Emily Dickinson, then thirty-one years old, was writing a professional man of letters to inqUIre whether her verses "breathed." Higginson was still living at Worcester, Massachusetts, where he had recently resigned his pastorate of a "free" church, and was begmning to establIsh a reputation as essayist and a lecturer in the cause of reforms. She dared bring herself to his attention because she had just read his "Letter to a Young Contributor," practical advIce for those wishing to break into prmt, and the lead artIcle in the current issue of the Atlantic Monthly. "Charge your style With life," he commented, and went on to declare that the privilege of bringing forward "new gemus" was
fascinating. His article happened to appear exactly at the moment that Emily Dicltinson was ready to seek criticism. She knew him to be a liberal thinker, interested in the status of women in general and women writers in particular. Though the article drew responses, all of whIch HIgginson judged "not for publIcation," he sensed some qualIty in the enclosures of the letter posted at Amherst whIch elicIted a reply. He asked for more velses, mqllll ed her age, her reading and her companionshIps.