Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-09-29
From the ~ 0. Daily National. 1lth inst.
RICHARD HENRY WILDE.

The fell plague that is lowering over
our city, after revel!ing in the cottages
Of the poor and humble, seems 10 have
suddenly changed the character of its
victims it has gone into the mansions
of wealth, and sought out the favored BY
nature, and, by striking all alike, showed
that it knows no dislinc,ions-lhat lux
ury or penury, ignorance or wisdom,
are alike unequal to ward off the fatal
blow. Richard Henry Wilde, the ac.
compish gentleman, the ripe scholar,
the distinguished statesman and civilian,
has fallen; the cunning ofshe mind has
left its mortal temple, and all l,hat was
So ;veaera.ed and esteemed by his fellow
citizens reposes in our n,idslsa mass Of
dust. This news will fall with chilling
effect upon the hearts ufhis ten thousand
frierds, and upon millions of others who
admire genius and respect high moral
worth.
Among our great names, that Of Mr..
Wilde will ever shine with steady
light. His early struggles for The honors
of scholarship, his amiabllily as son,
his exemplary character as father, his
talents as lawyer, and philanthropy as
statesman, mark him as no ordinary
man. While his literary fame, acquired
in the leisure of stern pursuits, will ever
associate him with letters, his poetry will
make him blessed by the fireside, his
industry tor the muse will associate
him, even in foreign lands, uith Tasso
and Daute.
Mr.. Wilde's parents were natives Of
Dublin.-They removed to Amer icaand
settled in Baltimore just after the close
of the American Revolution. In the
year 1903, the mother Of Mr. Wilde,
widow with a family of little children,
removed to Augusta, Georgia. The
struggles Of Richard to obtain at this
early day, a liberal education, in spite
of The wantof books or pecuniarv means,
is one of the most interesting Of the
struggles of literary men against difficult
ties. He conquered, however, and SO
rapidly rose in his profession and in ne
estimation of his fellow citizens, that he
was in 1915 elected to seat in Congress
when but a fortnight over the age requi-
red by law. He served but one session,
but was elected again in 1928, and ser~
we'd through five sessions. AS politi-
clan, he was never partizan his hon-
esty was above question ;he was indus.
trious and always commanded respect.
In 1885 Mr.. Wilde sailed for Europe.
He travelled through France, Belgium,
Switzerland, and I,aly, and finally set
tied in Florence, where he remained
three years, deeply engaged in literary
pursuits. AS result Of these lubors,
he published"the Researches concerning
the Love, Madness, and Imprisonment
of Torbuato Tasso." Having compile
ted this work, he cndeavoured to learn
something of the history Of Dante, and
obtained from the Duke of Tuscany,
the rare privilege ofexamining archives
Of Florence. BY an interesting train of
events, Mr.. Wide caused the discovery
Of an original portrait OF Dante that had
been hidden for centuries, which discov-
cry created sensation throughout the
whole Of Italy.
Upon his return from Europe, MIR.
Wilde resumed the practice OF law and
chose New Orleans for his theatre OF
usefulness. Here he soon called around
him most numerous circle Of admirers,
and has ever occupied a mostprominent