Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-11-07
PERSONAL.

The sixty second wedding anniversary of
Mr.. and Mrs. John P Wright of Sheldon
was observed last Saturday by large gather
ing of friends and relatives. All the children
but one were present, the absent one beirg
in California; and three great grand children
were present. Mr.. Wright is SIS years Of
age, Mrs Wright is 80, and both are in ex-
cellent health for such aged people.
Senator Justin S. Morrill, was entertained
Tuesday night, at Cincinnati, by the Queen
City club, among the guests being Stanley
Matthews.
Jacob Abbott, the well-known author,
died at his home in Pennington, Me-, Friday,
at the age of &c. Mr.. Abbott was born at
Hallowell, Maine and graduated at Bowdon
College in the class of 1920, and from Ando-
yer in the class of 1924. For several years
he was professor of mathematics al Amherst
College. and afterwards established school
for young ladies in Boston. Removing to
New York in 1886 he established the Bleeck-
er street school for young ladies-for many
years a thriving and successful school OF the
higher order He made frequent journeys
abroad, and after leaving New York retired
to the old family homestead at Pennington,
Me, where his declining years were spent.
Mr.. Abbott is chiefly known as an author
of books for the young. The list of his pub
lished volumes extends 10 more than two
hundred titles, and while the multitude OF
his literary undertakings precluded the pos
sibility of original researches or of attaining
the highest excellence of style. he did all
that he aimed to do singularly well, and it
was service whose value it is scarcely pos
sible to estimate fairly, in these days when
juvenile literature has been made so abun-
dant and so attractive. But when Mr.. Alb
bolt began writing, in 1882, good books for
children were exceedingly rare. His pur-
pose in writing was TO instruct at the same
time that he interested his young readers
and how well he succeeded, mature readers
Of TO-DAY, who recall the enjoyment which
the Rollo Books, the Franconia Stories and
the Abbott Histories gave TO them in child
hood will testify Ills reputation was first
won by the Young Christian Series, COM
prising The Young Christian, the Corner
stone, The Way to do Good, Hoaryhead and
McDonner These books, (which were pub
lshed from 1882 to 1896. were simple, prac-
teal and helpful, but they were eclipsed in
popularity by the Rollo and Franconia
books, the histories. the story books and
other volumes for children which were pub
lshed later His books have been publish
ed and republished in multitude Of editions
and some Of them still hold their place in
spite of the advances which juvenile litera-
ture has made. Most of them were reprinted
in England. and some of them have been
translated into other languages. They have
done rs much perhaps toward the education
and the moral guidance of American youth
as any other influence. Mr.. Abbottsyoung-
er brother-also a clergyman and historian
the Rev. John Stevens Cabot Abbott, died
not many months since. Mr. Abbott was
twice married, and by his first wife he had
five children, one of whom, daughter, died
in early life Four sons survive, all of
whom have won distinction-two in their
profession of the law, and two as clergymen
and authors. The oldest son, Benjamin
Vaughan was born in 1880, and the second,
Austin, in 1881. They are in partnership as
lawyers in New York city, and laborcd
conformity upon n digest of United States
Reports, and as editors of several important
law books The third son, Lyman, was
born in 1885, and has led an active life as
pastor and author. He was the first editor
of the Illustrated Christian Weekly, and is
at present one of the editors of the Christian
Union The fourth son, Edward, was born
in 1871, and was until recently a Congrega-
tional minister. He served for some years
on the editorial staff of the Ccngregati0nalist,
and is at present the editor of the Literary
World lie Joined the Episcopal commu
Mon year atwo ago, and is rector of the
Episcopal church in North Cambridge, Mass.