Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-25
arEMoRIns or noharEs.

The Kindly, Unctuous Humor of the
Foothills Home Life and Regard for
Ills Classmates.
Although Oliver Wendell Holmes will
be most notable rs n poet, his humor
will not be forgotten nor the geniality
of his nature. He was most lovable
man, helpful to his fellows in many
ways, and altogether he was blessing
to the age in which he lived. His inner
manhood was truthfully portrayed in
his own lines:
II word of mlne another's gloom has bright
Thr urh my dumb life the heaven-sent mes
benger came;
1t felt the guidance that IL dare not claim.
His home life was sweet and beauti-
full. His wife was woman of grace
and culture, whose mind, in both do
nestle affairs and literary labors, was
ever exactly in tune with his own. She
will be gratefully remembered as one Of
the leaders in the work Of the Sanitary
Commission during the war. She died
ON February 9th, 1888. To them were
were born three children. The first,
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was gradu-
ated from Harvard in 1861, just in time
hasten 10 the seat of war. He served
three years, was wounded several times,
came home Northumberland and is
now II Justice of the Supreme Court of
the State of Massachusetts. The second
child, Amelia jackson Holmes, was the
wife of the late John II. Sargent She
accompanied her father to England on
his last trip, and figures pleasantly in
his "Hundred Days Abroad" She was
writer of marked ability and leader
in many benevolent works. Her death
occurred in April, 1889. The third
child, Edward Holmes, is u well-known
lawyer. -
The class of 1929, in which Dr. Holmes
was graduated at Harvard, included
among its members ,,Iames Freeman
Clarke, Benjamin r. Curtis, Chandler
Robbins, Seba h. Smith, author Of
"America;" William EllGry Claiming
and benjamin Pierce. The 40 printed
poems which attest his affectionute re-
gard for his collegemates have pecu-
liar pathOs blended with the sparkle
and gayety that are 50 noticeable in
them. II was more than 30 years ago,
when at class gathering, he saio:
Has there any old fellow got mixed with the
boys;
II there has, take him out without making q
noise.
Hang ne nmanlcs choat and the catalogues
spite!
Old time 10 a liarl We'ro twenty Tonight
Wore twontyi We're twentyl Who says we
are mUIes
He's tlpsy-young Jackanapes ,-show him the
"Gray temples ut twenty?" Ycs! white il We
psns-;
Where The snowllakrs fail thckest there's
nothing can treeae.
Twenty years later the song begins in
minor key:
Yes! the vacant chairs tell sadly we are going
fast, going fast,
And the thought comes strangely Ger me, who
will live To ba tho lust?
When the twentieth century q sunbt ans climb
,,.,., tho far-oh eastern hill,
With his ninety winters uurdened will he greet
the morning still?
Holmes first volume of poems was
published in 1896; his last in 1888. Be-
tween those dates he sent forth many
volumes, including poems, essays,
travels, novels, biographies (of Motley
and Emersom and medical and scientific
treatises. All have had wide circulation
and appreclative reading. But II is as
poet that he will be most remembered;
poet Of human life, emotions, hopes,
affections, whose lines were marked
with supreme felicity, the like of
which we shall scarce see again. As
wrote his friends and felow-poet, Will
liam Winter, in his tribute at the Atlantic
breakfast, when the veteran who has
left us ut SO was go years young:"
When yiolet' fade tho roses blow;
:, When laughter dos tho passions wake;
Ills royal song, that slept below,
Like Arihur's sword beneath the lake
Long since has flashed Its fiery glow
Ger all we know.
The sllken trass, the mHntliag vine.
ted roses, summers whispering leaves,
This lips that kiss, the hands l. AT tw,nH,
Tho heart that loves, the heart that grleyeB-
They all have found Il deathles5 shrine
In his rich incl