The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-05

has never ceased to play" 1t was followed
by the reading Of a biographical sketch Of
the poet by Mrs. F. N. Fletcher. Starting
with a description of the old Whittier
homestead at Amesbury, the room whore
the Quaker poet was born and that In
which he studied as n boy. Mrs. Fletcher
next reviewed the quiet and uneventful
home life of the family. and spoke feel
inRly of the sweet intercourse he had en-
joyed through most of his life with his
younger sister. 1t was after hearing his
teacher read from Burns poems that the
boy of II wrote his first effort. He called
1t Deity" His sister found it and sent it
to. William Lloyd Garrison, then editor Of
the Free Press. Next came the visit Of
Garrison to the Whittier home, and his
successful endeavors to have the father al
low the son better advantages. In this way
sprang up the intimacy between Garrison
and Whittier, which lasted through life.
The career from then to the end of the
poets life was traced with artistic touch.
and at the conclusion. the biographer spoke
of him az "the true American who taught
VS. what Americans should be-" Mrs.
Fletcher was warmly applauded at the con-
Ntublou VI Q bAOhluphiSoA ~ WANNA
was a fine piece of work. Miss Serepta
Sanders followed by reading Whittier's
poem Eternal Goodness" which she said
was a confession of the poets faith. The
poem was given with much feeling and ef-
feet.
Justice E. N. Harwood, of the supreme
court. read a memorial address. which.
though hurriedly prepared, showed evil
dence of great care. Long has Whittier,
the poet friend, been a familiar name in
literature he said. Men and women of
this generation will remember reciting his
verses in the school room of their early
youth, long ago, when childish fancy
would hardly believe that poets lived and
suffered midst the cares of life, and died
like other mortals; when they thought
poets lived an enchanted life, on some en-
that the author of those eloquent
lines. which kindled such noble emotions,
was living in their own generation. OF their
own countrymen. journeying along. the
path of life a little in advance of them,
they have looked with pride and kindly in.
tsrest upon the nged poet. They watched
him as year by year he journeyed on, until
at last. with steady tread. buoyant with
hope, his brave and ~trustful soul has
reached life's twilight shore, where the
spirits of this and the other world do
meet. and there take passage in the white
canoe with the silent oarsmen' to the des.
tiny beyond. The announcement of his
Geath Rwakena q new and tender ntersst in
his life and works, and with one accord we
stop at his new made grave to pay honor to
his memory by some expression Of our sp-
probation of q life lived go nobly. and of Il
brother who wrought so we'll.
whittier was not an aiInless minstrel.
simply taking up the ~favorite subject of his
muse, and singing to give vent to his song,
or the exhibition OF the poetic genius.
J here seems to have been a purpose in ali
his lines. He sought to be q teaoher-to
accomplish some lasting good. Moral for
vency seems to have been the lode-stone Of
his nature. which Influenced all his other
attributes. Though gifted with intense
poetic feeling. he was not content to dwell
ALWAYS in she fields of fancy Or in the realm
of phantom, beyond the stern realities Of
life. He knew that opinion and sentiment
formed and reformed habit; established
and changed custom; made the law; ruled
ths world of action. To pluck away the
weeds and tares n briars that choke the
development of . better life; to olsar way
the jungles of error and superstition, whore
prejudice turks with all its brood of human
ills; and to let in the sunlight of knowledge.
truth mi justice; to drain away the stag
nan pools of wrong. the miasmsl swamps
OF Oppre88AOn, penG up Dy dReB OF trA0ltion
and barbarous custom, poisoning the
springs of action; to lift up from the dust
faltering hopes, and train them
to cling to the immutable columns of
justice and mercy implanted in
mems souls, and still hope for a better
destiny. So strong, so patient and cheer
full was his labor that the sound thereof
rang out like the sharp echo of the wood
mans AK in the deep forest. His colnbo'srs
in the field of reform heard and welcomed
him with glad applause. He helped, like a
sturdy yoeman, to SOW the seed of reform
in the minds Of men, and saw II grow and
Tipen into f~iuitfulness.
Whittier went not to the written or ira
ditional lore Of the past, to rescue some
forgotten age, or mythical heroes, from
oblivion. He was a poet of the present.
He dwelt in tender sympathy with the peo-
pie OF his own time. and journeyed along
the path of life, as 1t were. hand in hand
with his own generation. He watched the
unfolding scenes of the present hour, and
sang of it's struggles and achievements, lows
and sorrows. trials and triumphs. Where
the most cherished selections of verse in
our language are gathered, there will be
found some of Whittier's." Judge Har-
wood was warmly applauded.
The singing of another of Whittier's
hymns. odd and New" closed the services.
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