Evening journal., 1894-10-08

was at last shattered The last hours Of
Dr. Holmes were passed quietly, with his
family by his bedside.
DR. Holmes returned from Beverly
farms about 10 days ago, and the removal
greatly fatigued him, and, IL is thought,
hastened his end The family residence
was darkened and apparently deserted,
and few knew that DIR. Holmes was in
Boston. The news OF his DEATH which
occurred at 1915 o'clock Sunday after
noon, was kept quiet until late hour
last night.
Heart Failure the Immediate Cause.
Heart failure was the immediate cause
of DR.. Holmes death, though the doctor
has slowly failed for the last four or five
years An asthmatic difficulty also assist
ed in the final breaking down of tho aged
autocrat.
Ten days ago Dr. Holmes returned to
his Beacon street residence from his sum
mer home at Beverly farms. Before that
time slight symptoms Of improvement in
his condition were noted, and the removal
was thought desirable. IL proved, how
ever, very fatiguing, and the doctor did
not regain his former condition.
Last Friday a sudden attack of heart
failure seized him, which, with long
standing asthmatic trouble prostrated
him, but Sunday morning he had appar-
emily recovered After the physician had
gone, however, tho doctor was seized with
a severe spasm, and before medical aid
could be called he had passed away He
was unconscious for a short time previous
to his death.
Around his bedside were gathered the
members of his family-Judgo Oliver
Wendell Bolmes, Jr., the only surviving
IL.
and Edward J. Holmes, nephew Of the
poet
Although the poets death occurred
shortly after midday, it did not become
known until late hour last night. The
house was darkened, and police guarded
the entrances to prevent the bereayed
family from being disturbed.
The Poets Life.
Oliver Wendell Holmes was born at
| Cambridge, Mass, Aug. 20, 1909. He
/ graduated at Harvard college in 1929 and
began the study of law. which he soon
| abandoned for that Of medicine. After
taking his degree Of NJ ID. he spent some
| time in tho hospitals in Paris and other
| European cities. He returned to Boston
/ in 1886 and began practice. In 1888 he
was elected professor.of anatomy and phye-
iology in Dartmouth college, and in lS47
was appointed to a similar professorship
in the medical school of Harvard uniyer
sity, from which he retired in 1882.
But it is chiefly as writer that DIR.
! Holmes is known. As early as 1881 his
contributions appeared in various period
icals, and his reputation as a poet was es-
tablished by the delivery of a metrioal es-
say entitled Poetry, which was follow
ed by others in rapid succession.
In 1857 no began in Tho Atlantic Month
ly a series Of articles under the title OF
Tho Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, :"
which were followed in 1860 by THE
Professor at the Breakfast Table, in
1872 by THE Poet at the Breakfast Ia
BILE" and in 1855 by 1.-The New Portfolio. +"
His various Poetical Works.
In addition he has published ''Astraea, -
1850; Currents and Counterctifrents In
Medical Science, 1861; Elsie Venner,
a Romance of Destiny" " 1861; Border
Lands In Some Provinces OF Medical
Scionoe 1862; "Songs In Many Keys, +"
1864; "Soundings From the Atlantic, -
| 1864; Humorous Poems 1865; The
| Guardian Angel, " 1868; Mechanism In
Thought and Morals, 1870; Songs of
Many Seasons, /" 1874; John l.. Motley, a
Memoir, . 1878; 1.-The Iron Gate and Other
Poems" 1880; medical Essays" 1888;
Pages From an Old Volume of Life, -
1888; "Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1884; "A
Mortal Antipathy" and "Our Hundred
Days In Europe " 1887; Before the Cur
few, - $685. and numerous poems at va
rious reunions and dinners. As writer
of songs, lyrics and poems for festive 90
casions he has long occupied the first place.
In 1886 he visited England, where he
was received with great cordially Edi.
tions OF his collective poems have appeared
from time 90 time the first in 1886. He
had contributed largely to current medical
literature, as we'll as to literary journal.
and reviews and for long time held d
I warm place "A lecturer
a series OF genial papers from his pen
entitled "Over thes Tescups," appeared
in The Atlantic Monthly during 1890
The latter years # his life have beer
spent in quiet retirement at Beverly Falli
farm, broken occasionally by a lecture tS
the Harvard students.