The Portland daily press., 1890-08-05
OBITUARY..
Edward PaYson.

1t Is not necessary in New England to re.
peat the fact that the recent death of Ed
ward Payson makes another break in the
circle of a distinguished family. DR.. Pay
son, in his gifts of eloquence and personal
influence over others. held G position among
us fifty years ago quite unique and striking,
and his daughter, Mrs. Prentiss, had rare
mind and welded pen with sufficient sue
cess to place her permanently among the
leading women of American literature.
Mr. Edward Payson inherited large
share of his fathers talent. though his tenn
permanent and his marked originality carried
these qualities into very different channels,
leading him into free thought In its best
sense, naturally colored by the modern sci
fearless and independent in his views, he
expressed himself freely upon subjects
which called out strong individual opinion.
In the profession of the law he showed
the keenness and intellectual vigor always
characteristic OF him. but for many years
had not engaged in practice. His life at the
South gave him strong sympathy with the
people there; a sympathy to which he was
ever loyal. A Democrat In politics, his
%orR 10 raat arec6op e., may be said to have
In literature he found his chief interest and
delight. That is to say. his political writing
was indirect, not so much an attitude of par
tisanship as an entering into all the leading
questions OF the time-pr0hibition, tariff
and the like: He served in the legislature
( In 1S64.65 Mr.. Payson had taste for meta
physics and philosophy, as shown In his
Law, Of Equivalent" and careful read
'"Roly''s Prophecy" and other stories, the
love for Dickens which was very intense
with him, especially directed towards the
authors chef d@urre "a Tale Of Two
Cities" Always fond of outdoor life, this
feeling showed itself In his attachment to
the old home at Deering, where his neigh
bors found him one of themselves. He
liked to speak Of himself, half smilingly, as
farmer and tiller Of the soil. His knowl-
edge OF horticulture was quite extensive.
1t is comparatively simple matter to touch
upon the occupations. tastes and general
pursuits Of a prominent man, but in Mr..
Payson's case it is difficult to indicate the
place he filed In the esteem of his friends.
he was gentleman OF reserved manner and
with a certain chivalrOus elegance of bearing
which cOntrasted with the rush and push of
our American civilization of the old
school Of gentlemen and scholars. Yet,
though reticent toward mere acquaintances,
no man mingled more cordially and heartily
in the social life of those intimately connect
ed with him. A quick sense Of humor was
leading trait and remarkable appreciation of
courtesy and attention from others.
TO those privileged to meet him frequently
loss is one not to De measured His play of
fancy and Imagination. his wit and ready
repartee made his society delight and in
spiration, while the deeper elements Of his
character bound those united,by kin or by
friendship, to him with tenacity and devo-
ton never developed save by noble and rare
type Of human nature.
The poet has Love say to Death
"This hour is thine;
Thou art the shadow of life, and as the tree
Stands In the sun or shadows all beneath
SO In the light of great eternity
Life eminent creates the shade of death;
The shadow passeth when the tree shall fall,
But shall reign forever over ALL"