The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-31

~ ~ the only Surviv-
ing brother of
ne -. ., the poet N. P.
...e es.'' Willis, and al
though he does not convey the idea of
age In his vigorous physique, yet it is
like looking backward u long way into
the past to talk with him. Mr.. Willis
belongs, however, in his interests, So
cial relations and tastes, to the active
present. His home on jefferson avenue
is palace of content. His handsome
wife is always Mt hand to greet him,
and their daughter lives across the
street in pleasant home of her own.
Although q descendent of distin-
guished Puritan he is now Romanist,
convert to his wife's religion.
MIR. Willis has number of letters in
his possession written to him by his
gifted sister, Sarah Payson WILTSHIRE
Fanny Fern of litcrature-and by his
brother, the poet Nathaniel Payson
Willis. All these letters arc without
signatures, the name having been cut
out for autograph hunters, SO that not
single one remains in the possession
of the only living representative of the
Willis family.
which he tells of his sprightly and YER
satilc sister Fanny. Abiding to the
current report that her family was dis
pleased with her for entering the list Of
writers he said quickly:
What an absurdity! Why we were g
family of writer's. Besides, we had no
Fanny Fam j in t amy Of M
her tastes. She M%T NJ,
was privileged MSyg ~
in advance to do NSZsN I6AVA
as she pleased" W2
]. !. ! !: ]: ]. ! !.
Mr.. Willis Ill e AHS
ways speaks of IN eNsfsPT ,J kassa 50
his sister by her MMzM&Ss3Zsssc
nom dc-guerre. iE3#&A S5T EeEMNM
He said that the Tss&EeRA sWI<&as8NN
darling grand NSysNMNN ANSysSM
child Of whom WSSMWE$xy hE%.AW
she was so fond WNS(Y WIN.
has grown to
womanhood and i'iohHi'D oioisi'S WILLIS
is now one Of the writers on the New
York Ledger.
He related this incident of Fanny Fern.
She had written an article in which A.
T. Stewart, the New York dry-goods
merchant. figured in very favorable
manner.
One day she stood at counter In his
store buying child's cloak when the
great merchant, who had given orders
that he should be told when she visited
his store, approached and introduced
himself.
go away" was Fanny's characters
tic speech. II don't want you bother
ing around here at all I know Just
what need and will be much obliged If
you will 60 to another part of the store"
In spite of this brusque reception Mr..
pieces of silk from which to select
dress as token of his appreciation of
what she had written.
There are fine portraits of N. P. Will
lis and his wife hanging in the suite Of
Offices where Richard Storrs Willis car
RIGS on fiction of business to pass away
the time. He is still very handsome
man with that elegant repose Of man
ner which comes of innate good breed
ing and the accessories of social distinc-
ton. He is the last of his name. It can
be said of his family in the words of
song:
They grew in beauty side by side,
Thcy ulcd one house With glee;
Their graves nrc severed far and wide.
BY mount and stream and sea-
Fannie Fern lies buried in Mount Au-
burn. Robert Bonner erected a marble
cross over her remains on which the
only decorations were fern leaves carved
in the marble.
Richard Storrs Willis has been q
dilcttante rather than q worker in the