The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-01-02
Death, Ana CnI,rornIa, OF "Doyv, Jr.''

The California papers received by the
Balfic, which bring ms intelligence to the
5th instant, contain touching aceocnt of
the death, in dirt and destitution, of FL
bridge G. Paige better known as "Dow,
Jr.,n and as the author of the humorous ser
mons highly celebrated under that name
We quote from one of the papers in ques-
ton
A man of no ordinary fame as a literateur,
one who has achieved flattering celebrity,
who was at one time rich, admired, and
courted, died in this city, at o'clock last
night, in the most abject poverty. No pen
can describe-nO language express the in
teusity of filth, the squalidness of poverty,
the ineffable misery of the apartments in
which this man, unattended, uncared for,
had breathed his last, and resigned his soul
to the Creator. We speak of Elbridge G..
Paige, better known under his de PLANE
of " Dow, Jr,"-the author of the famous
"Patent Sermons" which have -HaAf'"-a.'1"
known to a great porai1u OF the reaolng
world whose language is Engllsh. Ten
,,oors aoo. Mr.. Paige was the editor and
proprietor of the New York Mercury, a pa
ner at that time remarkable for its pungent
wit its proverbial good humor, and the prac
ticable, as we'll as charitable views it ex-
pressed, of men and things. The Patent
Sermons of +" Dow, Jr., were collected and
published in book-form, and achieved a ce-
lebrity, particularly in England, which was
very gratifying to the author. Reverses,
however, overlook Mr.. Paige, and he took
to drink. Soon after his arrival, he wrote
for the Sun, then in its meridian, and his
writings were universally commended. Of
late wears, Mr. Paige had been connected
with the Golden Era, whose pages he has
enriched with many kindly and generously
conceived contributions.
About nine o'clock last night, officer
Nickerson was informed that man was
diving i'll a house on the north side of Paci-
ic street three doors east of Kearney, and
Immediately proceeded to the spot; but ere
he arrived the spirit had fled, and he found
a prostitute closing the eyes and jaws of what
was once a man of mark and fame. AS we
said before, it would be utterly vain to at
tempt giving the slightest description of the
reeking filth aud squalidness of his apart
ment The bed was innocent of linen of all
kind, and was saturated with water. Tie
floor was indescribably filthy, and the walls
dAuk with moisture and filled with fungi.
On the table stood two tin plates that had
DrotabIy been used for some time, AID never
a. aned from the moment they were first
s,oiled these contained the remnants of his
small keg of picked herrings, the maggOts
in which were far more numerous than the
fish, and almost rivaled them in size. On a
small table near his bed were two hotties
containing liquor-the curse of his later life
and nndonbted cause of his death. His feet
: were resting on the foot-board of his loath-
some cot and no portion of his clothing had
been removed except his hat.
The coroner, DIR. McNulty, was summon
ed, and he had the body conveyed 10 the
dead house on Sacramento street. A post
imortem examination will be held, and an
inquest, if nAcessary Thus died Elbridge
G. Paige--Once man Of wealth, position
and celebrity.
The readers of this sad article will hardl J
recognize in the subject of its discourse the
Gallant " Dow, Jr., wh~ used to drive out
TO Bloomingdale such supe~b pair of black
monies. and who was feted and carressed in
New York as one of fortunes greatest fa.
,foriaes. He was a gentleman of abundant
genius; but success was his ruin. Il
atrodueed him into fast associations
d n. "fast habits and thence TO poverty
Orier ~a&r and DEATH Gin. Gag.