The Nevada Democrat., 1859-12-14
Death ofn yyeIl-knoVyn writer.

Elbridge Gerry Page, well known as the au-
thor of the "Short Patent Sermons" of "Dow
Jr., died at San Francisco on the 4th inst. He
died in a wretched. horribly filthy apartment
A woman living in the same house, hearing an
unusual noise, had come in TO attend his last
demands, and after suffering strong convulsions
for several hours he expired, aud she closed his
eyes. Otherwise be was alone and unobserved
in his death. The Bulletin says:
Page, who thus mseraby died, was man of
mark ten years ago, and the announcement Of
his death will produce a sensation in literary
circles, particularly in New York, where every
old printer aud newspaper attachee knew him
well. He was born in Litchfeld, Connecticut
some A years ago. He stood long sat the case"
at various printing Offices in New York before
starting the Sunday Mercury ViSitor) through
which his 'patent Sermons" first found audi
ence. These sermons at first were scowled at
by religious people, but very soon their quaint
humor, exuberant wealth of Illustration aud
sound practical sense, won way for them into
the ''best families" They were collected in
book form, aud met with large sale both at
home and in England. The younger Dow's odd
conceits have often inspired the earnest decla-
nation of clergymen OF more orthodox connec-
tions than the Sunday editor professed TO be,
and the whimscality of his dressing up of many
q serious thought has impressed it on the minds
where solemnly uttered appeals found no lodg-
ment
Page was long ago q sad sinner against him
self-he loved liquor aud liquor killed him.
He came to this State five years ago, and has
since been an acceptable writer cpon the San,
when it shone the brightest and upon the
Oil ,.ho of atNar1
tanned Dow Jr's, last sermon. Though his con-
slant readers perceived much repetition Of him
self in his later productions, yet, even to the
last, their quaintness, good sense aud individu-
ality were astonishing. But his intemperance
brought upon him poverty, deserton ofirends,
and loss of self-respect. His wife died two
years ago-not early enough to be spared the
wretched vision of his ruin. His only child has
been for some time in the care of the Sisters OF
Mercy, in this city, though he paid half the eX-
pense of her education. Page did not die poor.
In his sane moments he was strictly economical
and moderate in all his expenses. lie would
| live on a quarter Of q dollar day, when his
pockets were full. The Golden Era Office had
paid him for type.settng and sermons. since
May, 1855. the handsome sum of $5, 900. Out
OF this be had saved enough to purchase two
50-vara lots in this city, and the last time he
was at work in the Era office, he told com
panion that he was going off for day or two
to look at another lot which he thought of buy
ing. He went on q spree instead, out Of which
he never came again. These "sprees" occurred
with him about once in six months, and lasted
for two or three weeks at u time-after which
he went quietly about his work, kept straight
and sober. aud never crossed any mans path,
if he could help it. 1t is not impossible that
some little money may yet be found belonging
TO him. On the debauch before the last that
he deliberately went into, he made bank OF
the moss.stuiIed cushion of his seat, for % much
as he preferred not TO waste