Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-07

h3fnptOn faii-, ~. H.
HAMPTON FALLS, y. H., Sept. John G.
Whittier died at 4:3o this morning. Mr..
Whittier passed away peacefully. His nearest:
relatives and Dr. Douglass were at his bedside
when day came. and ne seemed to be conscious
of his surroundings at the last moment.
The funeral will take place at Amesbury,
Mass. a: $50 pm. Saturday Iext. According
to Quaker custom the services will be quite
simple and no sermon will be preached.
Mr.. Whittier had been at Hampton Falls
since the early part Of July. He went there &C
companied BY Or. and Mrs. Garland of New
burypOrt, the poets most intimate friends. with
whom he lives most of the time.
Soon after his last birthday, at DIR. Garland
home in Newburyport, Mr. Whittier had a
severe attack OF grip and for long time it
was feared that he would not recover. but his
recuperative powers We're sufficient to carry him
through.
Since that time however. he had grown old
very rapidly. His form was still as straight as
ever and his mind was keen, Blu: for months he
had walked with trembling steps and he had
10 be very careful in guarding against extra
exertion and the consequent fatigue.
His sight had failed considerably and he had
been bothered in doing the customary reading
which formed so large a part of his daily pro-
gram.
Although Mr.. Whittier had said nothing about
1t. his hearing had also grown less acute and he
had difficulty in catching conversation carried
on in an ordinary tone of voice.
Apparently Mr.. Whittier was not troubled
much by his deafness. If he had not heard
what people have said to him he passed the
matter by and continued the conversation as
we'll as he was able.
For several weeks even a small amount Of
mental exertion brought on the headache
and DIR. Garland had to be very careful OF
the poet. who was an older man than his friend
and fellow Quaker. Until his illness last winter
he carried on his own correspondence.
He never had private secretary. but re-
Gently his writing was done by some Of his
young friends. were are always on hand.
The poet had done but little writing for some
time. His last long poem was published about
three years ago and since then he has composed
but little.
AxxsBURY. Mass, Sept Upon the an
nouncement of the death of Whittier the bells
were tolled eghty-four strokes the age of
Amesbury's famous citizen. and the flags
the public buildings were placed at half-mast.
EAvEKHILL. Mass. Sept. THE news of the
death of John G. Whittier was received here
with universal feelings of sadness and regret.
The city hall bell was struck eighty-four times
at clock as indicating the age of the deceased.
and flags on the public buildings and school
houses displayed at hals-mast as tokens of
respect for the dead poet.
John Greenieaf Whittier was born at Haver-
nllI, Mass.. on DecemDer IL, loUl- his parents
were members of the Society of Friends and to
the principles and practices of this sect he con-
formed during his life. Whittier's first
occupations were those of farmers boy,
with all the attendant freedom aud out
door life. and he thus early acquired the
love of nature and simple life which marked
his noble career. His poem 'Snow Bound"
affords a striking example Of the impression
which this early life made on the young poet.
This poem Is not by any means the only one in
which Whittier draws accurate and clear pic
lures of New England life and characters.
Whittier early schooling must have been ex-
ceedingly scanty. being confined to the district
schools. He, however. earned enough by shoe
making TO allow of his attendance at the
Hayerhill Academy for six months of 1927.
After this tremendous course be himself taught
district school at Amesbury. Gndearned enough
for another six months at the academy. While
vet IN his nineteenth year he contributed anony-
nous verse to the Free Press at Newburyport.
These verses ATTRACTED the attention of ". L.
Garrison. the editor of this journal, who sought
out the young poet and. the two men became
firm and fast friends After the
death of his father Young Whittier lived on the
old farm. although industriously contributing
to a number of Journals. From 1929 he was
variously editor of the American Manu- fdcturer
at Boston. the Haverhill Gazette and the Nev
England Weekly Reuie,r. In 1896 he became
secretary OF the American Anti-savery Society.
and afterward removed to Philadelphia, Shere
during 1889 he edited the Pennsylvania
Freeman with such sincerity that the Office
was sacked and burned by mob. Daring the
FIRST agitation of the slavery question Mr..
Whittier maintained his position with the
greatest frInness and courage. In 1910 he re-
moved TO Amesbury, Mass. where he spent
nearly all the remainder of his life in literary
labors. Never mingling in active politics he
probably did more than any other one man in
preparing the soil for the republican party
h. f,-. latv ri ttax<
policy, and at no time did he show any bitter
ness.
Whittier stands with Longfellow the most
popular of American poets His poems arc
drawn from native sources and paint the coun-
try as il was. His literary labors have been
constant, and he leaves behind a wealth of
poetry and prose that will better serve as his
monument than any erection of stone.