Smyrna times., 1867-01-30
EIrec.
Com.
NJ. P, Willis.

NS \ 4 w lHlot
Nathaniel Parker Willis senior editor of the
Home journal, died at his residence, Idlewild,
on the Hudson river, last Saturday.
Mr.. Willis was born in Portland, Me-, on
the Goth of January, 1907, and had consequent
ly just completed his sixtieth year at the time
of his death. He received his early education
at the Boston Latin School, and at Phillips
AndOver Academy, where he was prepared for
Yale College, at which institution he was grad
uated in 1927. His poetical genius was exhib-
tied while he was yet SCHOOL, boy, and during
his residence in New Haven he published a
series of poems entitled Scripture Sketches,
under the signature of Roy" After leaving
college, he became connected with the periodi-
cal literature of that day, and among other en-
terpriseS, established the American Monthly
Magazine, in 1928, most of the contents of
which were the productions of his own PEN
He continued his labors in this Magazine for
more than two years, when he joined the staff
of the New York Mirror" weekly, literary
journal which had been started by Mr., George
7. Morris about seven years before Soon at
ter forming his connection with MIR. Morris, he
commenced an extensive tour in Europe, where
he remained for the space of about seven years.
The fruits of his European experience were
| given to the public in his lively volumes enti-
tied "Pencillings by the Way" which origi-
nally appeared in the columns of the Mirror. P"
His travels extended through France, Italy and
Greece, and into portions of European Turkey
and Asia Minor. During that period, he also
published "Inklings of Adventure" series
of tales and sketches written for the London
New Monthly Magazine" under the sigma
ture of Philip Slingsby, which obtained bril-
liant popularity both in England and this
country. His first work was severely criticised
by the British periodicals on account of the
freedom with which he exposed the interior OF
households where he had been received as q
guest, and some of his remarks on the writings
of Captain Marryatt, then in the height of his
reputation as a popular novelist led to due
with that author at Chatham, which however
happily terminated without bloodshed on either
side
E After exhausting European life in its mani
fold enticing phases, Mr.. Willis returned tC
. America in 1887, having two years previously
) been married to an English lady, the daughter
OF General STAGE, superintendent of the mill
e tary and naval arsenal at Woolwich. Upon
arriving in this country, he retired to the beau
| tlful rural residence on the Susquehanna nea
g Owego in this State, which under the roman
i tic name Of Glenmary has obtained a celebrity
8 as wide as the writings which date from tina
S place. In 1889, he became one of the editor
OF . New York literary journal called the Cor
If sair, and in the same year he made anothe
r visit to England where he published Letter
v from under Bridge" written originally a
/ Glenmary, and one of his most agreeable prC
N ductions. This was speedily followed by hi
te two dramas, "Tortesa the Usurer," and hBi
e anca Visconti, and a collection of stories
\ poems, and European letters, entitled "Lo
ID terings of Travel" At this period, he pull
.s lished splendid illustrated edition of h
Of poems, and contributed the letter press d,
a. scriptions to Bartlett's "Views of the Scenel
"a of the United States and Canada" He r.
,e turned to the United States in 1874, and
h connection with his former associate, Mr.. Mo
10 ris, established the Evening Mirror" dai
he newspaper of this city. The death Of his wifi
" and the failure of his own health induced hi
to make third visit to Europe, where
u brought out an edition of his magazine articl
IS, under the titles of Dashes at Life with FRI
he Pencil
H. After residence of about two years abro;
en- he returned to New York in l846, and in Il
1rt same year was married to the estimable laC
ry- who still survives him, daughter of the Ho
wo Joseph Grinnell of New Bedford. He nc
,b- published an octave edition of his compile
six works, and In connection with his devoted IL
,ed low-laborer, Mr.. Morris, established the "HoI
oli- Journal" " which rapidly won large share
ing the public favor, and has continued from tn
in time to the present, a popular, and almt
nee unique organ OF literature, society, fashional
Tair life, and the news of the day. The reputati
by of this favorite journal was due, in great {
xiv gree, to the assiduity tact, and versatile Ii
ex- rary powers of Mr. Willis. He was neV
esi. weary of his task, never at q loss for sugg
ut- tive themes, never wanting in skill of adap
be ton, in curious surprises Of expression, or
at flowing wealth of original illustration. /
ten devotion to his editorial duties was like Il
we of fond mother to her pet child. The Il
= ~ guor of disease seemed to produce no effect
ho, the fertility Of his pen. His mental enel
nch U triumphed over the weakness Of his bod
t .Sa frame, and the dashes of quaint humor a
tr The utterance of dainty conceitswhich constan
In u. enlivened the columns of his journal were
gg' fen produced in the intervals of pain, or die
,iss, ted amidst the pangs Of lingering illness E.
loIe until mt within few days Of his death he wo
nS " not consent to reinquish his grasp of the
'anu maintaining the same persistent energy wh
ida had kept him firm at his post through so m
',dg. ',d years OF hopeless invaidlsm.,