The Portland daily press., 1891-08-13
Death Of James Russell Lowell.

The death of James Russell Lowell re-
moves man whose name is deservedly fa-
nous In his own country and abroad. But
1t may be doubted II Mr.. Lowell's fame is so
great today, In this country, at least. as it
will be years hence. 1t has been the misfor-
tune Of Mr.. Lowell In the later years of his
life to become entangled in political dissen-
sions at time when such entanglements
resulted in considerable bitterness and
caused much detractiOn. In few years the
memories Of all.these things will have passed
away, and the James Russell Lowell of fame
Will be the poet and essayist, the plain
spoken friend Of freedom, and the accom-
plished diplomatist. The "Biglow Papers"
are great classic: and If 1t be destiny, as
some feign to believe, that the New England
er shall pass away In the six famous old
States OF his home and the descendants of
foreigners shall take his place, the "Biglow
Papers" will be to all time the conspicuous
literary monunent Of race peculiarly rich
in literary memorials. Mr.. Lowell has not
yet been fully appreciated in his own coun
Try. His greatest work was in the years
before the war, when he became the ire
sistible champion of the Abolitlonist cause
and that work was Of kind not pleasing to
large proportion of his misguided country
men. Not even yet are the "Biglow Papers"
acceptable reading In the South, although
other nations have paid them their dues of
praise. . Most people will be surprised to
learn that one of the first poems of Lowell
was conspicuous for its satirical thrusts at
the Abolitionists. When. as young man of
20 he was about to graduate from Harvard,
In the class Of '3S, he presented his class
poem, few of his hearers could have sus-
pected that the young man was to become
one Of the immortal Abolitionists. Not
having attended to his text books as his pro-
fessors thought he should, Lowell was rusti-
Gated to Concord in his senior year. There
he met the group Of Transcendentalists who
used to meet at the home of Ralph Waldo
Emerson, and there he wrote his class poem
making mirth at the expense of his re-
cent associates and especially at the
ideas of the Abolitionists Taking degree
at the Harvard Law School and gaining ad-
mission to the bar in 1S4O. Lowell did not
seem likely to drift into the ranks of the de-
spised band who held to their opinions amid
much ridicule and no little persecution. But
the very next year found him writing poems
OF affection inspired by Miss Maria White.
young lady of Watertown. Mass, who added
to beauty and genius the sentiments Of an
ardent Abolitionist. They were married In
1874, and without doubt her influence had
much effect In turning Lowell's attention to
the serious side Of the question Of abolition.
Two years after his marriage in June, 1846,
the first of the series of "Biglow papers"
appeared In the Boston Courier. This great
satire upon slavery needs no de scription and
no praise. The Abolitionist was no longer
the man to be laughed at; he was the man
who laughed, wherever the wit and satire of
those verses Of Yankee dialect were read.
The first series Of these papers were pro-
duced during the Mexican war. During the
war Of the Rebellion they were continued
with the old-time effect. The ,"Biglow
Papers" were Mr.. Lowelps most conspicuous
productions; but his reputation as man of
letters rests not upon them alone, but upon
many productions Of a long and busy life.
Volumes Of his works are treasured In so
many Maine homes that no mention of them
is necessary here. In 1856 Mr.. Lowell sue
ceeded Mr.. Longfellow as Professor of
Modern Languages and Bellies -Lettres at Har-
yard. His political career began as a
presidential elector in 1876. The next year
Mr.. Hayes appointed him to the Spanish
mission, and in 1880 he was transferred to
to England, where he remained until recalled
by Mr.. Cleveland In: 1885, Mr.. Lowell was
most successful in England. His writings
had already made him famous there before
and the two great universities Oxford and
Cambridge. had honored him with their de-
grees before his arrival; and when the peo-
pie found him to be SO accomplished gentle
man he at once found place In their admira
hon and affection. Mr.. Lowelps first wife
died In 1858; and he married In 1857 Miss
Frances Dunlap, Of this city. who died In
1885, during his residence In London.