Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-27
Dailu krmnrbtr JournaI.
Henry WadswOrth Longfellow.
An ESSAY READ BEFoRE rHE MURRAY CLur
AT THEIR MEETING OF FKBRuARY goth.

Blessings be with them, and eternal praise =.
The poets who on earth have made us heirs
OF truth and pure delight by heavenly lays"
| grand old man, with snowy hair and a
beard that spreads over his chest like flowing
| threads Of silver, and eyes the color of the
sky where ii peeps out from between Storm
clouds, may frequently be seen in pleasant
weather sauntering down the elm shaded
avenues of Cambridge, or lettering in some
Boston bookstore turning over the leaves
of rare volumes, or perhaps enjoying
matinee at the Museum with the zest of
schoolboy. 1t is Henry wadsworth Long.
fellow, the most famous of our American
poets. and whose 18th birthday will be cele-
brated one week from TO- night As the bard
Is native of our own State, and has attained
an age when il is possible that any moment, he
may be called upon to relnquish his touch
upon the strings of his earthly Tyre, il seems
most proper that we devote this evening to
study of his life and writings
HIS BIoGRAPHY.
The poets biography may be sketched in
few words. 1t is the pleasant story (rare in
this country of gentleman by birth and
breeding-a child of genius-dowered with
the wealth and leisure necessary to enable
him to crafty his fine tastes. Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Port
land, February %. 1907. He was son
of Hon. Stephen Longfellow, an eminent
lawyer of his jav. and on his mothers
sila lipoal dascanIo~t nf III,
who came over in the Mayfower He
entered Bowtloin College in 1921, and grad
uated in the famous class of '25, after which
he devoted himself for short time to the
study of law. In 1926 he accepted the offer
of the professorship of modern languages
and literature in his alma mater, and went
abroad to fit himself for the position, spend
three delightful years in France, Spain. Italy,
Germany, Holland and England. In 1885, on
the resignation of Mr.. George Ticknor. Young
Longfe!low was elected professor of Bellies
Lettres in Harvard College. which place he re-
tained dluntil 1854 ,revisting Europe in the mean
while. Since his resignation Of his Harvard
professorship, Longfellow has devoted him
pen and other sources has accumulated a
fortune of Sl500o0. The poet has been
twice married, and has several talented
children living. In ls6s-69 he visited Europe
for the third time, and was everywhere the
recipient of high honors. The great Univer-
sity of Oxford conferred upon him the
degree of d. c. L., and men of the highest
literary and social distinction sought his
acquaintance, and were charmed by his
dignfied, kindly and unassuming department
Although his genius early budded. and burst
into the full efflorescenee of poesy when in
the prime Of early manhood, the autumn
fruitage of his life has corresponded with the
fragrance and luxuriance of its early blossoms
and his latest songs have been among his
sweetest. In Ultima Thule, he recognizes
that but a few more golden mlestones" are
to be passed before the glory of the city
celestial breaks on his enraptured vision. and
sings