The Portland daily press., 1885-12-19
SARAH ORNE JEWETT.
An Accomplished Writer of Whom
Maine is Proud.

Miss Sarah Orne Jewett is credited with
having written book into which neither
love nor passion enters, and yet which holds
one with an interest that many sensational
novel fails to excite. Every other Saturday
publishes sketch of Miss Jewett, accom-
panied with a portrait From this 1t is
learned that she was born in South Berwick,
dore Herman Jewett, was distinguished
physician, and highly respected among the
medical men of New England
DIR. Jewett's father was man OF great
natural ability and knowledge of human ma
ture. He followed the sea in early life; but,
after leaving that, he carried on large DuSl-
ness as shipowner and builder in Berwick,
sending great quantities of timber etc., to
the West Indies, which of course necessitat-
ed local business in Berwick, as the lum-
bernlen who brought his supplies from the
inland country were paid chiefly in goods,
not money. Other men carried on much the
same enterprises, and made South Eerwlck
link between the large trading ports and the
inland country. Sometimes the timber teams
came from Vermont, and often from the up
per part of New Hampshire, through the
Crawford Notch. The village is at the head
of tide water, above Portsmouth, and adds
Miss Jewett: my grandfather and his as
sociates built several large ships Just below
the town. This accounts for the old sailors
and larger range of character with which l
have been able to come in contact
Miss Jewett's mother is the daughter OF
DR.. VIM. Perry Of Exeter, N. H., another
eminent physician, who is ninetySeven years
old. and remembers distinctly the talk in his
family about the execution OF Marie Antol
nette, and was passenger on Robert Full
tons first steamboat on her trial trip down
the Hudson.
been dreamy and imaginative, amusing her.
self by the hour together in telling herself
stories that her active and busy little brain
would spin. Being rather delicate SIZE was
encouraged to lead an open ar NE, ana tne
woods and hills of beautiful Berwick were
her playground. Reading was one OF h !,r
favorite pastimes; and she browsed at Will
among the books of her fathers library; In
person she is tall and dignltled, with nigh
bred grace and courtesy OF manner, prlght
in conversation, and is more English than
American in her tastes for oat-of-door lie.
She is an expert with the oar and no less
skill in the saddle.
Miss Jewett's father was at one time pro-
lessor in the Maine Medical school. he
graduated in 1884 at Bowd0in College, and
died Sept. 10th, 1873, at the Crawford House,
White Mountains DR.. Jewett accosted our
informant, class mate whom ne nad not
met for over forty years, on tne long piaI
form in front of the hotel, offered MS hans9l,
and said, Il think you don't remember me-!
mo, do not" was the reply, although
there is something about you that recall.
DIR. Jewett stepped back, raised MS hano
and exclaimed:
.'Oh. who would soar the solar height
To sink in such starless night"
and exclaimed. ''Do you remember that?'
"Why, that was an extract from Byron IN
my commencement part, almost fifty years
years ago." Eyes, and do you remember me
now?" but how changed" The class
mates then had long conversation. o1
that he had not been WE'LL and had come
away for rest. The next morning they, met
on the platform just after breakfast, where
DR.. Jawett took his friends hands, and SAID
with leep feeling; I'm quitepoorly. in n.l
go he ne. shall take the next train. The
othel demonstrated but to no effect. The
doctor turned and entered the house, when
he fell, and expired instantly.