The Wayside Inn · Curious Questions

"Around the fireside at their ease,
There sat a group of friends."

The old Howe Tavern in Sudbury, Mass., has been made memorable by Longfellow's beautiful poem, "Tales of a Wayside Inn;" and an added interest in given to the poem when we know that this gathering of "friends" was not a mere poetical fancy, but a fact, and that among the dramatis personae are many well-known characters.

The first part of the poem was written in 1861, just three months before the breaking-out of our civil war.

In the prelude we are introduced to the guests at the inn, who in turn beguile the evening hours with an interchange of stories.

"But first the landlord will I trace,
Grave in his aspect and attire:
A man of ancient pedigree,
A justice of the peace was he,
Known in all Sudbury as the Squire."

The "landlord" was Squire Lyman Howe; and his tale, "Paul Revere's Ride," is the first of the series.

"A youth was there of quiet ways,
A student of old books and days,
To whom all tongues and lands were known,
And yet a lover of his own."

The "student" was Dr. Henry W. Wales of Boston, a liberal friend of Harvard College. His tale was "The Falcon of Ser Federigo."

"A young Sicilian, too, was there,
In sight of AEtna born and bred."

The "Sicilian" was Professor Luigi Monti, an author and a lecturer, and for many years a most intimate friend of Longfellow.
His tale was "King Robert of Sicily."

"A Spanish Jew from Alicant,
With aspect grand and grave, was there;
Vender of silks and fabrics rare,
And attar of rose from the Levant."

The "Spanish Jew," named Edrehi, was evidently introduced to give variety to the tales, by bringing in thoughts and traditions of an ancient race; for he was not one of the party, though a Jew with whom Longfellow was well acquainted in Boston.
He adds to the tales, "The Legend of Rabbi Ben Levi."

"A theologian, from the school
Of Cambridge on the Charles, was there:
Skilful alike with tongue and pen,
He preached to all men everywhere
The gospel of the Golden Rule."

The "theologian" has been variously assigned,--by some to the Rev. Samuel Longfellow, a brother of the poet; by others to Professor Trowbridge: but Professor Monti sets all doubts at rest by assuring us, in his lecture on "The Wayside Inn," that the theologian was Professor Daniel Tredwell.

He took as his subject a story of the Inquisition, "Torquemada."

"A poet, too, was there, whose verse
Was tender, musical, and terse."

This was Dr. Parsons, known best to scholars by his translation of the "Divina Commedia." He was a man of genius, but so retiring that he shrank from applause, and almost dreaded fame. He gave "The Birds of Killingworth."

"Last the musician, as he stood
Illumined by that fire of wood;
Fair-haired, blue-eyed, his aspect blithe,
His figure tall and straight and lithe,
And every feature of his face
Revealing his Norwegian race;
A radiance streaming from within,
Around his eyes and forehead beamed;
The angel with the violin,
Painted by Raphael, he seemed."

One has no difficulty in recognizing Ole Bull in this description. He was born at Bergen, Norway, Feb. 5, 1810.

He visited the United States several times, and gave violin recitals with great success. In 1852 he bought a large tract of land in Pennsylvania, and there founded a colony, which was called Oleana in his honor; but it was soon given up, and he returned to his profession.

He died in Norway, Aug. 17, 1880, aged seventy years. Ole Bull was not one of the "group of friends," but is a very important factor in the poem. In his tale, "The Saga of King Olaf," we have some striking specimens of Scandinavian literature, historical, mythic, heroic, and romantic.

"A strain of music closed the tale,
A low, monotonous, funeral wail,
That with its cadence, wild and sweet,
Made the long Saga more complete.
Then all arose, and said "Good-night."

The second series of the tales, although representing "The Second Day" at the inn, was not published until 1872. The same group of friends in a similar manner interchange stories and music.

A third series appeared in 1873, representing a third evening. In this are some of the most beautiful poems in the whole collection, and the closing lines are full of pathos:--

"These are the tales those merry guests
Told to each other, well or ill; . . .
These are the tales, or new or old,
In idle moments idly told: . . .
And still, reluctant to retire,
The friends sat talking by the fire. . . .
But sleep at last the victory won:
They must be stirring with the sun;
And drowsily good-night they said,
And went, still gossiping, to bed. . . .
Uprose the sun; and every guest,
Uprisen, was soon equipped and dressed
For journeying home and cityward. . . .
'Farewell!' the portly landlord cried:
'Farewell!' the parting guests replied,
But little thought that nevermore
Their feet would pass that threshold o'er;
That nevermore together there
Would they assemble, free from care,
To breathe the wholesome country air."