The Portland daily press., 1881-09-13
The Career Of Sidney Lanier.

Sidney Lanier died Of consumption, with
which disease be had long been sufferer.
His death, while sad blow TO his friends,
could hardly have been surprise. During
the time he lived in Baltimore he was very
weak, and was often confined to his room for
weeks at 2 time, and it was principally by
stimulants that his life was prolonged. He
was but 80 yerrs of age. His father was kor-
ert Lanier, a promir ent lawyer OF Macon, ia.
He chose law as his profession, and was gradu-
ated shout the time he came OF age. lie then
began practice in Macon with his father, but
subsequently, removed to Texas, whore he.
lived in more than one part of the State- Out
there bis health broke down, and being threat
ened with consumption, he came North and
went to New York. During the war he was
employed in the signal service and was sta
toned both in Petersburg, Va. and on the
Southern coast. He had from early youth
been fond of literary pursuits, and, while IN
Texas, he made his first real efforts IN the
shape of little romance, which was published,
and earned for him some distinction. He
afterward went to Florida and wrote guide
book of the State for Lippincott. Mr. Lanier
spent much time and pains over this, ana not
only made trustworthy and truthful guide,
but an exceedingly readable and entertaining.
little volume of it. When in Texas he was
advised to learn to play on the flute, as 1t was
thought it would be of benefit to his health
This ne picked up quite readily, and was soon
a finished artist. He understood music thor
oughly, and loved 1t dearly; mr.. Lanier
moved to Baltimore about 1872 with his wife,
who was Miss Mary Day OF Macon. Az hrst
he tried the practice of law, but it broke him
down in health and he abandoned 1t for MS
literary and musical pursuits. He took the
position of first flute in the Peabody orchestra,
Then n fine organization, and also gave some
private lessons in music. AT TINS time ne
wrote some poetry which appeared in various
magazines and excited great deal OF fav Or
able criticism. His "Corn" and symphony,
two poems which appeared in Lippincotts,
attracted widespread admiration for their force
and original beauty. That Centennial Can
tata." written for the Centennial celebration,
was published all over the country. AT TINS
time he also had some private Glasses IN lltefa-
ture in several of the schools in the city, and
also wrote occasional musical criticisms for one
of the daily papers. During the past two or
three wears his attention was principally Of.
rected to literature, his chief study being OF
the old English epoch. Mr.. Lanier wrote
book about 1878 on the "Science OF English
Verse" in which he introduced the conceit OF
using musical notation instead of the ordinary
marks of prosody. He then wrote 1.-The BOYS,
Froissart" and sThe Boys King Arthur,
and during the past winter he was engaged on
another similar book. In 1878 he delivered
series of lectures on English literature in con-
ago he neld course of lectures at the Johns
Hopkins University on the same theme, adopt
ing as a particular branch of this broad sub
iect, the English novelists. During the past
winter and its severe weather, however, ne
was unable to do much work, and at times he
was utterly unable to attend to his classes OF
deliver his lectures. He leaves wife and
four children. The interment will take place
in Mannr