New-York tribune., 1891-12-18
WHITT7ERS:: BIRTHDAY.
rvv QUAKER POET EGHTYFoUR YEARS
OLD.
.,vr71xG HIS FRIENDS AND RECEIVING ToKENs
OF AFFECTION FROM ALL PARTS
OF THE COUNTRY. .
,sr IxLEoRAPH TO THE rKIBuNE.l

OF THE COUNTRY
,nY 1sLEoRAPH TRIBUNE,
nostor Dec. 1.-THE venerable Quaker poet cele-
- ,oday his eighty fourth birthday at the home
80. sacond cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cortland,
ysuhuryporA where for several months Mr. Whittier
%. hsen making has home. Hitherto the aged poet
- aid humorously that he had two homes--one ct
,,,v.rs and the other at Amesbury but now he has
- third TO the places which he can cali home,
,Ss home of Harriet Lvermore the schoolmstress of
ssrou Bound Mr.. Whittier is an early riser and
al. morning he came down to breakfast at the usual
,,me declaring he ielt better than usual. although
!. Vas little afraid that he might not be able to
md The fatigue Of the occasion. With him for the
ssv were his two neces from Portland, Me-. Mrs.
p.--y and Mrs. S. T. Pckard, the latter accompanied
- her husband, the editor OF "The Portland Tran
.cr,pts II expected that the poets nephew.
rns-i,s F Whittier who is also connected with "The
xo-tland Transcript would arrive before night
shortly after O'Clock several carriages drove up
- be substantial Colonial mansion OF Mr. Cortland in
u,chst and party of ffty-seven persons from
paverhin entered the hease. These were the mem
hs,x Of The Whittier Club Of that city, who came TO
.yteud their congratulations to the poet. George c.
JJow president Of the club in few words extended
,be greetings OF the club. Mr.. Whittier responded
briefly. With the party, which left Hsverhi in
specal car at s:I5 m. three gray-hared per-
ciciuresQue old schoohouse at East Haverhll These
were James II. Carleton. Of Haverhin Mrs. Warren
ordwny. nee Caroline FOote, OF Bradford, and Thomas
R Garland. Of Dover. \. II. An extremely pretty
soral gift was that which brought by the club.
II consisted Of eighty -four superb pink roses, for
each year Of the poets life tied with broad pink
rbhon upon which was beautiful painting in water
colors done by member of the club. On one end
vas picture OF the old house at East Haverhll the
birthplace Of Mr. Whittier the other end had an
csIent representation of the old sohoolhouse which
once stood near by. With this last picture were the
words from his poem In School Days.:
still sits the schoolhouse by the road,
A ragged beggar summing"
Among the visitors who called at Mr.. Cortland's
house to see the poet for moment were Mrs. Alice
Freeman Palmer, the wife Of Ex-Governor c. Latin,
sarah Orne Jewett, Mrs Annie Fields, who brought
A fvely wreath Of evergIeens and red swamp alder
berr4es and Mr. Garrison. of Houghton & Mifn, the
latter bringing flowers the annual offerings of the
company A short poem sent by Edna Dean Proctor
came as q greeting from New Hampshire. Many gifts
sent TO the poet by absent friends and admirers.
Particularly noticeable the gift of Edmund Clarence
s.edman the poet, which beautiful painting
representing High Tide at Hampton Meadow" the
work Of Carroll B. Brown. In another room was a
wicker stand heavily laden with the choicest fruit the
gift Of Charles F. Coffin, OF Lynn. who always remem
bers Mr. Whittier upon his birthdays with tokens Of
by the teachers and pupils OF the public schools
IN West Point Calaveras County, Cal. 1t consists
Of ruler made up OF twelve different kinds OF
wood. native 10 California arranged in a most art
isac manner. Accompanying this letter from
the teachers, T.. NJ. Price and Miss NJ. LaDgdon,
assuring Mr. Whittier Of their interest in him, and
adding that the pupils to celebrate his birthday
by holding a special meeting st which many OF his
favonte poems would be read and recited. Another
interesting souvenir, coming from the Pacific SLOPE
was sent by John Murray, OF Nordhof, Ventura
County, Cal. II consisted of a piece OF olive wood
which IS beginning 10 he cultivated in southern Cali
fornia and upon This picture OF the old Santa
Of Winchester, Va, came paper-cutter made OF
wood from Fort LOudon, which was built in that
place by George Washington in 1883. An Inde
pendence Hall spoon was the gift OF William II: and
Susan B. Swasey a pretty foOtstoOl was the gift OF
Elizabeth CavaZZa, the poetess, Of Portland, Me-.
while Austin p. Nichols sent beautiful transparency
representing WhitueTs birthplace Z" snow boundN
after the storm OF March .. 1891. Floral gifts were
everywhere.
~ TIE Journal says that An effort is being made by
Syfcica.e TO raise money TO purchase the Whittier
homestead In Haverhi, and 10 preserve 1t as memo
ma Of the poet and far possible furnish the rooms
with the same furniture in there in his childhood
The object meets with the hearty approval OF Mr. Whit
ter One gentleman offers TO pay 81 900 OF the purchase
money down. and the remainder 1t Is proposed to raise
by obtaining subscriptions 20 an album. In case the
his IN every album, greatly enhancing its vane
The only obstacle In the is the unwtllingness OF
the 10 sell the property as he is proud OF tho
ownership.