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VanDyke, Henry-1852-1933
VanDyke, 1852-1933 Henry
Henry van Dyke Family Papers
Page 1 of 9
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Henry van
Dyke
Family Papers
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1694-1963, bulk 1840-
1950s
Manuscripts Division
Department of Rare Books
Henry Jackson van Dyke
and Special Collections
(1822-1891)
Princeton University Library
Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)
2003
A
Introduction
Finding Aid
Collection Description
Series Descriptions
Prepared
with Biographical
Notes
by
Box/Folder Listing
Barbara Volz
Father and son, Henry and
Tertius van Dyke
Introduction
http://libweb.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/vandyke/
1/24/2008
Van Dyck
Van Dyke
tant battles in which he was in chief command,
years in New York he also taught Hebrew in
his real merits have been generally overlooked.
Union Theological Seminary. Returning to Bei-
[Some letters and papers in Lib. of Cong.; A Sol-
rut in September 1867 he became editor of the
dier's Honor with Reminiscences of Major-Gen. Earl
mission press of its weekly journal al-Nash-
Van Dorn by his Comrades (1902), ed. by E. V. D.
Miller G. W. Cullum, Biog. Register of the Officers and
rah, and, at the same time, professor of pathology
Grads. of the U. S. Military Acad., 3rd ed., vol. II
in the medical department of the Syrian Protes-
(1891) War of the Rebellion: Official Records
(Army) ; R. U. Johnson and C. C. Buel. Battles and
tant College, professor of astronomy in the de-
Leaders of the Civil War, vols. I-II (1887-88) Con-
partment of arts and sciences, and director of
federate Military Hist. (1899), vol. VII, ed. by C. A.
Evans: A. V. D. Honeyman, The Van Doorn Family
the astronomical and meteorological observatory.
(1909).]
T.M.S.
He found time also to carry on medical practice
and to write Arabic texts on pathology, chemis-
VAN DYCK, CORNELIUS VAN ALEN
try, internal medicine, physical diagnosis, and
(Aug. I3, 1818-Nov. I3, 1895), Arabic scholar,
astronomy. After resigning his professorship in
medical missionary, was born at Kinderhook, N.
1883, he practised in the Hospital of St. George
Y., the son of Henry L. and Catherine (Van
until 1893, meanwhile publishing in Arabic eight
Alen) Van Dyck. After preparation at Kinder-
volumes of science primers, a popular volume on
hook Academy, he attended Jefferson Medical
astronomy, and a translation of Mrs. E. R.
College in Philadelphia, graduating in 1839. Ap-
Charles's Chronicles of the Schönberg-Cotta
pointed a missionary of the American Board of
Family (1864). His last work was a translation
Commissioners for Foreign Missions he sailed
of Lew Wallace's Ben Hur. He was survived
from Boston for Syria in January IS40, and in
by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
April reached Beirut. After accompanying Wil-
Van Dyck played an important part in the
liam McClure Thomson [q.v.] on an extensive
modern renaissance of Arabic literature by show-
tour through northern Syria, he went in July to
ing that it was possible to write correct and idio-
Jerusalem. In January 1841 he was transferred
matic Arabic in style so simple as to be readily
to Beirut, where he studied Arabic intensively
understood even by the unlearned. Although one
under his lifelong friend Butrus al-Bustäni, the
of the great pioneer missionary physicians, he
lexicographer, Nasif al-Yazijl, a poet of distinc-
is remembered chiefly for his extraordinary mas-
tion, and Yusuf al-Asir, a Moslem mufti. A
tery of Arabic, and his intimate understanding
tenacious memory and natural linguistic ability
of the people among whom he worked with SO
enabled him to acquire rapidly a thorough knowl-
complete a lack of offensive condescension that
edge of both speech and literature. On Dec. 23,
Lebanese and Syrians adopted him as one of
1842, he married Julia, daughter of Peter Ab-
themselves.
bott, formerly British consul general in Beirut,
[Sources include H. H. Jessup, Fifty-three Years in
and in June of the following year moved to 'Abeih
Syria (1910) H. A. Kelly, A Cyc. of Am. Medic. Biog.
in the Lebanon, where he and Dr. Thomson con-
(2 vols., 1912) ; E. T. Corwin, A Manual of the Re-
formed Church in America (1902) obituary in Times
ducted a high school for boys. During the suc-
(London), Nov. 28, 1895; information furnished by
ceeding six years he prepared Arabic textbooks
W. T. Van Dyck, of Beirut, Syria, a son. Van Dyck's
Arabic publications are listed in Edward Van Dyck,
on geography, na igation, natural history, alge-
Iktifa' al-Qan bima Huwa Matb (Cairo, 1897), and
bra, geometry, and plane and spherical trig-
in J. E. Sarkis, Mu 'jam al-Matb at al 'Arabiyah
onometry. These books, later revised, long con-
wal-Mu 'arrabah (Cairo, 1928).]
W.L.W.,Jr.
tinued in general use. His geography of Syria
VAN DYKE, HENRY (Nov. IO, 1852-Apr.
and neighboring regions, full of apt quotations
10, 1933), poet, preacher, author, university
from classical Arabic travelers and geographers,
teacher, diplomat, was born in Germantown, Pa.,
had an especially wide popularity. Meanwhile
where his father, Henry Jackson van Dyke, was
he was studying theology, and on Jan. 14, 1846,
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. His
was ordained by the mission.
ancestry in the direct male line was derived from
Three years later he was transferred to Sidon,
Jan Thomasse van Dyke, the first magistrate of
his headquarters for extensive medical and
New Utrecht, Long Island, who emigrated to
preaching tours until November 1857, when he
America in 1652. His grandfather was a well-
moved to Beirut to continue the translation of
known physician and a graduate of Princeton.
the Bible into Arabic which had been begun in
His mother, Henrietta Ashmead, belonged to an
1848 by Eli Smith [q.v.]. Working in close co-
old and distinguished Germantown family. The
%operation with the ablest native and European
elder Van Dyke having accepted a call to Brook-
scholars, he completed the work in 1865 and
lyn the year after his son's birth, most of Henry's
at once proceeded to America to supervise the
boyhood was spent in Brooklyn and New York,
preparation of electrotype plates. During his two
where his father was prominent in the councils
I 86
e
Van Dyke
Van Dyke
taught Hebrew in
of the Presbyterian Church. Preparing at the
(appointment confirmed, June 27, 1913). Find-
Returning to Bei-
Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, he took the de-
ing it impossible to reconcile his ardent convic-
ame editor of the
gree of A.B. at Princeton in 1873 and graduated
tion of the right of the allied cause with his duties
journal al-Nash-
from the Princeton Theological Seminary in
as minister in a neutral country, he resigned on
essor of pathology
1877. The following year was spent in study at
Sept. 6, 1916. On his way home in 1917 he vis-
he Syrian Protes-
Berlin and travel abroad. His first pastorate
ited the battle fronts in France, received the de-
onomy in the de-
was at the United Congregational Church, New-
gree of D.C.L. at Oxford, and, having volun-
and director of
port, R. (1879-83). On Dec. I3, 1881, he was
teered for active service in the United States
gical observatory.
married to Ellen Reid of Baltimore, Md. From
Navy, he was appointed lieutenant commander
1 medical practice
1883 to 1899 he was minister of the Brick Pres-
in the Chaplain Corps. He was active in arous-
athology, chemis-
byterian Church in New York, returning for
ing public opinion in favor of a vigorous prose-
al diagnosis, and
brief periods in 1902 and I9II. In 1884 ap-
cution of the war and in the formation of a league
S professorship in
peared his first book, The Reality of Religion;
to enforce peace, of which he was one of the
ital of St. George
in 1889, The Poetry of Tennyson, revised and
original advocates. In 1919 the cross of a com-
ig in Arabic eight
enlarged in later editions; in 1896, The Gospel
mander of the Legion of Honor was conferred
opular volume on
for an Age of Doubt, being the Lyman Beecher
on him by the French government. He returned
of Mrs. E. R.
lectures at Yale. Two of his most popular books
in 1919 to his Princeton professorship, retiring
Schönberg-Cotta
of outdoor essays belong to this period, Little
in 1923. He was professor emeritus until his
was a translation
Rivers (1895), Fisherman's Luck (1899). His
death, and until 1929 he delivered annually a se-
He was survived
The Story of the Other Wise Man (1896) and
ries of university literary lectures to crowded
daughters.
The First Christmas Tree (1897) were first read
audiences. In 1931 he celebrated his golden wed-
tant part in the
at the Brick Church as Christmas sermons. In
ding. After a brief illness he died Apr. IO. at
terature by show-
1899 he accepted a call to Princeton University
dawn, in his home at Avalon in his eighty-first
correct and idio-
as Murray Professor of English Literature, the
year. He was survived by his wife and five of
e as to be readily
chair having been endowed for him in memory
their nine children.
ed. Although one
of Dr. James O. Murray [q.v.] his predecessor
A religious leader whose influence extended
y physicians, he
at the Brick Church and at Princeton. In 1900
far beyond the pale of his own church, an in-
traordinary mas-
he moved to Avalon, his Princeton home for the
spiring teacher of college youth, a writer of out-
te understanding
remainder of his life. In the foreword to his col-
door essays and short stories in prose of classic
worked with SO
lected works (17 vols., 1920-22), he wrote:
purity, of musical verse in the Victorian tradi-
indescension that
"This edition is named after the old house where
tion, a sympathetic interpreter of Tennyson, an
I him as one of
I live.
It is a pleasant camp,-this Avalon,
influential moulder of public opinion, a fervent
with big friendly trees around it, and an ancient
patriot, he crowded into a single life an achieve-
ifty-three Years in
garden behind it, and memories of the American
ment astonishing for its versatility and compe-
Am. Medic. Biog.
Revolution built into its walls and the gray tow-
tence of execution. He was not only an eloquent
Manual of the Re-
obituary in Times
ers of Princeton University just beyond the tree-
preacher but an organizer of institutional activi-
ation furnished by
tops." The period 1900-1914 was one of abundant
ties, making the Brick Church a center of civic
a son. Van Dyck's
ddard Van Dyck,
literary productivity. In volumes of poems, es-
consciousness and a power in the fight against
(Cairo, 1897), and
says, stories, travel-sketches, and literary criti-
political corruption. In the doctrinal contro-
is at al 'Arabiyah
cism, he shared with an ever-widening circle of
versies that shook the Presbyterian Church he
W., Jr.
readers the delights of his fishing-trips to Canada
was a valiant champion of a positive evangelical
J. IO, 1852-Apr.
during vacations, his travels abroad, his human
Christianity, defending it against a materialistic
thor, university
interest in people of all sorts and conditions, as
and rationalistic philosophy on the left and a
ermantown, Pa.,
well as the fruits of study and meditation in his
hard and dogmatic Calvinism on the right. In
1 van Dyke, was
library among companionable books. Among his
an address before the New York Presbytery
in Church. His
stories and romances are The Ruling Passion
(1890), "Is This Calvinism or Christianity," he
vas derived from
(1901), The Blue Flower (1902), The Unknown
repudiated the doctrine of reprobation as "meas-
'st magistrate of
Quantity (1912) among his essays, Days Off
uring the mind of God by the logic of the seven-
10 emigrated to
(1907) and Out of Doors in the Holy Land
teenth century"; "The Bible as It Is," in His-
her was a well-
(1908). In 1908-09 he was lecturer at the Sor-
toric Presbyterianism (1893), is a plea for
te of Princeton.
bonne, the lectures appearing as The Spirit of
liberty of investigation. His "A Plea for Peace
belonged to an
America (1910) and in French as Le Génie de
and Work" (1893) was signed by about 235
wn family. The
l'Amérique (1909).
Presbyterian ministers, and he was a member of
a call to Brook-
In 1912 he was elected president of the Na-
the original committee appointed by the modera-
most of Henry's
tional Institute of Arts and Letters, and in the
tor of the General Assembly, 1900, to consider
and New York,
following year President Wilson appointed him
the restatement of doctrine. The "Brief State-
in the councils
minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg
ment of the Reformed Faith" was adopted by an
187
Van Dyke
Van Dyke
overwhelming vote by the General Assembly of
than a D.D. from a learned University." He was
1902 (see Outlook, May 3I, 1902, p. 299), and
devoted to his father, to his brother Paul [q.v.],
his election as moderator was a recognition of
and to his own family, of whose life his daughter
his leadership in the movement for revision.
Brooke has given a charming picture. In poli-
Perhaps his most lasting contribution to his
tics a Democrat, he was on intimate terms of
church was his work as chairman of the com-
friendship with Grover Cleveland and Woodrow
mittee on The Book of Common Worship, com-
Wilson, and he always enjoyed the good fel-
pleted only two years before his death, in which
lowship of meetings with literary friends like
his own deeply devout spirit, his sense of form,
Mark Twain, James Whitcomb Riley, and Ham-
his loyalty to the faith of his fathers, and his
ilton Mabie. To younger aspirants for literary
literary taste contributed to produce a devotional
honors, especially his Princeton students, he
manual rich with the treasures of Christian ex-
gave generous encouragement. The vivid char-
perience.
acter portrait by Maxwell Struthers Burt in The
Versatility marks the work of Henry van
Van Dyke Book (1920 ed.) reveals the impres-
Dyke in the field of letters. His outdoor essays
sion he made on a discriminating novelist and
are in the main stream of the American tradition
poet of a younger generation. He called himself
of Thoreau, Burroughs, Muir, though his inter-
an adventurous conservative, and this sums up
est in human character and his deep religious
his essential quality as man and writer.
faith, always part of his delight in nature, give
[Who's Who in America, 1932-33; Tertius van
them a quality of their own. Of his poem, "God
Dyke, Henry Van Dyke, a Biog. (1935) The Van
of the Open Air," he said: "It best expresses
Dyke Book (1905; rev. ed., 1920), ed. by Edwin Mims.
with a biog. sketch by Brooke van Dyke ; Shepherd
me." He was an ardent angler, and his skill as
Knapp. A Hist. of the Brick Presbyt. Church in the City
a fisherman was excelled only by his skill as a
of N. Y. (1909) F. H. Law, Modern Great Americans
(1926) M. J. Gilley, "Lit. Works of Henry van Dyke."
narrator of his fisherman's luck. He was as par-
1923, master's thesis, Columbia Univ. Outlook, May
ticular in the choice of the right word as in the
I, 1897; Suburban Life, May 1908 "Book-News,"
May 1906, pub. by Wanamaker's Phila.; Princeton
choice of the right fly, and he could cast as un-
Alumni Weekly, May 5, 19, July 3, 1933 obituary in
erringly in the pools of fancy as in the pools
N. Y. Times, Apr. II, 1933 personal reminiscences.]
where the brook-trout lurked. The sketches and
stories of his French-Canadian guides and friends
VAN DYKE, JOHN CHARLES (Apr. 21.
are among his best. In them he avoids the sen-
1856-Dec. 5, 1932), art critic and librarian, was
timentality and tendency to preach into which
born at New Brunswick, N. J., a descendant of
the warmth of his heart and the fervor of his
Jan Thomasse van Dyke who emigrated from
convictions sometimes led him. His The Story
the Netherlands to New Amsterdam in 1652.
of the Other Wise Man has been translated into
His father, John Van Dyke, served in Congress
all European and several Oriental languages, and
and as justice of the supreme court of New Jer-
remains his best-known tale. The two volumes
sey. His mother, Mary Dix Strong, was the
of verse in the Avalon edition contain nature
daughter of Prof. Theodore Strong [q.v.]. The
lyrics, patriotic songs, hymns, odes, narrative
family moved to Minnesota in 1868, and John
verse, and a Biblical drama. He is always clear
added to the conventional education which he
and melodious, and, though facile, he had the
received from tutors that of a hard-riding and
conscientious craftsman's contempt for slipshod
straight-shooting plainsman. After study in the
work. Changing standards of taste, the reaction
Columbia Law School, he was in 1877 admitted
against the Victorians, the rise of a critical real-
to the bar, but never practised. Returning in
ism that challenged the "genteel tradition" have
1878 to his native New Brunswick, he served
diminished the literary prestige of most of Van
first as assistant librarian of the Gardner A.
Dyke's contemporaries, and from this diminution
Sage Library, New Brunswick Theological
his own work has not escaped, but when all
Seminary, and then (1886) as librarian. a po-
reservations are made, his place in American let-
sition which he held until his death. From the
ters is secure as master of a lucid style exquisite-
vantage point of his librarianship, with its rela-
ly adapted to its end.
tively easy duties and long vacations, he pursued
At the root of his nature was a love of the
personal studies in art which bore fruit in nu-
genuine and simple. The academician in his
merous books, mostly of a popular and interpre-
robes of office, the diplomat in silk hat and black
tative sort, which were widely read and influ-
cape, the Oxford D.C.L. in his gown of crimson,
ential His criticism was urbane, sensitive, free
he was most at home in his flannel shirt, felt hat,
from eccentricity. In a perhaps excessive avoid-
and wading boots, and declared: "The good word
ance of overstatement it recalls the contemporary
of a plain fisherman or hunter is worth more
literary criticism of William Dean Howells. In
I 88
van Dyke, Henry. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001
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CONTENTS . INDEX . GUIDE . BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
van Dyke, Henry
1852-1933, American clergyman, educator, and author, b. Germantown, Pa., grad.
Princeton, 1873, and Princeton Theological Seminary, 1874. He was pastor of the Brick
Presbyterian Church, New York City (1883-99), professor of English literature at
Princeton (1899-1923), and U.S. minister to the Netherlands (1913-16). Among his
popular inspirational writings is the Christmas story The Other Wise Man (1896). The
themes of his sermons are also expressed in his poetry and the essays collected in Little
Rivers (1895) and Fisherman's Luck (1899). He translated (1902) The Blue Flower of
Novalis.
See biography by his son, Tertius van Dyke (1935).
2
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2003 Columbia University Press.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/e-/E-vanDyke.htm)
1/14/2004
Harpers New Monthly Nagazine July 1885. dp. 217-27-1200
Henry J. Van Dyhe Jr.
V.1.71, # 422
AMPERSAND.
T
HERE are many people in the world
ourselves. We feel a certain proprietor-
who profess to love Nature. But if
ship in them. It pleases our sense of
you inquire somewhat closely you shall
originality to find that we do not need a
find that, for the most part, they love her
hand-board or a guide-book to tell us when
at a distance, and when they have nothing
to admire. And does not every man owe
better to engage their affections. I shall
something to his sense of originality?
never forget the German gentleman whom
In brief, then, I prefer the by-way to
I met on the top of the Schneekopf, in
the highway. On principle, not in a lax,
the Thüringerwald. At first sight of the
immoral way, but on the soundest and
lovely view he went into a guttural con-
most reasonable grounds, I love digres-
vulsion of ecstasy, "Ach! wie wunder-
sions-in books, in sermons, and in jour-
schön !"-which lasted just fifty-three sec-
neys; and to tell the truth, I am digressing
onds: and the rest of the time he was ab-
now. The gentle reader would recall the
sorbed in the contemplation of sandwiches
wandering pen, and pray to be told what
and beer. It did seem to me that he could
Ampersand is.)
have thus employed himself with less trou-
It is a mountain. It is a lake. It is
ble at the foot of the mountain, but per-
a stream. The mountain stands in the
haps also with less appetite. And, after
heart of the Adiroudack country, just near
all, his passion for the beautiful may have
enough to the thoroughfare of travel for
been sincere; for it is a well-known fact
thousands of people to see it every year,
that even the truest love is subject to
and just far enough away from the beat-
pains of hunger.
en track to be unvisited except by a very
But my own test for the right lover of
few of the wise ones who love to digress.
Nature is a very simple one. He must
Behind the mountam is the lake, which
be one who in making a journey between
no lazy man has ever seen. Out of the
two points will choose, not the straight
lake flows the stream, winding down a long
line (the mathematical I abhor), nor the
untrodden forest valley, until at length it
smooth line (the sybaritical I contenn),
joins the Stony Creek waters and empties
but the crooked line, the line which wan-
into the Raquette River. Which of the
ders up hill and down dale, leading him
three Ampersands has the prior claim to
who follows it through sweet and secret
the name I can not tell. Philosophically
places, delaying him with fragrant mea-
speaking, the mountain ought to be re-
dows, babbling streams, cool shadows of
garded as the father of the family, because
trees and rocks, and bringing him at last
it was undoubtedly there before the others
to his journey's end with a kind of sur-
existed. And the lake was probably the
prise and regret, Those are the brightest
next on the ground, because the stream is
flowers which bloom where the crowd
its child. But man is not strictly just in
never think to look for them. Those are
his nomenclature; and I conjecture that
the fairest views which we discover for
the little river, the last-born of the three,
218
HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
AMPERSAND LAKE.
was the first to be called Ampersand, and
month last summer at Bartlett's, Amper-
then gave its name to its parent and grand-
sand challenged me daily.
parent. It is such a crooked stream, SO
Do you know Bartlett's? It is the home-
bent and curved and twisted upon itself,
liest, quaintest, coziest place in the Adiron-
SO fond of turning around unexpected cor-
dacks. A score of years or more ago Vir-
ners and sweeping away in great circles
gil Bartlett came into the woods, and built
from its direct course, that its first ex-
his house on the bank of the Saranac Riv-
plorers christened it after the eccentric su-
er, between the Upper Saranac and Round
pernumerary of the alphabet which ap-
Lake. It was then the only dwelling
pears in the old spelling-books as &
within a circle of many miles. The deer
But in spite of this apparent subordina-
and bear were in the majority. At night
tion to the stream in the matter of a name,
one could sometimes hear the scream of
the mountain clearly asserts its natural su-
the panther or the howling of wolves. But
periority. It stands up boldly, and domi-
now the wilderness has begun to wear the
nates not only its own lake, but at least
traces of a conventional smile. The desert
three others. The Lower Saranac, Round
is blossoming a little-if not as the rose, at
Lake, and Lonesome Pond are all stretched
least as the gilly-flower. Fields have been
at its foot and acknowledge its lordship.
cleared, gardens planted; half a dozen log
When the cloud is on its brow, they are
cabins have been scattered along the riv-
dark. When the sunlight strikes it, they
er; and the old house, having grown slow-
smile. Wherever you may go over the
ly and somewhat irregularly for twenty
waters of these lakes you shall see Amper-
years, has lately come out in a modest coat
sand looking down at you and saying,
of paint and a broad-brimmed piazza. But
quietly, "This is my domain."
Virgil himself, the creator of the oasis-
Now I never see a mountain which as-
well known of hunters and fishermen,
serts itself in this fashion without desiring
dreaded of lazy guides and teamsters-
to stand on the top of it. If one can reach
"Virge," the irascible, kind-hearted, inde-
the summit, one becomes a sharer in the
fatigable, is here no longer. He will do
dominion? The difficulties in the way only
his friends no more favors, and put his foes
add to the zest of the victory Every
to confusion no'more. His short, imperi-
mountain is, rightly considered, an invita-
ous figure will not meet us again at the
tion to climb. And as I was resting for a
landing. For he has "gone out of the
AMPERSAND.
219
wilderness," and no man can fill his place.
ing over the stones, the same eddy coiling
Peace be to thy memory, old friend There
at the edge of the pool. Send your fly in
are some who will not forget thy kindness-
under those hanging branches, where the
es in the good days that are past.
water swirls around by that old log. Now
The charm of Bartlett's for the angler
draw it up toward the foam. There is a
lies in the stretch of rapid water which
sudden gleam of dull gold in the white
flows just in front of the house. The Sar-
water. You strike too soon. Your line
anac River, breaking from its first rest-
comes back to you: In a current like this
ing-place in the Upper Lake, plunges down
a fish will almost always hook himself.
through a great bed of rocks, making a
Try it again. This time he strikes the fly
succession of short falls and pools and rap-
fairly, and you have him. It is a good
ids, about a quarter of a mile in length
fish, and makes the slender rod bend to the
Here, in the spring and early summer, the
strain. He sulks for a moment as if un-
W.G.Firies
BARTLETT'S VILLAGE.
speckled trout-brightest and gamiest of all
certain what to do, and then with a rush
fish that swim-are found in great num-
darts into the swiftest part of the current.
bers. As the season advances they move
You can never stop him there. Let him
away into the deep water of the lakes.
go. Keep just enough pressure on him to
But there are always a few stragglers left,
hold the hook firm, and follow his trout-
and I have taken them in the rapids at the
ship down the stream as if he were a salm-
very end of August. What could be more
on. He slides over a little fall, gleaming
delightful than to spend an hour or two in
through the foam, and swings around in
the early morning, or about sundown, of
the next pool. Here you can manage him
each day, in wading this rushing stream,
more easily: and after a few minutes brill-
and casting the fly on its clear waters ?
iant play, a few mad dashes for the cur-
The wind blows softly down the narrow
rent, and one splendid leap out of water,
valley, and the trees nod from the rocks
he comes to the net, and your skillful
above you. The noise of the falls makes
guide lands him with a quick, steady sweep
constant music in your ears. The river
of the arm. The scales credit him with an
hurries past you, and yet it is never gone.
even pound of flesh, and a better fish than
The same foam-flakes seem to be always
this you will hardly take here in midsum-
gliding downward, the same spray dash-
mer.
220
HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
On my word, master," says the appre-
will make for you a bed of fragrant bal-
ciative Venator, in Walton's Angler. this
sam boughs on which Insomnia can nev-
is a gallant trout; what shall we do with
er find you. Such a guide was mine, re-
him And honest Piscator replies:
joicing in the Scriptural name of Hosea,
Marry! e'en eat him to supper; we'll go
but commonly called, in brevity and
to my hostess from whence we came; she
friendliness, 'Hose.
told me, as I was going out of door, that
As we entered Round Lake on this fair
my brother Peter R. R.), a good angler
morning its surface was as smooth and
and a cheerful companion, had sent word
shining as a mirror. It was too early yet
he would lodge there to-night, and bring
for the tide of travel which sends a score
a friend with him. My hostess has two
of boats up and down this thoroughfare
beds, and I know you and I have the best;
every day; and from shore to shore the
we'll rejoice with my brother Peter and
water was unruffled, except by a flock of
his friend, tell tales, or sing ballads, or
sheldrakes which had been feeding near
make a catch, or find some harmless sport
Plymouth Rock, and now went skittering
to content us, and pass away a little time
off into Weller Bay with great splashing
without offense to God or man.'
and noise, leaving a long wake of foam
Ampersand waited patiently while I
behind them. At such a time as this you
passed many days in such innocent and
can see the real color of these Adirondack
healthful pleasures as these, until the right
lakes. It is not blue, as romantic writers
day came for the ascent. Cool, clean, and
SO often describe it, nor green, like some
bright, the crystal morning promised a
of those wonderful Swiss lakes, although
glorious noon, and the mountain almost
of course it reflects the color of the trees
seemed to beckon us to come up higher.
along the shore; and when the wind stirs
My photographic camera and a trustwor-
it, it gives back the lue of the sky, blue
thy lunch were stowed away in the pack-
when it is clear, gray when the clouds are
basket. The backboard was adjusted at a
gathering, and sometimes as black as ink
comfortable angle in the stern seat of our
under the shadow of storm. But when
little boat. "The guide held the little craft
it is still, the water itself is like that river
steady while I stepped into my place; then
which one of the poets has described as
he pushed out into the stream, and wewent
"Flowing with a smooth brown current."
swiftly down toward Round Lake.
The motion of these Saranac boats is
And in this broad burnished mirror the
delightful. They are light and somewhat
mountains and islands were reflected per-
cranky-frail shells, through the sides of
fectly, and the sun shone back from it
which you can easily put your heel by a
not in broken gleams or a wide lane of
careless step-but in the hands of an ex-
light, but like a single ball of fire, moving
perienced oarsman they are as safe as a
before us as we moved.
Cunarder, riding the heaviest sea like a
But stop! What was that dark speck
duck, and slipping through the water with
on the water which I saw away down to-
magical ease. One can travel in them all
ward Turtle Point? It was just the color
day long without fatigue, and forty miles
and size of a deer's head. It seemed to
is no uncommon journey with a good
move steadily out into the lake. A little
guide.
ripple, like a wake, appeared behind it.
Everything depends in the Adirondacks
Hose turned to look at it, and then sent
upon your guide. If he is lazy, OP selfish,
the boat darting in that direction with
or stupid, you will not enjoy yourself;
long, swift strokes. It was a moment of
but if he is the right kind of a guide, he pleasant excitement, and we began to con-
will be at the same time your "philoso-
jecture whether the deer was a buck or a
pher and friend." He will initiate you
doe, and whose hounds had driven it in.
into the mysteries of wood-craft. He will
But when Hose turned to look again, he
tell you the secrets of "spring-holes" and
slackened his stroke, and said: "I guess
"runways." He will cook for you when
we needn't to hurry; he won't get away.
you are hungry, and find a cold stream for
It's astonishin' what a lot of fun a man
you when you are thirsty. He will tell
can get in the course of a natural life in
you endless stories of hunting and fish-
chasin' chumps of wood."
ing when you are in the talking mood,
We landed on a sand beach at the
and keep a discreet silence when you are
mouth of a little stream, where a blazed
meditative. And when you are sleepy he
tree marked the beginning of the Amper-
AMPERSAND.
221
TROUTING.
sand trail. [This line, or path, through
the unwary wanderer is thereby led aside
the forest was first made some fifteen
from the right way, and entangled in the
years ago by that ardent sportsman and
undergrowth. (And as for Nature, she is
lover of the Adirondacks Dr. W. W. Ely,
entirely opposed to the continuance of
of Rochester. Since that time it has been
paths through her forest. Slie covers
shortened and improved a little by other
them with fallen leaves, and hides them
travellers, and also not a little blocked
with thick bushes. She drops great trees
and confused by the lumbermen and the
across them, and blots them out with
course of Nature. For when the lumber-
windfalls. But the blazed line - a suc-
men go into the woods they cut roads in
cession of broad axe-marks on the trunks
every direction, leading nowhither, and
of the trees, just high enough to catch
222
HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
MAKING A PORTAGE.
the eye on a level-can not be SO easily
ern forests you must have often wonder-
obliterated, and this, after all, is the safest
ed at the absence of life. and felt a sense
guide through the woods
of pity for the apparent loneliness of the
Our trail led us at first through a nat-
solitary squirrel that chatters at you as
ural meadow, overgrown with waist-high
you pass, or the little bird that hops noise-
grass, and very spongy to the tread. Hor-
lessly about in the thickets. The middle
net-haunted also, was this meadow, and
of the day is an especially silent and de-
therefore no place for idle dalliance or
serted time. The deer are asleep in some
unwary digression, for the bite of the hor-
leafy covert. The partridge has gathered
net is one of the saddest and most humil-
her brood in a quiet nook for their noon-
iating surprises of this mortal life. Then
day nap. The squirrels are perhaps count-
through a tangle of old wood roads my
ing over their store of nuts in a hollow
guide led me safely, and we struck up on
tree, and the wood-thrush spares her sweet
the long ridges which slope gently from
voice until the evening. The woods are
the lake to the base of the mountain.
close-not cool and fragrant as the fool-
Here walking was comparatively easy,
ish romances describe them - but warm
for in the hard-wood timber there is little
and still; for the breeze which sweeps
underbrush. The long massive trunks
across the hill-top and ruffles the surface
seemed like pillars set to uphold the level
of the lake does not penetrate into these
roof of green. Great yellow birches, shag-
shady recesses, and therefore all the in-
gy with age, stretched their knotted arms
habitants take the noon-tide as their hour
high above us, sugar-maples stood up
of rest. Only the big woodpecker-lie of
straight and proud under their leafy
the scarlet head and mighty bill-is inde-
crowns, and innumerable smooth beech-
fatigable, and somewhere unseen is "tap-
es-the most polished and park-like of all
ping the hollow beech-tree," while a wake-
the forest trees-offered special opportu-
ful little bird, invisible though near at
nities for the carving of lovers' names in
hand, pierces the air with his long-drawn
a place where few lovers ever come.
Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-ee!"
As we walked onward the woods were
After about an hour of this easy walk-
very quiet. It seemed as if all living
ing our trail began to ascend more sharp-
creatures had deserted them. Indeed,
ly. We passed over the shoulder of a ridge
if you have spent much time in our North-
and around the edge of a fire-slash, and
AMPERSAND
223
then we had the mountain fairly before
the very summit, feel the splendor of the
us.
Not that we could see anything of it,
outlook flash upon one like a revelation.
for the woods still shut us in, but the path
The character of the woods through
became very steep, and we knew that it
which we were now passing was entirely
was a straight climb; not up and down and
different from that on the lower levels.
round about did this most uncompromising
On these steep places the birch and ma-
trail proceed, but right up, in a direct line
ple will not grow. or at least they occur
for the summit. Now this side of Amper-
but sparsely. The higher slopes and sharp
sand is steeper than any Gothic roof I have
ridges of the mountains are always cover-
ever seen, and withal very much encum-
ed with black timber. Spruce and
hem-
bered with rocks and ledges and fallen
lock and balsam strike their roots among
trees. There were places where we had to
the rocks, and find a hidden nourishment.
haul ourselves up by roots and branches,
They stand close together; thickets of small
and places where we had to go down on
trees spring up among the large ones; from
our hands and knees to crawl under logs.
year to year the great trunks are falling,
It was breathless work, but not at all
dangerous or difficult. Every step
forward was also a step upward and
as we stopped to rest for a moment.
we could see already glimpses of the
lake below us. But at these I did not
much care to look, for I think it is a
pity to spoil the surprise of a grand
view by taking little snatches of it
beforehand. It is better to keep one's
face set to the mountain, and then
coming out from the dark forest upon
224
HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
one across another, and the undergrowth
seemed like the landscape of a dream.
is thickening around them, until a spruce
One almost feared to speak lest it should
forest seems to be almost impassable. The
vanish.
constant rain of needles and the crum-
Right below us the Lower Saranac and
bling of the fallen trees form a rich, soft
Lonesome Pond, Round Lake and the
forest mould, into which the foot sinks
Weller Ponds, were spread out like a
noiselessly. Deep. wonderful beds of moss,
map. Every point and island was clear-
many feet in thickness, and softer than
ly marked. We could follow the course
feathers. cover the rocks and roots. There
of the Saranac River in all its curves and
are shadows never broken by the sun, and
windings, and see the white tent of the
dark, cool springs of icy water hidden
hay-makers on the wild meadows. Far
away in the crevices.
You feel a sense of
away to the northeast stretched the level
antiquity here which you can never feel
fields of Bloomingdale. But westward
among the maples and beeches. Long-
from that all was unbroken wilderness, a
fellow was right when he filled his forest
great sea of woods as far as the eye could
primeval with "murmuring pines and
reach. And how far it can reach from
hemlocks.
a height like this! What a revelation it
The higher one climbs the darker and
gives to us of the power of sight! That
gloomier and more rugged the vegetation
faint blue outline far in the north was
becomes. The pine-trees soon cease to
Lyon Mountain, nearly thirty miles away
follow you; the hemlocks disappear, and
as the crow flies. Those silver gleams a
the balsams can go no farther. Only the
little nearer were the waters of St. Regis.
hardy spruce keeps on bravely, growing
The Upper Saranac was displayed in all
more and more rough and stunted, with
its length and breadth, and beyond it the
branches matted together and pressed
innumerable waters of Fish Creek were
down flat by the weight of the winter's
glistening among the dark woods. The
snow, until finally, somewhere about the
long ranges of the hills about the Jordan
level of thirty-four hundred feet above the
bounded the western horizon, and on the
sea, even this bold climber gives out, and
southwest Big Tupper Lake was sleeping
the weather-beaten rocks of the summit
at the base of Mount Morris. Looking
are clad only with the hardiest mosses and
past the peak of Stony Creek Mountain,
Alpine plants.
which rose sharp and distinct in a line
Thus it is with mountains, as perhaps
with Ampersand, we could trace the path
with men, a mark of superior dignity to
of the Raquette River from the distant
be naturally bald. Ampersand, falling
waters of Long Lake down through its
short by a thousand feet of the needful
far-stretched valley, and catch here and
height, can not claim this distinction.
there a silvery link of its current.
But what Nature has denied, human labor
But when we turned to the south and
has supplied. Under the direction of Mr.
east, how wonderful and how different
Verplanck Colviu, of the Adirondack Sur-
was the view Here was no wide-spread
vey, several acres of trees were cut away
and smiling landscape with gleams of sil-
from the summit, and when we emerged,
ver scattered through it, and soft blue
after the last sharp scramble, upon the
haze resting upon its fading verge, but a
very crest of the mountain, we were not
wild land of mountains, stern, rugged, tu-
shut in by a dense thicket, but stood upon
multuous, rising one beyond another like
a bare ridge of granite in the centre of a
the waves of a stormy ocean-Ossa piled
little clearing.
above Pelion-MeIntyre's sharp peak and
I shut my eyes for a moment, drew a
the ragged crest of the Gothics, and, above
few long breaths of the glorious breeze,
all, Marcy's dome-like head, raised just far
and then looked out upon a wonder and
enough above the others to assert his l'oy-
delight beyond description.
al right as monarch of the Adirondacks.
A soft, dazzling splendor filled the air.
But grandest of all, as seen from this
Snowy banks and drifts of cloud were
height, was Mount Seward-a solemn gi-
floating slowly over a wide and wondrous
ant of a mountain, standing apart from
land. Vast sweeps of forest, shining wa-
the others, and looking us full in the face.
ters, mountains near and far, the deepest
He was clothed from base to summit in a
green and the faintest, palest blue, chan-
dark unbroken robe of forest. Ou-kor-
ging colors and glancing lights, and all SO
lah, the Indians called him the Great
silent, SO strange, SO far away, that it Eye; and he seemed almost to frown upon
AMPERSAND
225
HEART OF THE ADIRONDACKS
us in defiance. At his feet, SO straight
below us that it seemed almost as if we
could cast a stone into its clear brown
depths, lay the wildest and most beau-
tiful of all the Adirondack waters-
Ampersand Pond.
2'on its shore, some five-and-twenty
years ago, the now almost forgotten
Adirondack Club had their shanty-
the successor of "the Philosophers' Camp"
cabin, to which they purposed to return
on Follensbee Pond. Agassiz, of Cam-
from summer to summer. But the civil
bridge, the genial and witty Tom Appleton,
war broke out, with all its terrible excite-
of Boston, Charles E. Norton, Emerson,
ment and confusion of hurrying hosts:
Lowell, Judge Hoar, Judge Gray, John
the club existed but for two years, and
Holmes, and W. J. Stillman, of The Na-
the little house in the wilderness was
tion, were among the company who made
abandoned. Ten years ago, when I spent
their resting-place under the shadow of
three weeks at Ampersand, the cabin was
Mount Seward. They had bought a tract
in ruins, tenanted only by an interesting
of forest land completely encircling the
family of what the guides quaintly call
pond, cut a rough road in to it through
"quill pigs," and surrounded by an al-
the woods, and built a comfortable log
most impenetrable growth of bushes and
226
HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
VIEW EAST FROM AMPERSAND
saplings, among which a brood of par-
at a downward angle. The power of the
tridges were in hiding. The roof had fall-
light at this elevation was to me in my
en to the ground raspberry-bushes thrust
inexperience an unknown quantity. And
themselves through the yawning crevices
the wind was sweeping vigorously across
between the logs; and in front of the sunk-
the open summit of the mountain. I put
en door-sill lay a rusty, broken iron stove,
in my smallest stop, and prepared for
like a dismantled altar on which the fire
short exposures.
had gone out forever. Since that time
My instrument was a Blair tourograph,
two new trails have been cut to the pond,
which is as compact and useful as any-
and it has become more accessible and
thing that is made, but differs from most
more frequented.
other cameras in having the plate-holder
After we had feasted our eyes upon the
on top of the box. The plates are dropped
view as long as we dared, counted the
into a groove below, and then moved back-
lakes and streams, and found that we could
ward OP forward into focus, after which
see without a glass more than thirty, and
the cap is removed and the exposure made.
recalled the memories of "good times"
I set my instrument for Ampersand
which came to us from almost every point
Pond, sighted the picture through the
of the compass, we unpacked the camera,
ground glass, and measured the focus.
and proceeded to take some pictures.
Then I waited for a quiet moment, dropped
If you are a photographer, and have
the plate, moved it carefully forward to
anything of the amateur's passion for
the proper mark, and went around to take
your art, you will appreciate my pleasure
off the cap. I found that I already had
and my anxiety. Never before, SO far as
it in my hand, and the plate had been ex-
I knew, had a camera been set up on Am-
posed for about thirty seconds, with a
persand. I had but eight plates with me.
sliding focus!
The views were all very distant and all
I expostulated with myself. I said:
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS'S LOVE AFFAIR.
227
"You are excited; you are stupid; you are
on among my most valuable chattels the
unworthy of the name of photographer.
plates of glass on which the sun has
Light-writer! You ought to write with a
traced for me (who can not draw) the out-
whitewash-brush! The reproof was ef-
lines of that loveliest landscape
fectual, and from that moment all went
The downward journey was swift and
well. The plates dropped smoothly, the
pleasant. We halted for an hour or two
camera was steady, the exposure was cor-
beside a trickling spring a few rods below
rect. Six good pictures were made, to re-
the summit to eat our lunch and rest.
call, SO far as black and white could do it,
Then, jumping, running, and sometimes
the delights of that day.
sliding, we made the proverbially easy de-
It has been my good fortune to climb
scent, passed in safety by the dreaded lair
many of the famous peaks of the Adiron-
of the hornet, and reached Bartlett's as the
daxks-Dix, the Dial, Hurricane, the Giant
day was declining to its peaceful close.
of the Valley, Marcy, and Whiteface-but
Tell me, I pray you, my gentle reader,
I do not think the outlook from any
was not this a day to be grateful for and
of them is SO wonderful and SO lovely as
are not these pleasures, as Izaak Walton
that from little Ampersand; and I reck-
saith, without offense to God or man?
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS'S LOVE AFFAIR
W
HEN Colonel Chowery, late of the
teen, used to go every afternoon at four to
Madras Infantry, went to settle at
fetch home her two younger sisters, Alice
Altenstadt with his wife and seven chil-
and Mary, who attended the High School
dren, he was impelled only by motives of
for young ladies. One December day, as
economy. If it had been predicted to him
the three girls were close to their home in
that his going to reside at the capital of
the Blumenstrasse, and were walking very
Gothia would nearly cause a revolution
fast and yly/because of the frost, they
in that country, and would lead to com-
saw a small Gothian boy, aged four, with
plications threatening a European war,
his shirt tail sticking out of his trou-
the disturbance of the balance of power,
sers (as the fashion for boys is in that
and the upsetting of an English ministry,
kingdom), toddle across the road just as
a
he would have thought such contingen-
phacton and pair were coming down at a
cies highly improbable. Colonel Chow-
spanking trot. 'Oh, Mab, he'll be run
ery was not an imaginative man; he could
over!" shrieked Alice and Mary together;
not even imagine how it was that, prac-
but before they could add another word,
ticing the utmost thrift, he found it SO
Mabel had rushed to the small Gothian's
difficult to square his accounts every
rescue, and had borne him out of harm's
quarter-day. As for wars and other such
way SO fast that she lost her balance and
exciting things, he fancied he had done
fell down with him. The small Gothian,
with them all when he retired from the
feeling deeply aggrieved, roared and kick-
Indian service on with three
ed out. The driver of the phaeton pulled
medals, and a thankful mind at having
up his team on their haunches, and Ma-
not the slightest touch of liver complaint.
bel, as she stood up pink with confusion,
But as a man can never make quite
recognized the Crown Prince in the tall,
sure of where he is going when he drives
dark, and handsome man who had alight-
a gig, SO a father can never plainly fore-
ed, hat in hand, and was asking her, in a
see what trials are in store for him when
voice of sincere concern, whether she was
he owns a pretty daughter. Mabel Chow-
hurt.
ery, the colonel's eldest girl, was one of
'No, sir, not in the least," faltered Ma-
the sweetest maidens you can picture in
bel, blushing all the more now she saw
your mind's eye, and it pleased his Royal
who the speaker was. Everybody knew
Highness the Crown Prince of Gothia to
the Crown Prince by sight: his photo-
fall in love with her. Here you have at
graph was in a hundred shop windows.
once all the elements for the very pretty
You had'a bad fall," he said, kindly,
kettle of fish above mentioned.
and it was my fault. Will you let me
The thing came about, quite naturally,
offer you my arm and escort you home?'
in this way: Mabel, who was then seven-
"Thank you," said Mabel. "We live
In 1921 al 1923, two ensurators
stephanleather
HENRY
DYKE
LOVER OF NATURE, INCORRIGIBLE FISHERMAN
the Director of National Parks, and Horace M. Albright, then
resources of natural beauty and healthful out-door life. The mothers
Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, Henry van Dyke
of America can do even more than the fathers to bring this idea home
made extended visits to the whole Yellowstone region and took an
and make it work." He refused to take part in the quarrels between
active part in the struggle then on foot for the defense of the Parks
sportsmen's organizations: "The odium theologicum will not be
and the protection of game and fish throughout the district. With
beneficial in the realm of sport any more than it has been in the
his rod in his hand he investigated the fishing and talked care-
realm of religion." Here, too, he was an open honest fighter de-
fully with many hunters and fishermen. He travelled the whole
spising cant and holding his eye on the main objective.
region, some of it in a car, the back districts on horseback and
In 1926 he wrote for the National Parks Bulletin an article in
afoot along the lakes and streams. It was a characteristically thorough
which he asked:
piece of work. The fruits of it appeared in articles in the New York
"Why should we not regard our National Parks as the Out-Door Uni-
Times, September 18, 1921, "Nature and the New Campers," and
versity of the United States?
September 25, 1921, "The Nation's Heirlooms of Beauty") and in
The State Parks would be local colleges. The Municipal Parks would
the New York Herald, October 2I, 1923, "Angling Problems in and
be playgrounds and pleasances.
around Yellowstone." There were also many letters about the issues
I do not mean that the Parks should be organized in academic fash-
raised. He fought the bill for the damming of Yellowstone Lake,
ion, with faculties and classes, entrance examinations, grades, diplomas,
made valuable observations on the spawning habits of the fish and
and degrees. Heaven forbid! We have enough of that already,-for my
offered a proposal: "Establish by law (at least for the streams and
taste perhaps a little too much.
lakes in these high altitudes), a closed season of protection for red
A National Park, if it is used as Yellowstone is, should be as sacred
throat trout, and grayling, beginning when the ice goes out, and end-
as a temple.'
ing about July 15th, or at any rate not earlier than July Ist. Give
A little later he joined in the successful defense of the seldom-
the fish a chance to do their best at the proper time, and to rest
visited southwest section of Yellowstone Park-where he had ridden
and fatten up after they have done it!' He took an active and im-
in 1923-against a well-organized commercial raid. For The Out-
portant part in the campaign to extend Yellowstone Park to include
look at the invitation of Ernest Hamlin Abbott he wrote "A Meadow
the Teton mountain district-a region against which the exploiters
that Belongs to the People" and elsewhere also presented first-hand
were in full cry. For this purpose he traversed the country on horse-
testimony on behalf of the Park.
back and drew a studied line upon the map and supported his opin-
His service as a conservationist and his status as an out-door man
ion with vigorous cogent letters.
were recognized when in 1927 he was made a member of the Na-
Meantime his pen and personal influence were busy in the found-
tional Parks Association's "Advisory Board on Educational and In-
ing of the Izaak Walton League of America. Perhaps Walton might
say to us, he wrote: "Trust me, scholars, the gentle sport of Angling
spirational Functions of National Parks" (a title which it is needless
shall be safe in your country for many a year, if every man among
to add Henry van Dyke did not suggest)
you will but learn to love his neighbor's fishing as his own." And
A letter from John C. Merriam, President of the Carnegie Institu-
he rejoiced when the General Federation of Women's Clubs en-
tion of Washington bears authoritative testimony to Henry van
dorsed the League's proposal for a National Preserve on the upper
Dyke's share in keeping America aware of her birthright:
waters of the Mississippi: "Let us get into our minds and into theirs,"
"As I think I remarked to you in conversation, I consider your contri-
he wrote, "the constructive idea of a Savings Bank for our Country's
butions to interpretation of certain aspects of some of the national parks
[310]
[311]
Henry yke A Biography Tertius Vax Dyta
N.Y : Hayant birthers, 1935
Chebacco 18 (2017)
Henry van Dyke at Seal Harbor
By Carl Little
Here is the place to see it all, and to drain the full cup
of delight; not a standpoint, but a sailing-line just beyond
Baker's Island: a voyager's field of vision, shifting, changing,
unfolding, as new bays and islands come into view, and new
peaks arise, and new valleys open in the line of emerald
and amethyst and carnelian and tourmaline hills. 1
-Henry van Dyke
Author, pastor, poet, scholar, outdoorsman and diplomat: these
are a few of the hats Henry van Dyke (1852-1933) donned in his
incredibly full life. For the last thirty or so years of his life, van
Dyke made summer sojourns to Seal Harbor, a place that nurtured
his writing and his soul, and heightened his passion for the natural
world.
Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, van
Dyke spent his childhood in Brooklyn Heights, where his father,
the Reverend Henry Jackson van Dyke, was pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church. It was his father who introduced him to the
outdoors and nurtured in him a lifelong commitment to fostering
companionship with nature.
Van Dyke went on to study at Princeton University, where he
received his AB (1873), master's (1876) and doctor of divinity (1877)
degrees, the last from the Princeton Theological Seminary. He was
ordained in 1879. He later was awarded honorary degrees from,
among other institutions, Harvard, Yale, and Wesleyan.
Van Dyke married Ellen Reid of Baltimore in December 1881;
they had nine children. Following in his father's footsteps, he became
This essay was inspired by discovering Henry van Dyke's book Days Off and Other
Digressions (1907) in the Northeast Harbor Library many years ago and being
struck by his evocations of Mount Desert Island. Special thanks to the late Betsey
Pfeiffer, who shared memories of her Uncle Henry: Scott Planting ill the Maine
Seacoast Mission for having scans made (by Jeff Dobbs) of several will Dyke items:
and Amanda Shields at the Brandywine River Museum of Ari for providing the
I lenry van Dyke with fly rod. Courtesy of the Maine Seacoast Mission
Schoonover illustration.
164.
2/19/2020
Sent - Mail - RONALD EPP - Xfinity Connect
Henry van Dyke
RONALD EPP
8:54 PM
To Carl Little
Dear Carl,
I've just finished reading your 2017 van Dyke essay in Chebacco, having
only skimmed it when it first appeared. Well done!! I bring to your
attention a connection with Mr. Dorr.
As you know, the vagaries of research are infinite and I was drawn today
to your article after reading a lengthy 1885 essay van Dyke wrote on
"Ampersand," a lake and mountain in the Adirondacks near the famous
"Philosopher's Camp where R.W. Emerson and other Boston intellectuals
vacationed in 1859. I found the reference to the Ampersand article in the
wonderful Harper's New Monthly Magazine in James Schlett;s A Not too
Greatly Changed Eden where I was pursuing a maternal family
connection to George Dorr.
Of specific interest to+xou is that mi files contain a typed 8/16/28 letter on
dinner given by Henry Stimson few days earner. Van ersan Dyke Wanted to
clarify for Dorr the fate of "our old friend Virgil in the Divine Comedy."
I
recall somewhere in Dorr's memoirs that he mentions van Dyke and their
discussion of Virgil, yet another example of the vast social connections of
their era, for as you may recall they were born but a year apart.
Hope to travel to MDI after the snow melts in early May. I regret the
demise of the group of MDI historians that Jack Russell shepherded
these last few years, don't you?
All the Best,
Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D.
7 Peachtree Terrace
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VanDyke, Henry-1852-1933
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Series 2