The Portland daily press., 1883-11-02
THOMAS WRIGHT.
Death of a Former Wen KNOWN Resident
of Portland.
.sHushed is the harp-the minstrel gomez

FLUSHED is the harp-ihe minstrel gone"
Died at Windham on Wednesday, 31st ult.,
Mr.. Thomas Wright, at the age of II years.
Mr.. Wright was born in Belfast, ireland, in
1872. When boy be served the prescribed
time as carriage trimmer and harness maker.
BE married in his own city, and went first to
London, where he worked several years, and
then came to st. John, N. B., and from there
to Portland in about 1885, His first work at
his trade here was with the late John Edmonds
on Congress street, where he continued several
years. Being finished workman as a carriage
trimmer, his services were always sought and
literally remunerated. Finally he opened a
shop of his own ON Preble street, where he
pursued his business several years, living in
house near the Southern corner of the present
Lincoln Park. Here he lost some of his house,
hold goods in the great fire of 1866.
On their arrival in Portland Mr.. Wright
and his wife became constant worshipers in
the old church of ST. Paul's, on what is now
Pearl and Chareh streets, but it was months
before his worth and love of music became
known. His timid responses were hardly
audible, although he was noticed for his strict
following in the service, and he and his wife
became communicates. Some years after he
was made musical director of the parish,
which service and the care of the organ he
performed gratuitously for years, but he was
always remembered at Christmas. Some of
these substantial tokens now garnish his house.
The few remaining attendants of that fine old
church will remember his painstakings, and
will learn of his death with sorrow
| Mr.. Wright was passionately fond of music,
and his correct Judgment was appreciated by
| all the amateurs of the town. He played a
| violin in the old portland Orchestral Socie-
| ty," but his excessive difidence the bane of
| his life-would not let him assume his proper
place in public entertainment
His delight was to look up broken and dis
carded musical instrument of merit-string or
| wind-repair its damage, and breathe into it
| the music Of its former life. They were all
familiar to him, and served oemploy him dur
ing the evenings when his days labor at his
regular business was done.
On account OF the falling health of his wife,
and bis natural love of the country in about
looO he purchased small farm in Windham
| and erected all the necessary buildings for a
pleasant home. To this farm he soon moved,
continuing for year or two the Preble street
shop This he soon gave up but continued the
| business at his farm.
Mr. Wright's house was musical museum,
containing about all the instruments of an or
cheStra of his time. Viols and yiolins of all the
Old makers, pipe, reed and cylinder organs,
guitars and banjos, which he had admitted in
various stages of decrepitude and
Though stiff in hand, his breath though weak
He taught them yet the way to.speak."
There were many attractions surrounding
his house as well as within it. The wife who
came with him from London--now dead--was
passionate lover of flowers and shrubbery,
and between them both they made q home
that Weather people might covet. In this
he put the savings of a lifetime, and filled the
house with pictures of his favorite composers
and authors.
His home had more charms for him than
any other place, except on Sunday, when if
he could not join in the liturgy Of an Episco-
pal church as in his boyhood, with timid
mein and reverend face he attended on the
ministrations of the aged pastor of the Congre-
gational church of the town. The tuning and
care OF the organ served to keep his hand in
practice.
I'm varying cadence soft or strong,
He swept the sounding keys along
And tuned to suit PEASANTS ear,
The reeds king would like to hear
On the day before Mr.. Wright's death he
| was inadvertently made acquainted with the
demise of his early and valued friend James
| Bailey, which caused him sad pang and les
sened his courage; but fatal termination Of
MS illness was not apprehended until the
morning of his decease.
"The ruling passion strong in DEATH was
exemplifed in his last hours. A short time be-
fore he breathed his last he said to his physi-
| clan, did you ever hear the song of The Bells?
oh! it is beautiful and spoke of the author
with admiration. Scotts lines SO perfectly de-
scribed the scene, that quote them in prefer
ence to any words of our own.
ssThe scenes long past, of joy and pain,
Came wildring Ger his aged brain
| He tried to tune his voice in vain
And much he wished, but feared to try
The long forgotten melody;
Amid the chords his fingers strayed,
| But when he caught the measure wild
| The old man raised his face and smiled;
| And lighted up his faded eye
| With all poets ecstacy''
Mr.. Wright seldom spoke an unkind or dis
| paragipg word of any one. His religion was
| notseless, and his spirits cheerful His friends
were many and his enemies none. He was one
| of the first members OF the Maine Lodge Of
Odd Fellows. He leaves widow, second