LETTER FROM PROFESSOR PALMER 445 



the added words of "brave" and " generous, " is, when all is said, 

 perhaps the truest key to Mr. Shaler's character. The facts set 

 down here, which lead us the general way he trod, reveal but a 

 tithe of his soul's adventures; in his nature there is still a large 

 territory that remains unexplored, and, though steeped in his 

 personality, it has been beyond my power to give the true 

 measure of the man who marched along under the sign of the 

 Universe, of one who was close to nature, close to the affairs of 

 the world, and deeply involved in the poet's realm of fancy. 

 This memoir therefore goes forth giving an inadequate picture 

 of the life of a great and good man. Mr. Palmer writes : 



Thank you for this delightful volume. All of Mr. Shaler's writing is 

 highly characteristic. In every sentence of his one hears his voice. But I 

 think he has nowhere more completely expressed himself than in this book. 

 Here is his chivalry, his adventure, his public spirit, his perpetual humor, 

 his wide sympathy, his profound religiousness. Through his escapade with 

 Elizabeth, too, he has acquired ease in blank verse. So that he seems himself 

 to be muttering these tales and setting his lips hard together after the climactic 

 passages. How many such yarns has he spun to me in equally picturesque 

 prose ! Some of these poems, too, I had already seen. He brought them to me 

 in manuscript, and in my ruthlessly critical way I pulled them to pieces and 

 told him to go to work at them longer. Now they are precious. I long to tell 

 him so and to say over the love and admiration which then seemed unneces- 

 sary. Fortunately he was big enough not to need our approval. I think he 

 knew how many of us loved him, and deep within was glad. But the great 

 powerful creature strode along his noble and independent path while we 

 little fellows scrambled after, hardly near enough to make our delight in 

 him audible. How large your companionship with him was your words in 

 this volume, and elsewhere, show. Happy woman to have been so blest, and 

 happy we who were allowed to know you both! 



