The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-03-30
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

1t was but a few short weeks ago that Port
land. the birthplace of Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow, tittingly celebrated the poets sew
enty-ffth birthday. Although the state of Mr.
Longfellow'> health was such at that time as to
prevent his accepting an invitation to be present.
neither then nor down to the very day of his
death We're there apprehensions that his psalm
of Life" was soon to be ended. The sad tidings
first made public by toing bells in Cambridge.
the city of his residence, carried with them the
sudden shock which accompanies the news of
death by some dire disaster. But in truth, the
good poet had been slowly waning in phvsi-
cal strength for two years or more, although the
luStre of his intellect remained undimmed until
the end. He had attained Il ripe age. but his
pure and blamclcsS life and scholarly ease were,
conducive to longevity. and we had grown TO
expect that his snow crowned head would long
be spared. But the "Reaper. whose name is
DEATH" spares neither the bearded grain nor the
flowers, and to-day the civilized world mourns
the loss of an honorcd name in literature Long
fellow was essentially poet of home and the
affections. He never wrote a line that would
cause Il maiden to blush. His teachings were
pure as was his own life: his spirit was dcyo-
tiona. and broad catholicity. charity. and kind
ness. characterized all his efforts. And 50 he
will be sincerely mourned in homes to which
other poets are strangers and moulned n
though near and dear friend had been taken
away. The interest the children took in the
poet has been often manifested. and particular
ly in the recent celebrations Of his birthday:
and this interest was warmly rrcprocated.
Longfellow's love for children was manifested
no less in his daily life than in his poems and
many generations of children vet TO come will
keep his memory green.
The critics and eSsayi>ts Will now set to work
to determine Mr.. LongfeiloW'S place in Htcra-
ture. but what they may say seems of little
consequence at this time. They cannot diSplace
him from the niche he 80 long has occupied
His fame is secure His works will live long
after his critics have passed away. In England
his popularity is fully equal to that of rcnny-
son. the poet laureate, and his poems have been
translated into All the modern languages. Win
ming for him fresh laurclS everywhere. The
very perfection Of his literary work has been
criticised rs cyidencing want of feeling and lack
of genius; but in truth. neither are wanting.
These objections are simply due to fnl>eta>tr,
that demands crude thoughts and eNtravagant
language. and perhaps something of the >en>Il-
BUSINESS OF the heshy school OF poetry. But the
great majority of readers would not have had
LongftlloW other than he WAS and for many
years to come his poems will remain household
words. bringing comfort TO the afflicted. and in
culcating the Christian prcccpts that lead TO
better life.
While the world mourn> the loss Of this dis
tingui>hcd man of letters. ii will not be forgot
ten that Maine has cause for pride. A. well rs
grief in that She gave to the world this great
and good poet in this State he was born and
educated. and here he spent the earlier wears of
his life and sang his first songs. When called to
wider sphere of usefulness his old home was
not forgotten, and inspired some Of lis later
poems. and to-day the March winds that sweep
through the pines on the rugged hil>ilc> Of his
native state sound requiem for the departed.