Hi,
Yesterday in a pensive mood I decided to identify which was the poet Longfellow's house - which Porfessor Merseth had asked us to visit - her direction seemed to point out a house which was closed for renovation -and caused some discomfiture on my walks down from my room to the LongFellow Hall whereour classes take place.
Today while walking past it - I decided to add some softness to my burning determination to do better in the coming rouinds of papers. It was open till 4:30 pm on sundays. And it was just 1:10 pm.
I was asked to cough up $3 as guide fee for the 45 min tour which was already in progress. My purse revealed that there was no cash in it. They wouldn't take the VISA debit card payment - but did say that I could pay by check. Later I did write the lowest amount cheque ($3) in my life.
It was a glorious visit - the huge rambling house with an exquisite history - from Queen Victoria to General George Washington (who stayed in this house while directing troops against the British from Cambridge Common - just outside the lane from my school - with a memorial and a huge green space with large squirrils and 3 cannons and a memorial).
The lady mentioned in passing that today was the lst day for tour visit before the winter break. Later I found that the place is opne for visitors only from June6 to Oct31st each year. Today being the last day.
I learnt that he being a student and teacehr of Harvard had many links to the place where I study and its neighbourhood - including a Blacksmith's shop and a chestnut tree which was beside a place where an Indian restaurent stands which Prof Amartya Sen frequents (perhaps to have Dosa. He wrote a song about them(as he called poems - The Village Blacksmith -I'll have to go through it)
I have never beeen inside but it is just across the street. The chestnut tre was later cut and converted into a chair with a carving of a tree on it - and presented by his Harvard students to the poet. The excellent and poetic National Park lady guide remarked that I was the first male in 20 years to answer the question correctly as to how the poet repaid his students - by a poem about them (and not a cheque -as most males perhasp said)
Refreshened the mood - from the clinical academic writing I am supposed to do - the place is not so drab after all.
Is it?
Umesh
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