The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-23

The Late N. p. Willis.
Nathaniel Parker Willis, whose death was
announced by telegraph yesterday, was born
in this city on the Goth of January, 1907 The
Willis family removed to Boston in OF about
the year 1913, and the future poet received his
early education in the schools of that place,
whence he was sent to Phillips Academy at
Andover. He became a student of Yale Col
lege, New Haven, and was graduated in 1877.
His life in college afforded indications OF ms
future eminence, and his writings at that tame
brought him considerable reputation ana some
profit. The publisher of The Album having
offered prize of fifty dollars for poem, Mr..
Willis was one of the competitors and took the
prize. While an undergraduate he wrote a
number of religious poems, which were pub
lished under the signature OF Roy
After leaving college, Mr.. Willis was employ
ed ON the Legendary and the Token, two of
many publications conducted by Mr.. 8. G.
Goodrich lie established the American Month
ly Magazine in 1923, and carried it on for more
than two years, when it was united with the
New York Mirror, then conducted by General
George p. Morris. Mr.. Willis went to Europe
and wrote for the Mirror his "Pencilings by the
Way" which were extensively copied into other
journals. He not only visited the continent of
Europe before travelling in England. contrary
to the usual course, but he extended his tour
to some parts of the East. After an extended
tour, during which he visited France, Italy
Greece, Turkey and Asia Minor, he proceeded
to England, where he met with a very fatter-
ing reception. His letters from London and
Edinburgh were freely written, and their pup
LEGATION caused some mischief some OF ms
expressions concerning Capt Marryats sea
STORIES of contemptuous character, led to
retort from their author, and also to hostile
meeting. In 1885 his "Pencihngs" were pub
lished collectedly, in three volumes, and were
severely reviewed by some Of the English crit
ica magazines. His "Inklings of Adventure
appeared in London, in three volumes. This
was a collection of pieces which he had con-
tributed to the London New Monthly Maya
zine. Both works were republished in Ameri-
ca, and proved successful. ..,,.. .s,,-s,.
Mr.. Willis returned home in 1887, and lived
as country gentleman at place to which he
gave the name of Glenmary, in the valley of
the Susquehannah, and ON the banks of that
famous river. There he wrote his Letters
from under Bridge" In 1889 he became as
ISOLATED with Dr. Porter, in the publication Of
the Corsair, weekly journal of much NOTE
He visited England t. make arrangements for
the foreign correspondence of his new paper,
and among the correspondents he engaged was
no less man than Mr.. Thackeray, then young
and unknown to fame. anfs ,ri...gi.i. i.5..
In 1874 he established the Evening Mirror, a
daily journal, his old partner, Gen. Morris, as
sociating with him in the enterprise. The fail
ure of his health caused him to abandon daily
journalism, as a task too severe for him, and he
made his third visit to Europe. His "Dsshes
at Life with Free Pencil" was published in
London in 1845, in three volumes. f t1a
Alter his return to America he associated
himself with Gen. Morris for the publication of
the Home Journal, which soon became one of
the most successful weekly publications in the
country. He took up his residence at Idle
wild, country seat near Newburg, on the Hud-
son river, one of the most delightful places in
America.
Many of Mr.. Willis works were published
after he began his residence at Idlewild-
Among them are "Rural Letters and other Rec
ords of Thought and Leisure" in 1S49; "Peo- |
pie have Met" and Life Here and There" in |
1850; i"Hurrygraphs," and Memoranda of a /
Life of Jenny Lind" in 1851 Fun Jottincs:
or Laughs 1 have taken Pen "a Health |
Trip to the Tropics" and "a Summer Cruise
in the Mediterranean in United States Frig-
ate, in 1853; Famous Persons and Places"
and "Out-Doors at Idlewild," in 1854; "The
Rag Bar" in 1885. "Paul Fame I" in 1875. end |
"The Convalescent," in 1860. A collected edi-
ton of his prose writings was published in 1876;
and his poems were also published in collect |
ed form, with illustrations by Leutze A new |
and enlarged edition of his works appeared |
much later They are great favontes with the |
reading public. 'sa l4l4a .a.aH aa
Mr.. Willis was twice married. When in /
England, in 1885, he married Miss Mary Leigh |
ton STAGE, daughter OF Commissary General |
William STAGE, who was at that time in COM
mand of the arsenal at Woolwich, and who had |
distinguished himself at Waterloo and on other |
occasions This lady, from whom Glenmary |
was named, died early, leaving one child, |
daughter. In 1916 Mr.. Willis married Miss |
Corneia Grinnell, only daughter of the Hon.
Joseph Grinnell, of New Bedford Several |
children were born OF this marriage 4st
For nearly dozen years past Mr.. Willis |
health had been feeble, and his demise, espec- |
tally during recent severe attack of his COM
plant, was expected However, about a week |
ago he wrote brief letter to the Home Jour
nal in such cheerful strain that his friends |
had hope of partial recovery. But it was |
otherwise decreed.