New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-01
HERMAN MELTILLE'S FUNERAL.

Tho tnnera, OF the late Herman Melville was held at
.b famIv residence in Twenty eighth-st YESTERDAY
afternoon the Rev. Theodore c. Williams OF All O",'
Church delivering a short address. Among u'o i'
,ives and friends present. beside the widow ana uiH
49, - the deceased we're Mrs. Thomas Melville, WIDOW
of the late governor Of the Sailors snug Haroor' 0
Misses Melville daughters of the late Allan Melville
cau,uoI shaw OF Boston, ". b. Norwood George
nrcrster Mrs Grlggs Miss Lathers DR.. Titus Munsoh
coan. Arthur stedman and George Dillaway'
Tho death Of Herman Melville, although following
aJno illness has come as a surprise to even has Few
ocnuantances in the city, for their opportuh'ueS "a
soeinr him have been extremely limited III hui
Much has been written, particularly III hhsi''" 70
mails concerning the alleged neglect and disregard
Mr. Melville by contemporary authors In TINS country
Int IL is a weknown fact here that MS seciSion ''
been a matter Of personal choice
This writer gained an international reputation a' '
orlior date than James Russell Lowell although oorh
T., tho same year 1919. His practical Abandonment
81 literary work some twenty five years ago. however
has allowed general interest in his books TO de Ou"
Mr. Melville came OF patrician blood on both sues
of his family his fraternal and maternal grhPla'"ers
6gurinp prominently i'm the Revolution, Deius Ic
spectlvcly of scottish England and Dutch descent
As in Richard Henry Danas casc, MeNiLeS Hrs'
literary success was narrative of his own experience
while a common sailor before the mast anu III hc"
countries but unlike Dana, he continued WORN III INV
sar,e field and with credit. In regard to lSpee'
DE- Coan was heard to remark at the service yeSu,r
day that his father, the Rev. Titus Coan' I'll 'ro
EauaIian Islands. lad personally visited the Mar
ouesas group. found the Typee Valley ana Verheu III
every detail the romantic descriptions OF the 8cntc
but rnon-deyouring islanders. Dr. Coan further saHi
Il Herman Melville the first man VINO shaNu Tue
M, of a canniba community III the oouth oca9
cho had the cousummate literary skill to describe u
and who got away alive to write his BOOK IEpee
will be read when most of the Concord group aro
forgotten" - -
I,o,gevdr This NAV be- Mr. Melville always has
becn an Interesting figure to New-York literary
circles So far from beng forgotten, he was among
tbe very first to be invited to Jon ule
Authors Club at its founding III 100.
ifs declination OF this Offer well as his geheial
refusal 10 enter into social life, said to have been
chiefly due to natural disposition and partly to the
very adverse critical reception afforded his novel;
Pierre or the Ambiguitis,' published III loo2 nc
was always great reader, and was much interested III
collecting engravngs of the old masters, having
large library and fine assortment of prints those OF
Claude's paintings being his favontes.
His tall, salwart figure, until recently couiu oe
seen almost daily trampng through the Fort George
district or Central Park his rowing inclination leading
him 70 obtain as much outdoor life possible. his
evenings were spent at home with InS DOCKS Ills
pictuIes and his family, and usually with them alone
While at Pittsdeld Mass, from 1850 to 1862. he
intimate friend Of hawthorne, WHO ANCu
for a while near By at Lenox, and they often eA
| changed visits 1t was at this place that most OF
Melvile's writing done. The place In the New
York Custom House given up about 1851
At the beginning of failing health, some three
years ago Mr. Melville wrote and privately circulated
little story entitled John MARI 1t was dedicated
70 Clark Russell who cordial admlrer ana cor
respondent Last spring after his final Illness set
| IN he collected and had printed his miscellaneous
.horier poems under the title TimOle0n etc. ms
| volume is dedicated to My Countrymau Emu
| Vedder5 Both little books limited to twenty hVe
comics, Mr.. Melvle's laier style became somewhat
rugged and mystical. His be,thRown poem wa' Sh1r
dan at Cedar Creek Thought By most literary experts
| 70 he superior Ia Twenty Miles Away though lack
| ing a popular refrain
Tho following poem is from "Timoleon';
LE&VOI.
The Return Of the Sire de Hesie.
4. d. 16---.
Nv towers at last. These roNines end,
| Their thirst is slahcd in larger Gcarth;
| The warning initiate rccoils.
| For terrible il earth
KAT thru,ts his shouted crags through fog;
| Araxes swcus beyond his span.
And know ledge poured by pilgrimage
| OyerfOws the banks Of man.
But thou my STAY thy lasting love.
one lonely good. let thi, but bc!
! Weary 10 view the wide worlds swarm
! Rut blcst To fold but thee