[Boston—Monday, 13 May 1872]
Monday May 13. Another lecture from Emerson. “Culture”. Poetry, religion, love. “Superna Respicit Amor.” The lecture was a storehouse of delights and inspirations. Goethe gave a noble contribution in that passage where he bravely recounts his indebtedness to the Great of all ages. Varnhagen von Ense, Jacob Behman, Swedenborg and the poets all gave their share. There was an interlude upon Domestic Life where alone the true man could be revealed which was like a symphony in harmony & sweetness. Indeed there is but one Emerson—may he live as long as one for he can never be repeated and when he vanishes a great gap will be left in our world. He came today to see Mr. Fields. He flouts the idea of that preacher Horace Greeley being put up as candidate for President. “If it had been Charles Francis Adams, now we should all have voted for him, to be sure it would be his father and grandfather for whom we were voting, but we should all believe in him.
These lectures are more satisfactory we think than his last course delivered in Boston. One thing is certain, he flings his whole spirit into them. He not only reads his selected poems but he infuses into their rendering the pure essence of his own poetic life. We can never forget “The Wind” a Welsh poem by Taliessin; (I may have spelled the name wrong) the very rush of the elements was in it.
These last 13 days have been crowded with incidents—many interesting things have occurred, many important things said which I have much wished to record but until tonight I have scarcely taken pen in hand. We are at present full of starting a university for Women in Boston. To this end Jamie intends having a course of Free lectures on English Literature in the last trimester of this year in order to bring the audience together. They will probably be followed by a scientific course. “J.” has gone tonight to see Phillips Brooks and other eminent speakers.
Mrs Diaz, Celia Thaxter, & Lucy Larcom have all made me short visits. Mr. Collyer dined here the night before leaving for Chicago. He has nearly collected the money for building his church. Mr. Gutch a young English gentleman has also been with us.
