted they become his children, and the reciprocal
relation is cherished with corresponding tenderness and
respect. I should like to proceed a little farther in this
subject, but the bottom of my paper forbids.
The following is from Ticknor again, and shows, though without giving
details, that the young men had extended their observations beyond
Göttingen:—
GÖTTINGEN, November 30, 1816.
DEAR SIR,—On returning here about a fortnight since, after a
journey through North Germany which had occupied us about two
months, I found your kind letter of August 4 waiting to welcome
me. I thank you for it with all my heart, and take the first
moment of leisure I can find in the busy commencement of a new
term, to answer it, that I may soon have the same pleasure
again.
You say you wish to hear from me what hours of relaxation
I have, and what acquaintances I make, in this part of the
Continent. The first is very easily told, and the last would
not have been difficult before the journey from which I have
just returned; but now the number is more than I can write or
you willingly hear. However, I will answer both your inquiries
in the spirit in which they are made.
As to relaxation, in the sense of the word in which I used to
employ it at home,—meaning the hours I lounged so happily away
when the weariness of the evening came, on your sofa, and the
time I used to pass with my friends in general, I know not how
or why, but always gayly and thoughtlessly,—of this sort of
relaxation I know nothing here but the end of an evening which
I occasionally permit myself to spend with Cogswell, whose
residence here has in this respect changed the whole color of
my life. During the last semester, I used to visit occasionally
at about twenty houses in Göttingen, chiefly as a means of
learning to speak the language. As the population here is so
changeable, and as every man is left to live exactly as he
chooses, it is customary for all those who wish to continue
their intercourse with the persons resident here to make a call
at the beginning of each semester, which is considered a notice
that they are still here and still mean to go into society.
I, however, feel no longer the necessity of visiting for the
purpose of learning German, and now that Cogswell is here
cannot desire it for any other purpose; have made visits only
to three or four of the professors, and shall, therefore, not
go abroad at all. As to exercise, however, I have enough. Three
times a day I must cross the city entirely to get my lessons.
I go out twice besides, a shorter distance for dinner and a
fourth lesson; and four times a week I take an hour’s exercise
for conscience’ sake and my mother’s in the riding-school. Four
times a week I make Cogswell a visit of half an hour after
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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