Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-03-01
CONTRIBUTORIAL.
Death OF Howard H. Caldwell.

Poetry asserts that early death is heavens di-
vnest gift, and the piety Of the world claims that
we should not murmur; but bereaved nature and
fearful affection find no ready assent The death
Of our friend, while it has everything to make
nature cry out in rebellion, has much that makes
it beautlful-even in its terror beautiful. 1t Is
hard to contemplate an event that sewers one
we love from so much to live for; and yet, there
is consolation in remembering that peace Of soul
beamed over the scene; that earth's holiest love
hallowed the parting hour. Near him stood
those who were nearest him in sonl. In the bos-
ON Of his family, with sister and brother ut
his side, and friends almost as near as they, he
passed away-nearing his end in peace OF soul,
slowly, patiently, prayerfully, and in hope. AS
it was his wont to meet the ills Of life in the
spirit of philosophy that recognized misteri-
GUS adjustment of good and ill for final good; SO,
consistently too with the tenets Of the Church
within whose Sanctuary, he sought Peace, he met
life's final Ill with cheerful hope, hope beau
tiful in its consistency. We have seen much OF
life with him, and we speak with that knowl'
edge; and at last we were near him, and received
his final ipjunctions; and these were true to his
life and mingled with echoes Of peace and readi-
ness.
His life was eminently that Of student. The
eminence he obtained in scholarship; the
pregminence in bellies lettres; the triumphs Of his
Muse; the devotion to speculative philosophy
the results Of his varied and extensive reading ;
the position he reached in literature, especially
in Southern literature-of these things we shall
have future occasion Of speaking. So also Of
his active and versatile genius, his highly refined
and imaginative nature, those qualities Of mind
that so strongly endeared one and estranged a.
mother of those who knew him well or were in
capable of understanding him, his wider rela-
tons to men and life, and the narrower and near.
er and desrer relations that prove the heart and
stamp the man, Of these we will speak again, not
now. ..-.
The disease of which he died was one slow but
steady in its progress, insidiousand deldsive in
its advances, but marked for several months
pulmonary consumption. We travelled on
health tour with him last summer, and since ther
we have had the melancholy privilege Of watch
ing his waning life. The sad Office was relieved
by many things; but withall it was hard-hard,
and yet how else could it ever have been less SO
Age and care and cloud had not shaded his dream
too deeply; the desolating genius Of earth's talse
realities had not blurred his enthusiasm Of soul
and no mockery of earnest life had yet turned
his heart from its own pure and true ideal. III
we'll however the heart refuses 70 say it, ye
It's WE'LL
"Pass on Ito thee the Parcae give
The fairest lot Of all -
In golden poetdreams TO live,
And, ere they fade-to fall"
HOWARD HAYNE CALDWELL was born in the
village of Newberry, s. G., on Tuesday, the 10th
Of September, 1881. At the age Of twenty he
graduated with the Bachelors degree in the South
Carolina College. In 1866 his first volume, "Oli-
alta and Other Poems," appeared. He prac-
ticed low in Columbia, s. c., and after his mar
riage-to Miss MONTAGUE, in 1857-he pursued
his profession in Mobile, Alabama. In 1858 ap-
reared second volume of "Poems." he return
ed to Columbia, and was engaged as Editor Of
the Courant, literary weekly Of that city, from
its establishment in May, 1859, till its close in
December of the same year. During the autum-
nal half of 1859, his health was perceptibly de-
cining. But few hoped, during the winter, that
he would see sJune's sweet roses blow" He
became member Of the Catholic Church during
this illness, and in its bosom he found rest, and
with its benediction he went back to God. BE
died in Columbia during the afternoon of Tues
day the 21st Of February, 1860. A large con-
course Of friends attended the funeral services
on Thursday the 23d, at St. Peters Church
Catholic by the Rev. Father O'CoN-
NELL, Pastor. His body was buried in the bury
ing-ground Of that Church-consigned by friend
ly hands, with the solemn rites Of his chosen
faith, to its mother earth and brother dustin
peace. And the morning sun looked brightly
down upon troubled hearts there, like the sun Of
the eternal Hope over lfe's troubled waters.
COLUMBIA, 8. G.