[Boston—Thursday, 20 October 1870]
Thursday. Petersen an artist and a Dane came to lunch. A large, free, grand looking norse man—with a quick head and a warm heart. He is young but growing. He repeated to us the Danish war-song and showed his appreciation of Longfellow by repeating also some of his verses. He knows Denmark well & is a loyal son. Thorwaldsen he considers their great man, and when he mistook a question and thought I said who is the next greatest, he replied “Hamlet.” His rapture over the sunset from our window was delightful. But the heart must have been dull wh. could not feel last night’s glory!
He says the highest hill in his country is 500 feet. Southern Sweden is much like New England. Nahant is enchanting to him—full of work & suggestions. He has made a world of sketches this summer. An acquaintance of Hans Christian Andersen & a wide awake breezy fellow in himself, it was like a breath from the north land to see him.
Mr. & Mrs Winsor of the Public Library came at night to see mother and Sarah. I went tired to bed.
Jamie in the course of the day had an interview with the tutor of the Earl of Aberdeen whose touching story as George H. Gordon seaman they are now hunting up in this country. They have fine photographs of the young man with him. Lady Aberdeen has but one son now left her, but he like the others is promising.
He threw himself overboard or was lost in a storm. His brother who succeeded him, also a man of marked elevation of character is thought to have shot himself.