The Portland daily press., 1882-04-28

at $50 p m. Monday.
Mr. Emerson was born in Boston May 25th,
1908, and was the son Of Rev. William Emer-
son and Ruth (Haskins) Emerson. He had
minister for an ancestor in every generation
for eight generations back on either the pater-
nal or maternal side. He was fitted for college
at the Boston public schools and graduated at
Harvard ColIeps in 1921. He was not among
the highest lolars of the class, but won
Boylston pr , in junior year for aidissertation
on the "Charcter of Socrates" and another in
senior year for an essay on "The Present State
of Ethical Philosophy" He also won Boyls-
. prize for defamation and was class poet.
Assisted by his brother William he conducted
a successful girls school inBoston for five years
after graduation. In 1926 he was appreciated
to PREACH" and in March, 1929, ordained as
colleague to Rev. Henry Ware, Second Uni
tartan church, Boston. In 1882 he resigned
his pastoral charge, having announced his un-
willingness to longer administer the rite OF the
Lords Supper In 1882 he visited Europe and
after his return became lecturer before the
Boston Mechanics Institute, on water, and
celebrated men. He ecame one OF the best
known lecturers in the cou ntry. He lectured
for forty consecutive seasons before the Salem
Lyceum.
1885 Mr.. Emerson took up his residence
in Concord, Mass, and published his volume
called Mature" 1t marked new era in
American thought; was received with sharp
criticism and many admirers. 1t took twelve
years to sell 500 copies. From the addresses
which followed and the remarkable Address
before the Senior Glass at Divinity College,
Cambridge" delivered July 49, 1888, dates the
intellectual movement v ely stigmatized as
Characterization. four volumes of
aThe Dial" contain lasting memorial to that
seed-time of thought. Mr.. Emerson's two vol
umes Of essays were collected and published in
1841 and 1884, and his poems in 1876. Tn 1S47
Mr.. Emerson revisited Europe where he found
a large circle of admirers who have never
wavered in their allegiance to him. In 1880
he published Representative Men," in 1852
prepared the memoirs OF Margaret Fuller
Countess D'Ossoli, in 1856 published "English
Traits" in 1860 the conduct of Life" and
"May Day and other Poems" and Society
and Solitude" in 1869. In 1874 he gave an
elaborate and remarkable address on the anni-
vsrsary of emancipation in the British West
Indies He signed, with his wife, the call for
the first "National Women's Rights Con-
v0ntlOu IN lo0U. lie Is a VICE pIeSlu6ut Oi luo
Free Religious Association and has several
times addressed its conventions. He is an
Oyerseer of Harvard College and received the
degree of doctor of laws in 1866 he is q men,
Der of the American Academy OF Arts and Sci
noes, of the American Philosophical S1cety,
and of the Massachusetts Historical Society,
Mr.. Emerson has been twice married-once in
1880 to Ellen Louisa Tucker of Boston, who
died the following year; and again in 1850
to .Lidian jackson OF Plymouth. He has
ax,l
The son Edward Waldo graduated at Harvard
College, 1866, and has since pursued tho pro-
fession of medicine. His daughter Ellen is
unmarried; Edith is the wife of William II.
Forbes of Milton.
FAILING STRENGTH OF MIND AND BODY.
The last time Mr. Emerson was away from
Concord, was the day he attended the funeral
of Mr.. Dongfellow. 1t has been stated that on
this occasion he contracted cold, which re-
suited in his prostratioD. This, however, is
not the fact. Up to Wednesday week he had
been in the usual health which had favored
him for upward OF year. One or two warm
days in the middle of last week. seduced him
into the imprudence of taking short walk
without an overcoat, and to this lack of eau
tion is probably due the fatal illness of the
foremost literary genius Of America. Since
taking to his bed, the patient has, at times,
seemed indifferent to all surroundings AT
first he suffered severe pains, and the family
were fearful that death would ensue almost i'm
medately The chief attending physician has
bsen Mr.. Emerson's own son, who has not
been absent from the bedside OF his father
even for single moment. For long time
the great philosopher has been painfully con-
scious of his failing strength and contracting
/ intellect. To friend, who called on him last
July, he said, 81 am glad to see you. yet fear
can do little. 1 can only disappoint those
who come to see me. find that am losing
myself, and 1 wander away from the matter
have in mind. l cannot say much. When
begin lose myself. And so, when my friends
come to see me, run away instead OF going to
meet them, that may not make them suffer.
My health is good enough, but when ones
wits begin to fail it is time for the heavens to
open and take them away"
SADNESS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
The shock and grief which the brief an
nouncement OF Mr.. Emerson's critical condi-
! tion created are something more than local.
Not only in the little community of Concord,
1 was there the deepest solicitude, but from all
4 over the country arrived tender messages OF
inquiry. The community in which the gifted
man has lived SO long will mourn the loss as
Que of family. No man ever lived who was
more endeared to his neighbors. The old and
/ young, the rich and poor, alike loved and hon.
osed him. To the youth of Concord, the loss
of Ralph Waldo Emerson will be irreparable.
! For many years the school children OF the
| town have been annually entertained with
merry games and dances, and they have ever
looked forward with great interest to the
/ eyentful occasion. Some idea of the feeling
which is cherished toward him may be formed
from the recalling of the reception which was
| rendered him on the occasion OF his return
| from his last visit to Europe. The citizens
gathered at the depot in crowds; the school
! children were drawn up in two smiling rows
| through which he passed, greeted by epthusias-
tic cheers and songs of welcome. All followed
| his carriage to the house and sung Home,
| Sweet Home" to the music of the band. A
| few days afterward Mr. Emerson invited all
fellow citzeus to call and see him at his home,
| and nearly all the inhabitants Of Concord
availed themselves of the opportunity. Until
very recently general invitation has been very
often extended to old and young TO assemble
on Sunday evenings in his pleasant parlors for
! conversation.