The Van Buren press., 1870-02-01
-
Death Of George D. lssatiss.


GEORGE d. PRENTICE, is from the Llttls
Rock Gazette, Of the 25th: s
George Dennison Prentice, cOnfssssd.
ly one OF the greatest Of American jour
nalists, and scarcely less illustrieus -
poet, is dead. He was born at Preston.
in Connecticut, December the 18th, 1602;
and WAS educated ut Brown University,
in Providence, X. !, where ne graduated
in 1923. In 1923, he commenced the
Nsw England Weekly Reriesc, at Hart
ford, which he edited for two years,
when, resigning its management to Whit
tier, the poet, he removed to Louisville.
Kentucky. He soon identified himself
with the Louisville journal. which spssdi
ly became one of the most popular news
papers in the union. Tho Journal was
for many years the ablsst champion Of
the old whig party. In 1856, ~ one Of
the founders Of the organization known
as the American party, he visited this
city. During his stay he was entertain
ed by the leading men Of all parties.
among whom, then living, but since hav-
ing preceded him to the undiscovered
country" were Fowler, Hampstead, Cur
ran aud Cummins.
The Journal, under his editorial con-.
duct, was slow to espouse the cause OF
secession, but eventually became ono OF
the strongest advocates Of the cause OF
separation and southern independence.
1t was suppressed for u while during the
war. but was revived after short discon,
tinuance The ability Of its editor and
the former reputation .of the Journal
made 1t = formidable competitor OF the
Courier, another openly avowed demt.
cratic paper published at Louisville, ky;
As the political course advocated aud
sentiments declared by the two papers
were identical. they were wisely merged
two years ago into one paper, which ID
now famous as the Courier Journal, unit.
ing the name Of both old papers and the
services 6f former editors in the same pa
per. The powers Of Mr.. Prentice vsro
understood to be slowly. declining with
his increasing age; but the columns Of
the CouriersIournal did not fail TO show
occasionally, that -. sn
" Fen Ia our ashes live their wonted frcs.r
The profound experience, the exquis.
ite wit and hunior, the marvellous fancy
and poetical genius Of the great writer
presented combination, rarely svef
found in the same being, and elevated
him above the competition Of any con-
temporary rival. Would that wc had the
power to speak of him ~ he dsserves...in
something like his own words that burn,
and thoughts that breathe:
(" In mournful cadcnces, that come abroad
Like the far wind-harp's wild and touching
wall,
4 melancholy dirge o'er the dsad sAx al'
Gone from the earth forever"
"Tis time
For memory aud for tears"- Gra
and that +" a spectre dim" still IN
-"points its cold e,,.,
And solemn finger to the beautiful
And holy visions that lavp passqd away
And left no shadow OF their iOyellhess
On the dead waste OF life. That spectre linz
The coffin-lid ofIiope. and Joy and love,
And, bending mournfully above the pale.
Sweet forms that slumbcr there, scatters dead
flowers a tip
Ger what has passed to nothingness." ~,
Ger the bier Of Prentice we scatter tho
flowers of his own pocsy; which are not
dead, but living, and gathering fragrance
with each returning year, and which will
continue to beautify American literature
and cmbalm the memory Of the illustri.
Gus dead long after his PROSTATE form
shall have indeed "passcd to nothing.
ness and TO that snhihilation which hiS
fame can never suifcr--leaving the beau,
tiful " shadow Of its lovclinsss all along
the dead waste of life"
rJ-To mid farmers in arriving at ac-