The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-03-15

i''' Ni' iOi viz PuiBlt' lllHcSS lllcNclll-
ed, and Mr.. Smith finally followed his
father as maker of patterns for lace
factory in Glasgow. AT the age of sew
enteen he began to feel the promptings
of genius, us did Tennyson's "Talking
Oak"
Like those blind motions of the Spring
That show the year is turning"
The story goes that while patiently
working out his patterns for lace collars
and chemisettes, he wrought in the fur
mace of his brain those remarkable vers-
es so full of shine of moon and moan of
sea and glare of setting sun; published
under the name of the "Life Drama"
in 1852. 1t was extravagantly praised
and criticised. After that he published
a volume of "City Poems,,' already
about forgotten. His last poem is ed
win of Deira," which created but little
sensation. He published also the fol-
lowing works in prose: "a Summer in
Skye" " Alfred Hagart's Household"
and Miss Oona McQuarrie," a sequel
to the latter work.
The prose works are more highly val
ued than the poems, and will be read
with pleasure.
HON. HENRY S. MAGRAW.
Hon. Henry S. Magraw, of Elkton,
Cecil county, Maryland, q member of
the Maryland Assembly, died in Wash
ington, February 9TH, at nine o'clock,
from stroke Of apopleXy. Mr.. Ma
graw was formerly State Treasurer of
Pennsylvania, and it will be recollected
that after the first Bull Run battle he,
with Mr.. Arnold Harris, were captured
| by the Confedcrates while attempting
to recover the body ofColonel Cameron,
brother of the. Secretary of War, and
was held prisoner in Richmond four
or five months. He applied to Secreta-
ry Cameron for Il flag of truce to go
through the lines to bring home the
body of Colonel Cameron, but the Sec
retary, for prudential reasons, not de-
string to recognize the rebels as belig-
erents, declined to grant a flag-of-truce.
Mr.. Magraw and Mr.. Harris assumed
the personal risk and were captured,
and Notwithstanding repeated appeals
made TO jeff. Davis by prominent Con-
federatcS for their release on the ground
of old friendships, personal aud in the
Democratic party, he refused, and they
were kept in close confinement.
The deceased, who was possessed of
an ample fortune, possessed many gen.
ial qualities, which had attracted to
him large ci.cle of social friends. lie
was stricken down about six o'clock in
the evening, and, although he recog.
niZcd some of his friends, he was una
BILE to speak before he died. He was
visited by Secretary Stanton, Judge
Black, of pennsylvania, Colonel Lamon
and others who had been associated
with him in public life. Mr.. Magraw's
father died Of apopleXy; also one of hi,
brothers; and another brother now
lies ill of the same disease, in Balti
more.
NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS.
1t will gricve but not surprise tho
public to hear that Mr.. Willis is dead
His health had for long time been pre-
cariOus, and on one or two occasions re
ports of his demise had been circulated
His departure occurred on Sunday nigh
january twentieth at his late rCsidenc,
at Idlewild, on the Highlands Of til,
Hudson. lie died, at the age of sixty
on the anniversary of his birth.
Nathaniel p. Willis was born in Port
land, Me-, January twentieth, 1907
His father and grandfather were pub
fishers, the latter having been an aprcn
tico in the office with Benjamin Frank
lin, and member of the famous Bus
ton Tea-Party. Mr.. Willis travelled il
France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey ant
returned to England where he marrie
in 1885 Mary Leighton STAGE daughte
of the c0missary General at Woolwich
In 1897 he returned home and pur
, chased retreat on theSusquehanna Ri
, yer, near Oswcgo, n. V. which il
, chrstencd Glen Mary, lafter his wife,
I, and from which he sent to the printer
now and then some pleasant letters. I
1915, in New York, he published tn
. first collected edition of his works in on
+ large volume; and during that year hi
wife having died he married COrnelii
| the only daughter ofIIOn. Joseph Grin
> nell, of New Bedford, Mass, by Whor
he had a son and two daughters. 500
, after his marriage he and General Mo-
ris established the well-known weekly
. the Home JoURui, which still flourisl
, es, and upon which devolVes the sad dl
tyof presenting more in detail and wit
q more of personal knowledge the biogr'
: ply of its oldest and most brilliant wri
/ er We have only to say that not Ion
o after his second marriage he selected ft
his home the pleasant ldlewild, whel
his latest laborers and his death hay
- made the place memorable.
\ THE HON. PLINEY MERRICK.
r Pliney Merricl, late Justice of the 81
>. preme Court of Massachusetts. died
4 Boston on the first of the month, at Il
d age of seventy-two years. lie had bee
d long a conspicuous citizen Of that Stat
l. on the Democratic side of politics, b
h was much better known for his abiliti
e as lawyer and Judge. Its remembert
O of his carly life that he graduated
II Harvard, in the same class with Pre-
colt, the historian, and studied la
with Governor Lincoln, at Worceste
Afterward he became laW-partner {
~ Govornor Marcus Morton, and und