Garland in His Own Time: A Biographical Chronicle of His Life, Drawn from Recollections, Interviews, and Memoirs by Family, Friends, and Associates

[Journal Comments on Garland in 1929]

[117] X [Journal Comments on Garland in 1929] Eldon Hill Eldon Hill (1906–1987) became interested in Hamlin Garland when he was a twenty-three-year-old graduate student at Ohio State University. He initiated a correspondence with Garland early in 1929, and Garland became the subject of his doctoral dissertation, the first on Garland, which he completed in 1940 as “A Biographical Study of Hamlin Garland from 1860 to 1895.” Over the next ten years, he wrote over 175 letters to Garland and met with him several times. In the 1950s Hill completed an unpublished biography of Garland. I Go on a Pilgrimage to Garland’s Coulee Country, 20 October 1929 It is not because I believe in the dictum “all autobiographies are lies” that I am ambitious to write of the life and writing of Hamlin Garland. I wish to observe him and his deeds (not in a manner that would especially please John B. Watson1 ) but with an understanding though not a predilection for my subject. Ruskin’s defense of Turner is partly analogous,2 although I wish to lay stress upon the author’s outward events as determining his literary propensities. My aim is to write an Appreciation of Hamlin Garland; perhaps later I shall try to publish a selection from his writings. Fresh data being my quest, I made a trip this week-end to the Wisconsin Coulee Country. Here are some notes worth preserving. George Dudley, La Crosse banker, who lives at West Salem, Garland’s home town, granted me several moments of his time at the Gateway City Bank and then took me on a motor-hike through the Garland country. A coulee is the valley or bowl among several bluffs, usually wooded and always majestic. From three to twenty farms are comprised in the coulees, which are commonly named after some old settler. Thus we have Ebner’s, Green’s, Mormon’s coulee. Green’s coulee is a “closed” one, the only outlet being over a low part in the edge of the bowl. garland in his own time [118] The author’s father was a farmer & lumberman. McClintocks not of the highest standing around West Salem.3 (Dudley.) The banker said Garland was high-headed and aristocratic when he returned to his native community. Dudley believes G. has not given his wife credit for her big part in his career. She is a most charming woman. Dudley, who has executed much business for G., says the author has little business sense. “Send him a business proposition & he will not answer, & after two weeks he will have forgotten all about it. His brother engineered the Oklahoma land investments which made Hamlin independent.”4 I talked with Mrs. Ida Ewell Tilson, a long-time friend and neighbor of the Garlands at West Salem. She said she had known Hamlin ever since he was about three years old. Used to see his mother leading him about at the La Crosse county fair. Mrs. Tilson was enthusiastic about Mrs. Richard Garland’s “roguish eyes & full complexion.” His mother was witty but never had much to say. When she did say anything it was worth hearing. Mrs. G. said she put Hamlin through Osage Seminary by “raising colts.” Hamlin Garland (said Mrs. T.) was a most devoted son. But when he returned to West Salem, “he stood off the public.” One woman was introduced to him many times before he recognized her as an acquaintance. Even Mrs. T. was presented socially several times before he would say, “We have met.” Lately, however, he has “mellowed,” averred Mrs. T. She said perhaps the reason the conversation in G.’s early books is so stilted is that he didn’t mix enough with the people. I believe the criticism of G. as being uppish is due to a misunderstanding . No one ever took himself and his work more seriously than did HG. Said Emerson: “I shun father and mother and wife and brother, when my genius calls me. . . . Expect me not to show cause why I seek or exclude company.” See “Self-Reliance.” He didn’t like the cement walk in front of his homestead. It hindered his study. “Hamlin is careless about things.” Hamlin always claimed the mornings for his own and his art’s. He never spoke even to his loved ones in the forenoon hours. (Dudley blames him for this.) Hamlin always an early riser. Fond of walking. Fond of picnicking. [18.217.144.32] Project MUSE (2024...