, 1875-01-25

CHARLES SPRAQtE.
From the EsU ftfk Tribune, Jan. %.
Charles Sprsgue, tho venerable poet, died at
his 1nte home in Boston OIL Thursday evening.
1Io born in that city Oct. 2G, 1901, very noat
his late residence. Lis father, Samuel 9prague,
was one Of tho famous Boston Tea Party. Ifo
was one OF large family, aud after toceiSing d
common school education Ae antcrod q grocery
etoro. When lad he waa deprived BY
an accident OF tho use Of hls loft
eyo. He was engaged oarly In lifo in
business with tho late William u. Calender, but
finding tho anterprise upproitable, he accepted
q position In tue State hank, tue dutieB OF which
left him ample timo for tho qualification OF tlat
love of roaaing which 10 cultivated 60 closeiy
through Ills long lifo. He Was connected witt,
this bank from 1920 to 1895. and was 10 wcll
known as a carcful 1lnauc1ot. that when tho
Globo Bank was started In 1925 ho wRs chosen
cashier. and ho hold The position. diaciarging all
tho dutos with rale fidelity till 1865, period Of
forty years, whom he Withdrew.
Mr. 6prague'n literary life began when he was
very young. As Vice-prcsidout OF the Boston
Debating society, lle gave evidence Of hia poetic
tasto. His sont!meDt ITO the memory of tho
immortal Byron" had a worldwide circulation.
In the month Of August 1924, on the occasion
OF tue triumphai cntry OF Lafayette into boston,
lo wrote all inscription for an arch. 1t Was the
impulse Of tho Moment but itwds 80 appropriate
French pRtiiot read it teara came to his eyes. Ills
ode at the opening OF tho park Theatre in this
city III 1871 waR followed by his ode for tho
opening Of the Chestnut street, Philadelphia,
aud in 1925 ho WAS awarded tue prizo for third
poetic effort for tho Shakespeare Festival, hold
Mt the old boston Theatre in Federnl street, in
January, 1924. Tho Committee making the
award embraced George Ticknor, Jared Sparks,
w. II. Prescott, Washington Allston, Theodore
Lyman, Horny Cabot, and otAora, all Of whom
passed. away many yearB ago. The veteran
manager OF the theatre, iIr. James A. Dickson,
to commemorate these poetic triumphs in go
upon silvor.ritchor presented to Mr. Bprague
tho appropriate quotaton from Macbeth" !"
"Thr1cs to thine" 10 onumerato his occa-
sional odes woull bo only to repeat his least Of
trumpba. Thoy may he found in the collected
works Of Mr, Brraguc, threo odltionB Of which
haro boon published. His matrical essay Oh
Curiosity was dnlvcred boforo the PHI Beta
Kappa So"ioty of luryard College In 1899, which
gay0 him III England the title OF =" the American
Iopo." IliA poem Oh nrt drew from John Quincy
Adams tho remark that ''in forty lines was COM
rriacd m encyclopedia Of description" Many
Of Ills occasional versea, "The Winged Worship
ers." Liucg ou tho Death Of II. =. O." aud 9TH
era iavo retained tAelr place among the choicest
gon1s Of American poesy.
11r. 6praguo took in osrly life an active inter-
cat in the civic affairs of Boston. IIo was o
tnomber Of the Common Council in 1823-'24, and
is tie Inst Of tho members Of tho upper branch
that served during the first year Of the Mayor-
Ally OF Tho oldor Quincy. His loye Of Boston
and Lis zeal IN promoting good government CON-
tlnued unabated during Ills active life.
Mr. spraEuo was married In htay, 1914, aud he
leaves two chlldrent Charlen James SpraE1le who
succeeded him as cashier OF the Globe National
Dank, and MEa. b. II. Pearce.