The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-01-10
pounds for the grandest poem of our liter


One day Milton handed friend the
manuscript of Paradise Lost" and asked
him to read it with care. He did SO, and
returning it said, Thou hast said much
here of Paradise Lost, but what hast thou
to say of Paradise Found ?"
The effect was instantaneous, and re-
suited in his great work entitled para
disc Regained." This later work does moi
abound with the variety of the former
but in the eyes of the author himself il
was looked upon with greater esteem.
We may say that the literary career Of
John Milton, closes with the composition
of Samson Agonistes" and in the picture
he produces we see before US strict por-
trayal of his own sufferiugs and blind
ness. 1t is great masterpiece and some
one has said that it resembles the Greek
drama.
Surely we must ascribe to John Milton
all the qualities of noble man.
Living in period when strife was at itf
highest point, he conducted his work with
that peculiar decorum that characterizes q
godly man. He was a king among men
and never would he for any loss or gain
swerve for one moment from the right, OF
the dictates of his own conscience, though
it might usher him into wealth and es-
TEEN. or cast him into the prison of down
fall, whose massive walls seemed continu-
ally to close around him.
Fearless, faithful and diligent in every
calling, he gave his life to great work,
and to-day the whole world gives HIM
that unbounded praise which truly is bis
just due. He lost his sight in the service
of liberty, and for reward men reviled
and prosecuted him.
During the last four years of his life he
withdrew from all men, and spent his
time in almost complete seclusion Even
his own family could not intrude upon bis
solltariness. He was not only alone, but
he wished to be alone.
We know much about him, but we do
not know him. How could we hope to
We read him, and lay down the book
with mingled wonder and admiration.
l will let the blind poet speak for him
self.
They charge me with poverty because
have never desired to become rich dis
honestly they accuse me of blindness be-
cause hase lost my eyes in the service
of liberty; they tax me with cowardice,
and while had the use of my eyes and
my sword / never feared the boldest
among them; finally l am upbraided
with deformity. while no one was more
handsome in the age of beauty. ! do not
even complain of my want of sight; in the
-ss11ssSSii.h which | am surrounded the
light Of the divine presence shines with a
more brilliant lustre. God looks tiG%n
upon me with tenderness and compassion,
because can now see none but Himself.
Misfortune sh ould protect me from insult
and render me sacred. not because | am
deprived of the light of heaven, but be-
cause am under the shadow Of the divine
wings which have enveloped me with
their darkness"
John Milton was child of fancy. His
pictures are bright to-day in the souls of
the thousands who read his works.
His life was grand success, actuated in
his every thought by devotion to the
right
His first wife died leaving him three
daughters; his second, Katharine Wood
lock, died in 1858, after little more than
a years marriage but the third. Eliza
beth Minshull, whom he married in 1864,
survived him for many years.
John Milton died on the 9th of Noyem-
Der, 1874. He was buried in Cripplegate
churchyard. AS he had lived alone. so
but few followed him to his last resting
place and not until after his death did
men begin to realize the glory OF his life.
He not only lived but BE died consistent
ly with that religion for which he had
done so much. His Paradise could not
have been lost. We are content to be-
lieye that he has received his reward, and
that the songs which once he sang to man
he is chanting at the throne OF God.