New-York tribune., 1877-07-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
HARPER. August.


The Editors Easy Chair" is largely devoted
10 "reminiscences Of the Magazine" in It's earlier days
nud o Mr Fletcher Harper who had the principal share
in tho establishment sad oversight Of the new enterprise
The fecitous sketch OF MIR. Harpcr last years Is not
merely tic tribute Of personal noudshp, 0ut OF e''"
Jus,irc towards and noble character "ln the ul
food OF its prosperity and Of that OF the kndred enter
prises and business Of the house to whose
advancement he devoted Fletcher Harper, IN the
fulness years dies, surrounded by family ana re'a
tves and friends, that was happily SAID IN i"e
Iaor II was like the death OF the head OF clan or the
patriarch OF tribe The tributes to him ON all
sides agreed in the recognition OF his remarkable
power and strength OF naturc-a noble man
incss made sweet and mild by the freshest AZ
fiction aud the most tender sympathy His moltsl!'
Ike all his qualities, partouk OF native greatness t'
resolutey hut with entire unosentauon, pursued his
way. lie never held an Office nor wished for one lie
was not seen public MEETINGS on great occasions
and no man Of equal mark In the City more nstnctVrP
Gvodcd every kind OF not0ricty. His home thr'nS'u
with afFccuonato kindred, happy beyond the com
mon lot and az his hosp table table sat friends from ai
and near to whom his sweet and sunny welcome was q
bonediction like the summer air. Time passed; Ms
brothers the ohecry James. the indomtablo John the
gracious Wesley. died Tie famous brotherhood was a's
solved and Fletcher stood alone amid bis memories ana
younger men. Too strong 10 despord, with high ana
keen relish for life, he yet could not bat feel,
The old order changeth, giving place 70 new
The tie between him and Wesley had been peculiarly ten
der and a. Fletcher sometimes sat in the office where for
long life they had al been intimately associated and
gazed out OF Tie window with musing and melancholy
eyes bis strong seemingly stepped IN infinite tender
ness Of feeling who had known them long ana kne"
his heart who remained could but interpret lis |lstu
look in the lines Of Henry Vaughan:
They are an gone INTO the world Of light,
And alone SO lingering here!
Their very memory IS iMr ana bright,
And my sad thoughts doth clear
Il see them walking IA an air Of glory
MhOse light doth traDpie ON lny days
Ny DAYS which are az best hut duh and hoaiy,
MeIC glmWe1nge aud decays
"a year or two after Wcsley's death, Fletcher went
sgain 10 Europe had often crossed the ocean, and
was always siuguary well at sea. During his absence
he was very cheerful and pleasantly occupied bui ici III
IN Paris before his lie came nome III the SUMMER
of 1874 and resumed active interest iu the business
Bu in the Spring 1873 he again ID, and after the
death Of ms only remaining brother, the stout Ola
Colonel john he father part IN tie business
and was ~ the Office but three times. For two
years be lived quietly and happily at hoIhe during e
Winter haf Of town. and for the summer hall
at his pleasant rural place upon the Hudson near irving
ton Tscrc hc drove daily among The secluded bowery
roads OF along the great highway that oyerhaAgs The
river and catches its argcaaing distances across he
smooth lawns and beneath the rich foliage OF beautiful
estates. u strangely lettering life FOR TINS sneWy
and active nature; hut without visible sadness or re
pininc he doubtless felt that his work done, ana that
it remained only 10 glide gently 10 the end The eAd
came amid the spcudor Of the early Summer whose de-
lights lie had been gladly anticipating; but death oid
not surprise from the serenity OF his scpossesso
When he knew hat death at hand, although me en-
joyment OF life s strong and high he aeGuosetd
calmly speaking in the words and after the manner ci
the fervo religious faith OF hs parents, in which he bad
been trained and to which lie had always faithfully "a
hered WITH the Old familiar tranquility he gave final d.
rectious ana said farewell one by one to those VIII were
dearest to him. aud to friends who loved him as they
can love few other Tenacious Of hfe the frame OF
the strong reluctant 10 yield, but gradually ana
peacefully he fell asleep.
world IS made
or life and death cOmmiugied: and the cighs
Outweigh the smiag IN equal balance iald.
What upsu-afiouI None, save iiat liic Aii-hlSc
sU schools Us 10 love things that cannot fade