New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-30
OBITUARY..
MARTIN FARQUHAR UPPER.
London, Nov 29.Martin Far1uhar Upper, the
wnll Snown poet and prose writer, Is dead.


we'll. Snown poet and prose writer, is dead.
Mr.. Tuppcr. the author OF tho popular work called
Proverbia Philosophy was born in London in 1910,
and educated at the old Charterhouse. ThacAeray
being one OF his schoolfcllows He subsequently, spent
three years at Christ Church, Oxford whore he became
intimate with Mr.. Gladstone. whose warm friendship
no retained throughout his life On one Immoral e
occasion during his stay at the university he entered
the contest for DR. Burtons prize for theological
essays, and the first place. Mr.. Gladstone stand
ing second. Indeed he was weary OF relating
in later years how when DR.. Burton had me before
him to give the 1925 worth of books, he requested
ne to allow Mr. Gladstone to have so5 worth of them
as he was 50 good a second7
Prevented by an mpediment Of his speech from
carrying out his intention Of taking holy Orders or
from practising at the Bar, to which h was SUD
sequently called at the Inner Temple Mr. Upper
devoted himself literature and IN 1888 he producer
his work entitled PrOvelbial PhilO ophy,' when
achieved exraordnart success moi only In England
but also In this country. il has passed through
some fifty or sixty editions. and many hundreds OF
thousands Of copies have been sold in the
United States The great popularity Of thls
work Is due not much TO It's literary MERIT "hich
is not Of high order, but rather 10 its ph!ahthfopc'
kindly and tolerant tone II appeals TO the Oes'
impulses and Tendencies Of the human heart, and pus
the best face everything II IS an optimistic
philosophy, therefore "A
majority Of men and women but little developed
ntellectually They are not given TO high and deep
thinking But they are immersed in cares ana per-
uleXifes Poverty. anxiety sickness. death, by turns
assail them The general aspect Of the world Is none
100 cheerful for them, and their souls hunger iof
consolation as the ccarbrcd plant yearns for sun
light. To them Upper brought comfort. II was
his mission TO reconcile the simple minded TO INe.
lie endeavOrcd 10 show them with arguments strong
enough for their needs that after all there Is plenty
Of cause for gratitude and cOntentment
Among Mr. Tupper's other works are Probabilities
an Aid TO Faith Qs47l, stephen Langon' Q3oe)'
Nv Life as an Author" 1850, and drama entitled
&c Washington" in 1876. He wrote many other books
and also translated the poems OF Alfred the Great from
the Anglo-SsxOn into English verse.
Mr. Upper paid two visits TO America, the last
occasion being In 1887. when he spent most OF his
time at the house Of the Rev. Dr. T. De Witt Tamage.
He however, found time to make tour in the
south. and gave readings in Savannah, Charleston
Richmond, Petersburg and other cities. Among the
many other persons Of note with whom he came into
contact were President Hayes and SAMUEL }. IHdch.
on sailing for home at the conclusion OF his last
visit to tie United STAGES Mr.. upper bado farewell
TO his friends in poem, in which he spoke tenderly
Of his friends and kindly OF his few foes.
Among the persons OF note who wore on terms Of
friendship with Mr.. Topper, and who correspondent
Carlyle Matthew Arnold, W. c. Bryant. James Rus
sell Lowell and Natha i'll Hawthorne The author
Of q" The Scarlet Letter. however published some
rather cutting remarks about Nj. 1upIe which the
latter resented, as hawthorne had Deeh rectIHeu W
him with much kindly hOspia atty.
Pages of The Tribune could be filed with anecdotes
Of the life of this writer for the masses. II IS easy
TO undcrst aud after reading the CalrOus, halmcssly
cOnceited. gOOd-humOrd and healthy-'Oned pages
of his autobiography aud Of hl, other books the
source Of tie enicncy with which Mr.. TupperS worst
faults treated By al his literary contemporaries
who had ctsonul Acquaintance with him. The
truth Is that he genial. nd hearted. upright
and ostmable gent .eman, with all his tendency 10
pnggi,hne,s ana his profound faith In hi, own I'm
poriance author, o. as he would put H. his
au'hOr.al- position 1t Is to be rrgr tted that his
literary activity which great and constant did
not provide him with a competence In his oil age
He appears 10 have begun life with a suticiency.
but when his father, who had been physician IN
large practice, oil. tn estate Iriyed much smaller
than sUpTOs d. SUI Sc IucHty the philosopher
lost money IN speculation, through The ia uie Of a
corporation, and in other way, and though his Wis
its to this country paid HIM handsomely, he died in
stIaitencd ciICumsianc