The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-03-30
The Death of Longfellow.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE FANG
POET.

\ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE FAMOUS
POET.
Henry W. longfeIlow. the poet. who has
been in i'll health during the past two years
from Il complication of troubles, died at his
home in Cambridge III 3.15 p. NJ. March 9th.
The illness which proved fatal. perltonltl> set
in Saturday. the 18th. ON that day he wat out
part Of the afternoon, walking on the piazza.
and going into the house complained of being
slightly cold At dinner he was taken suddenly
i'll and soon after Went to his room and in
short time had violent attack of vertigo. DIR.
Merrill Wyman and DR.. J +. Minot attended
him. Sunday he complained of severe pains in
stomach and 0piates We're administered to allay
the trouble and induce sleep. His condition
seemed somewhat improved until Monday when
the dangerous symptoms became manifest and
the family We're seriously alarmed. Tuesday
morning these symptoms assumed an aggraYat-
ed form and it became evident TO the household
that his death was near. Wednesday and Thurs
day there was a slight Improvement, there be-
ING disposition to sleep almost continually.
During he afternoon and evening of Thursday
he talked great deal about various topics and
seemed to recover large portion of his usual
bright and cheerful disposition. Later in the
night he became partially unconscious and
seemed restless and uneasy. Friday morn
inc he revived though his talk was of a ram
bling nature and somewhat incoherent This
condition continued until about an hour before
h> death when he became unconscious and so
continued until the last. suffering but little pain
apparently The immediate cause of his death
was peritontis All the family We're present.
consisting of his three daughters, Edith (Mrs.
K. II. Dana Alice and Anna, the sons Earnest
and Charles. his nephews William p. and
Nad>Worth LongtelloW of Portland, his broth
cr Alexander Of Portland. his sisters Mrs.
Grcenlief of Cambridge and Mrs. Pierce of
Portland, his brother-in-law Thomas Appleton
OF Boston. Nathan Appleton of Boston and
Mrs. Earnest Longfellow.
The news of his death was entirely uneXpect-
ed by the public. as his dangerous symptoms
were not generally known until Wednesday.
His sickness was of the nature of acute intiama-
ton of the bowels. Though it had no direct
connection with the nervous troubles which
have crown upon him during the past two
Years, his powers of recuperation We're reduced
by them a. well as by his advanced Years, and
he fell. therefore. more easily Il victim to
disease.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in
Portland Mei, Feb. 9th 1907. The mansion
where he was born being the first erected in
Portland wholly of brick walls is still pointed
out. His father. Hon. stephen LongfellOw.
WAS a leading man of Maine, and his grand
father WAS the first of the name to settle in the
state as Il school teacher. After his preliminary
studies he was sent to Bowdoin College, where
he graduated i'll 1873 in the class which conlpris-
ed among it, members Nathaniel Hawthorne
Franklin Pierce and several Others who won
distinction in the various walks of life. He had
intended to devote himself to the study of law
but his natural bent toward literature had been
so stimulated by the reception of some pieces of
poetry he published during his college course
that he dropped all thoughts of Blackstone and
Coke.
In 1896 he was offered the professorShip of
modern languages and literature in Bowdoin
which he accepted upon the condition he might
devote some time to preliminary foreign study.
Early in the year he sailed for Europe. remain
inc abroad till 1899 and studying successfully
in France, Spain. Italy and Germany. Upon
his return he discharged the duties of profess
Sorship i'll his alma mater for five years Dur
ing this time he contributed to the North Amer
lean Review and published his translation of
the "Copeas de Manrique, and his 'Dutre
Mer."
Longfellow was appointed professor Of mod
ern languages and literature in Harvard College
to succeed Prof. TicknOr. LongfelOw then
made his second visit TO Europe passing about
two wears in Denmark. Sweden. Germany. IIol-
land and Switzerland. During this trip he lost
his wife at Rotterdam, Nov. 29th. 1875. He
returned to America i'll 1886 and entered upon
the Harvard professorship, which he held seven
teen years. being succeeded by James Russell
Lowell.
Many of Longfelow's best and most popular
works Were published during the time he was
| professor of Harvard College. In 1868 Prof
| LongfeloW revisited Europe where he was re-
| reached their climax i'll England where it was
| said by the Westminster Review that not one
of his English contemporaries had a wider OF
| greater supremacy.
| In 1865, also, Longfellow was elected a mem
| Der of the Reform Club. In July, 1869. he re-
ceived the degree of d. c. l.. at Oxford, and re-
| turned to this country the 3lst of August, 1869
| While LOngfeOW has always been averse tC
public testimonials and celebrations, his birth
days. especially of later years, have been the Oc
| 3D..
affection i'll which he has been held particularly
was this true of his last birthday, the 9th day
of last month, when, to a large extent, the
schools all over the country gave the whole OF
| part of the day to the study of his writings. ant
to essays and addresses upon his character ant
| life. His native city of Portland desired Il
honor him with public dinner and reception
upon the same occasion, but failing health ant
aversion to public display, compelled him to de
cline the honor. The Maine Historical Society
however, kept the day with eulogies, critca
| and personal, ESSAYS and poem.
Longfellow has been twice married; in 1888
| was welded to Mary S. Potter of Portland, wht
died as above stated while jOurneying in Europe
| His second wife was Frances Appleton of BOs
ton, to whom he was married in 1913. In July
1861, she was burned so badly by touching
piece of burning paper to her dress by accident
that she died the next day.
This lady was woman OF rare loneliness o
face and character. She is the mother of fv
children who survive Mr.. Longfellow.
COMMENTS OF THE LONDON PRESS.
LONDON, March a. Dispatches from Lon
don this morning say that the Standard in al
article on the death of the poet Longfellov
says: "Longfellow commands wider aIdienc
among cur people than any poet of the age
save perhaps Tennyson."
The Daily Telegraph says: ''The place Long
fellow occupies in English literature is decided
ly bright. He is almost as well-known ant
widely read in England as in America. His in
fiuence has been wholly good. AS long as tn
English language lasts his works will be quote,
as models of simplicity of style and purity o