New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-30
THE RETURN OF DIR. HOLMES
BIRTHDAY OF THE POET ON sHIpBoARn
sEvENry-sEvES RAIsINs OK HIS CAKE--A cHAp
WITH THOMAS HUGHES

| sEvENry-sEvKS RAIsINs OK HIS CAKE-A caAv
WITH THOMAS HUGHES
| DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes arrived yester.
day blythe Cunard steamer Aurania from Liverpool
accompanied BY his daughter, Mrs. Turner Sargent az
Boston. The steamship crossed she bar 1T 1890 nm
and about O'Clock reached Quarantine, where a Tan.
USE reporter went aboard with the Health Onicer ID,
Holmes found seated 10 bis cabin after havfns
returned from brief stroll upon the deck His chsets
bronzed and his eyes spsrkled brightly underneath
his bushy browa He expressed himself as plssssd An
reaching port though he said that the voyage had bssn
for the most part pleasant one.
The day one OF more than usual interest 10 ID,
Homes, for aside from the fact that 10 marked his re-
turn home 1t was aso the seventy anniverssry
OF his birth. In button-hoe OF his coat bunch
Of Scotch heather, tho tribute Of lady passenger whs
had thus expressed her interest n the occasion. On
table remains Of great fruit cake, made bv
the direction OF Captain Hans looked good thas
ono might believe IL to DO composed OF Of the
crumbs Of comfort which the genial gentleman and kind
hearted poet had spent long lifetime In distributing
among his fellowmen To the eyes Of tho dyspepto.
however. who glsred upon It, It suggested the exist
ence Of an autocrat even moro exactng thaa
that OF the breakfast table, Tho time OF tho departure
from Liverpool rendered certain that the birthday o
DIR. Holmes would before landing. Captain Haina
caused the cake to DO prepared IL response 20 hint
from OF the passengers, and 1t presented
the poet yesterday morning, . number OF persons as
his health In champagne. Though Weighted with rich
ness It's Interior the surface Of the plain
and In o circle around the top were ranged seventy.
seven large raisins, each representing In the LIE
Of tho venerable recipient
Mrs. Sargent speut considerable time before leaving
thefshp in cutting 1t into pieces for distribution among
the passengers as mementoa just before sailing for
homo Mrs Sargent received message from friend In
Boston conveying request that she should
procure liberal supply OF choice flowers 70
be presented to DR.. Holmes on his birth
day morning. without his knowledge the flowers
placed In charge OF tho captain, aud By him care
fully preserved In cool, moist place. When the poet
arose yesterday morning he was overwhelmed at mud
ing himself empowered in fresh flowers emitting all the
fragrance of . summer garden Another testimonial
received from OF those on board In the shape
OF sheaf OF grain filed with flowers and fruit Several
passengers presented personal tributes OF less
trinsic value but all Of equal worth to Dr. Holmes
evidences OF regard.
Another pleasing incident of the homeward voyage
occurred on Friday evening" when concert given
by for the benefit OF the fund for
In this country and in England. After
dinner the passengers assembled in the music
room and Dr. Holmes presided. He made
neat little speech, snd followed
by recitation OF one OF his earlier poems The Steam
boat" BY his side sat Thomas Hughes. the author OF
"Tom Browns School Days" He followed DIR. Holmes
appropriate speech and also recited "Hodge and
Razors from Peter Pindar" to the great delight Of
the audience. Mrs. Hollingwortn sang Tho Broken
Pitcher" after which Miss Clara Louise Kellogg aso
sang number of selections being compelled to submit
to couple Of poem of the sea was recited
by MIRA Detz Clymer. Other passengers likewise took
part and the performance closed with the singing Oh
"The star-spapged Banner" and God Save tho
Queen" These last named pieces sung with
such and farreAching effect that according
to The Aurania Ne,cs, a paper printed on shpboard,
an I'm oil
spouting at full speed to ask Captain
Hairs what the row was about, while committee OF
investigation sent by the late DAVE Jones to inves
tigare into the unusual outburst Of melody" Among
other schemes sdopted for swelling the fund that
Of disposing OF autographs OF Miss Kellogg and DR..
Holmes From TINS source about $50 derived. tho
full OF the proceeds Of the concert being a5t
Dr. Holmes spoke with much enthusiasm OF his trip and
the reception which he every where received aud
he the honors conferred upon him by Cambridge.
oxford and Edinburgh with the same modesty which
has always characterized him. He sailed for England
the OF APRIL aud has consequently been absent about
stantIy taxed in the fuidment Of social agement
He travelled considerably through England and Scot
visit to Paris with his daughter. The experiences
through which he passed VIII no doubt at some future
author. who. however will not undertake. the work u
ton are disposed Of In the meantime he prefers to
avoid anything like detached statement OF facts and
Incidents points In whichhe thinks the
public may be Interested, but he believes these be
satisfactory to himself after
thoughtful consideration and peaceful reflection.
DR.. Homes among the last passengers TO leave
vessel and with Mrs. Sargent vent directly TO the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. He viii start at IL O'Clock this
morning by rail Boston While at Quarantine let
ter placed his hands from his son, Oliver Wendell
Holmes lr. Upon the face OF the envelope, above the
superscription. the words All WE'LL heavily I'M
derscOred which caused happy smile to OyerspTead the
countensnce OF the venerable gentleman.
Among the first OF the passengers encountered by tho
reporter on reaching the deck OF the steamer
Thomas Hughes. His naturally rosy cheeks were still
more rlddy from the kisses OF the ocean air. He wore
long gray alpaca duster his dark clothing and
tall gray hat Nj. Hughes has come to be quite
traveller his interest in his colony at Rugby, Tenn
has the least abated. He starts FOR that place
this morning visit to his mother now ninety years
old Referring tue colony, he said that they were not
bringing any new additions to It, but were engaged
in assmilst those already there. lie spoke enthusi
astcay OF the county and OF the OF his
engaged IN cattle aisng IN New Mexico Mr.. hughes
win return to England IN about month Referring TO
Dr. Holiness visit abroad ne SAID:
He Ia a remarkable for his age and it's wonder
TO me didn't kill him there. We took him down
and put him through generally but he stood IL
remarkably WELL"