The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-08-27
HENDERSON, THURSDAY, AUGUST ~, 1891.



In wing L.;w+ii'> works, particularly
those in rhyme, Que is struck with another
proof OF capacity :ur growth. His earlier
poems show that he had read closely and
with admiration the writings Of Byron and
Southey. Yet even then the devotion OF .
student to his literary masters disappeared
On the demands OF strong emo;!nn. a. -
shown by his 10 sionate appeal when bis
first wife lay dangerously i'll:
God do not let lny loved one die.
But rather wait until tho time
That am grown in purity
Enough t6, enter thy pure cline;
Then take me. will gladly 60
So that my love remain below.
With the publication of the first serieo az
the "Biglow Papers" Mr. Lowell assumed
prominence that was his until the day Of
his death. lie had up to then been known
only as . writer and an editor. He suo-
ceeded Longfellow later on as professor
in Harvard college, travelled abroad. ~
turned home, helped to found The Allan.
tic Magazine, issued a second series of the
"Biglow Papers, as a commentary on the
civil war, poured forth his views and OBJ
servations In prose and rhyme. and during
said to have covered every field of compost.
poet, satirist, essayist, critic and platform
orator, Mr.. Lowell laid aside his pen for .
season and turned his attention to another
phase Of American activity. He went into
politics, made stump speeches, was chosen
presidential elector from Massachusetts
and cast his vote for Rutherford B. Hayes.
Mr.. Hayes on assuming office was not
slow to reward. He sent Mr.. Lowell -
minister to Spain. and three years later
transferred him to the English mission.
1t was particularly at London that the
poet diplomat showed his ability to do
other things besides make rhymes. Al
though he had no momentous or knotty
questions to handle, he distinguished him
self as a high bred, courteous and COM
petent representative of the American re-
public. On previous visit he had been
made D. G. l.. and LII. d. Of Cambridge.
During his term rs United States minister,
the students Of the University of St. An
drews elected him lord rector. But parties
rise and parties fall, SO when Mr.. Cleve-
land assumed the presidential chair Mr..
Lowell prepared TO abandon politics a.
cheerfully as he had taken them up. He
went to Washington and introduced him.
self as a man with his head under his
arm" who had come to save the services of
an executioner.
The remainder of his years were spent
chiefly In we'll earned ease. He lectured
some, travelled and wrote, but not SO eager
ly and voluminously rs when life Was ut
its heyday. His irst wife died nine years
after marriage. His second wife was his
companion for twentyeight years. Then
she, too, died, and in his old age the man
who had made his mark in prose and poo.
try, at the college professors desk, on the
lecture platform, in politics and diplomacy
saw with indifference the lamp of ambition
flicker and die out His first poem brought
him no compensation; for his last short
production, My Brook." he received
81 600 lie had years and honors and fame,
| yet he was glad to CO. "Why cunt you let
an old man dief" he asked his daug ghter
Then he turned his face to the wall and
his soul went forth on the wings OF sigh
Of peace.