The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-30
Henry Wadsworth LongfeIlow.

The death of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
at his home in Cambridge, Mass, came sud-
denly although not unexpectedly, for although
his last illness was only week in duration he
had been in delicate health for some time. The
death of the poet was announced to the people
of Cambridge in the afternoon by the solemn
tolling of the bells. Seventy-five blows were
struck at measured intervals, indicating hi'
age, according to the oll-time New England
custom. When the end came be was surrounded
by the complete circle of his family, consisting
of his three daughters, his two sons, his two
brothers, his two sisters and others.
Henry Wadsworth Longfe,low was born in
Portland Me-, February q, 1907. His father
was Stephen Longfellow, an eminent lawyer
of that city, and a member of the national
Congress. The poet was taught at the
Portland academy, and at the age of fourteen
entered Bowdoin college. He wrote poetry
during his academic course. This was
printed In the Portland papers, ana in the
= United States Literary Gazette, a magazine
conducted by Theophilus Parsons in Boston.
Among the poems comr osed by Longfcllow at
this time are "The Hymn of the Moravian
Nuns" "Tho Spirit of Poetry" "Woods in
Winter" and "Sunrise on the Hills" Among
the classmates of Longtellow at Bowdoin were
Nathaniel Hawthorne. Abbott, the historian
Jonathan l. Cilley, the Maine Congressman
who Was killed in a duel by Mr.. Graves, of
Kentucky, George B. Cheever and j. w. Brad
ley
Longfellow graduated second in class of
thirty-seven, and entering his fathers Office
began the study of law. Within a year after
ward he received and accepted an offer of the
professOrship of modern languages and litera-
ture in BowdOin college. Before assuming
this proiessorship, however, he sailed for
Europe, where he remained for three years,
studying i'll France, Spain, Italy and Germany.
He returned to America in 1929, and for five
years thereafter discharged hi. duties at Bow
doin. In this time his "Outre Mer" was pub
lished, and he contributed to the North Amer
iCdn RerteIr.
In 1895 he was appointed professor of mod
ein languages and belles-lettres at Harvard.
Again, before assuming the duties of this Office,
9%hdgRi& %RSm Wbs " Has fRr9ad tRGse In! h:
derly devoted, and whose memory is preserved
in several of his poems. She died in Holland.
and was buried there.
In 1886 Longfellow assumed the Harvard
pro:essorship, which he held for seventeen
years. During this period his literary work
was incessant and fruitful. He passed the
summer of 1912 on the Rhine. In 1854 he re.
signed his professorshp at Harvard, but con-
tinued to reside at Cambridge His home vas
the old Craigin mansion, which, at one time
had been occupied by Washington. The poet
spent much time in the care and adornment
Of this house. Many have been fascinated by
it, and have called it the most charming home
in America.
In 1868 and 1869 Longtellow was again in
Europe, and was received everywhere with
marked honors. While this time abroad he re.
ceived the degree of d. c. l.. from Oxford Uni.
versity, and the same degree from Cambridge
The H. gree of Ii. ID. was conferred upon him
by Harvard in 1859, and he received similar
honors from all The principal colleges il
America.
Longlellow was twice married. His second
wife met her death by shocking accident il
1861. While dressing to attend party hei
clothing came in contact with the light in her
room, and she received fatal injuries
The last of LonSlelloW's poems was 'Hermes
TIismegistos," which was published only few
months ago.
The remains of the poet Longfellow were in
TERED at Mount Auburn cemetery, Boston, the
family and Intimate friends alone attending
There was present sad company of forty OF
more, in which the faces of Ralph Waldo
Emerson, DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Viii
liam D. Howells Bonson Alcptt Rich
ard II. Dana, John G. Whittier, Loui,
Agassiz, ProtC ssor Charles Eliot Morton and
George William Curtis we're prominent The
body Jay in a casket of black broadcloth. The
face showed no sign of paia or even OF weari-
ness; The body was plainly clad in
black, and the only ornament of the
coffin was silver plate inscribed with
name and dates of birth and death, and a single
spray of passion flowers. The short service
was conducted by the Rev. Samuel L1ngfsllog
of Portland, brother of the poet. Mr.. L0ngf,'l-
low read Scripture selections and made Il briei
address, devoted chiefly to the personal history
and character of his brother. After prayer
the fun'r cortege proceeded to the cemetery,
halt ilile distant from the dead poets home.
There the Rev. DIR. +. G. Peabody opened tn
services with prayer, which was followed by
the hymn, so, cast thy burden on the Lord, >
sung with beautiful effect by the Harvard Gleo
Club of thirteen student voices Extracts from
the service for the dead were read, and then
Professor q. @. Everett of the Harvard Divinity
school pronounced a eulogy, after which a
prayer by Dr.. Peabody and the bsnedictlon