The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-08

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JoHE C. WHITTIER.
mained until 4:30 yesterday morning,
when he passed quietly away. His end
was apparently as painless as peaceful,
like falling asleep.
Whittier as Man.
John G.. Whittier, wide though his
fame as poet is, was little known as u
man. Indeed, he never cared TO be SO
known; for he was modest even to shy
ness, stunning miscellaneous society and
seldom appearing on public occasions or
at public assemblies unless they were dis.
cussing principles to which he was de-
voted. He had no inclination to travel.
never having been abroad and having
made few journeys in his own country
not prompted by business or duty.
Born in a small town in Massachusetts,
dec. IL, 1900, where he lived mainly
till past 30, and then removing to an
other adjacent small town he closed his
dlys there. He had done many years
work on farm, and was always fond Of
nature and Of rural scenes and associa-
tions, as his poems show. His parents
were Friends, popularly termed Quakers,
and he at an early age joined their So
ciety, wore their garb and used their
was opposed to slavery and his opposi-
ton grow with his years. He was chosen
Qs38) secretary Of the Anti-slayery So
ciety, and his stirring poems, expressing
his convictions against the great ma
tional wrong, early made him conspic-
nous in the then small band of Abol-
itionists.
Whittier's Modesty.
Presenting all the amiableness and
placidty of his sect, those intimately ac-
quainted with him were awars of his in
tense, passionate nature and his burning
sentiments. Some of his associates com.
pared him to II volcano covered with ice
and snow. The external GOODNESS was
there, but within fierce fires ragel.
Often in conversation, up to the last,
whotl deeply interested, his cheek would
flush and his eye flash with sympathy
and indignation. Old and feeble as he
was, impetuous youth still burned in his
wasted veins. Never very robust-he
had the regular New England constitu-
tion--he took excellent care of himself
always, and thus insured longevity.
Without such care, he would have died
no doubt in middle age,
For the last twenty years or more he
had been to an extent reclnsa. rarely
going away from home, and boc.iing in
sedulously neat hottse at AmeSbnry He
had frequent visitors from all parts of
the country, not infrequently from
abroad, drawn thither by his great rep
utation as n poet. He made it rule 70
sec all who came when he was well and
he was uniformly courteous and con-
siderate. He was particularly gallant,
in the best sense, and chiyalrous to
women, whether young or old, plain or
attactive
Whittier at Home.
For many years near kinswoman-a n
sister, l believe-was his housekeepcr,
but she died some time ago, and after
that he passed much of his leisure at
Danvers with niece. mall relations TO
his fellows he was the soul of sincerity
and refinement, an ideal gentleman
whom scarcely q court in Europe could
match. The beauty of it was that there
was not suspicion of foreign flavor. He
was thoroughly and essentially Ameri-
can. He had no mannerisms. no social
training in the accepted significance, and
yet possessed fascination of bearing
and address that no one who had felt it
could ever forget. 1t was the spirit Of
his poetry embodied, the earnestness and
sweetness of his sympathy transferred to
his daily life.
n Bitht many HClSOiiS iitiN6
why Whittier never married, especially
as he seemed so domestic, so fond of
children, SO entirely apprcciative of
women. There is tradition concerning
him-as there is apt to be concerning
every bachelor who has passed the mar
liageable age-that he had loved without
reciprocity. The name of the lady has
been mentioned orally, with many de-
tails; but there is no wsysof deternin-
ing now if this be anything more than
mere gossip. If Whittier had ever had
SO unhappy an experience, he would
have been certain to keep the secret
locked in his inmost heart and to throw
away the key.
The poet retained to his dying hour
his interest in politics. He remained
| radical Republican from the formation
| of the party. He always maintained
| that Fremont was elected to the presi-
dency in 1886, but that he was defrauded
| of it by false counting, chiefly i'll Penn
sylvania-an opinion shared by other
| prominent politicians of his era.
Not Poor Man.
Strangely enough, Whittier, who had
been poor most OF his life, and who for
| years wrote poems gratuitously because
tney expressed his sentiments and prin-
elples, had actually come long before his
death into possession OF what would
once have been considered a large for
tune Persons in position to know say
that he was worth fully $780, COO, well
invested, and that his late annual income
three or four times exceeded his ex-
penses. New Sunday papers, new
weeklies, new periodicals have been
eager TO secure something from the few
poets OF the foremost rank in the coun-
try at the highest rates. These have lat
terly been reduced to three or four, conse-
qnently Whittier has repeatedly received
$500, and sometimes $1,000, for short
piece of verse, In the beginning of his
literary career he frequently produced as
much work without recompenss as had
recently brought him in $4,000. Hence
It may be said, strangely as it sounds,
that he had of late actually made money
by writing poetry.
A consistent Friend through life, his
creed was always of the broadest and
highest.
Whittiar oHeAntad all man whatever