Life Back in Portland
When he returned to Portland in 1827, he was rather ill-received, as some of his writing, perhaps Errata (1823) or "Keep Cool" (1817), a kiss and tell story about his experiences in Portland as a youngster, was found offensive by many locals. Unbeknown to his denouncers, his return to Portland was planned as merely a visit, but faced with such opposition, he decided to stay. In his autobiography, Wandering Recollections of a Somewhat Busy Life, he writes, “'Verily, verily,' said I, 'if they take that position, here I will stay, till I am both rooted and grounded–grounded in the graveyard, if nowhere else.'” Indeed he spent the rest of his life in Portland, re-establishing his law practice and a short-lived literary periodical called The Yankee. He guided many an author or artist through critique and encouragement, among them Edgar Allan Poe, Benjamin Paul Akers, and Charles Codman. In addition to his literary work, Neal also helped found several gymnasiums in Portland and throughout the state of Maine. He is often referred to as "The Father of Organized Maine Athletics." He maintained a solid physique into old age, which he demonstrated when he threw a stubborn cigar-smoker off a non-smoking street car at the age of 79.
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Famous quotes containing the words life and/or portland:
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