I am endeavoring to replace, as well as possible, the old elms, and find it difficult to obtain many of the size I desire. Some parts of the College ground are so thickly planted that a tree may be removed, here & there, without at all impairing the beauty of the grounds. I therefore request permission to remove any 3 trees that the College Steward shall say may be taken without detriment to the College property. Yrs very truly, HENRY W. LONGFELLOW. CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 29 [1843].{39} {37 Miss Alice M. Longfellow in _The Cambridge Tribune_, April 21, 1900, page 4.} {38 A history of this house from original documents was prepared by Samuel S. Green, of Worcester, and was read by him before the American Antiquarian Society, April 25, 1900, and published in their documents.} {39 _Harvard College Papers_ [MS.], 2d ser. xii. 26.} CHAPTER XI HYPERION AND THE REACTION FROM IT "Outre-Mer" had been published some time before, with moderate success, but "Hyperion" was destined to attract far more attention. It is first mentioned in his journal on September 13, 1838, though in a way which shows that it had been for some time in preparation, and its gradual development is traceable through the same channel. One entire book, for instance, was written and suppressed, namely, "St. Clair's Day Book," the hero having first been christened Hyperion, then St. Clair, and then Paul Flemming. Its author wrote of it, "I called it 'Hyperion,' because it moves on high among clouds and stars, and expresses the various aspirations of the soul of man. It is all modelled on this idea, style and all. It contains my cherished thoughts for three years."{40}