Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-10-13
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
Sudden Demise of the Famous Poet
and Essayist in Boston.
lie Had Been In Feeble Health for Long
Time. and Succunbed at Last to an
Asthmatic Dificulty-Bio-
graphical Sketch.

Asthmatic Dihcuty-1io- ],
graphical Sketch. t
Il
BosToN, Oct 1.-Oliver Wendell !
Holmes, famous as a poet and author,
died at his residence in Beacon street
at 1915 p. m. to-day from complca- .
tion of diseases. DIR. Holmes had been
in feeble health for long time, and' !.
although an iron constitution had long
baiied disease, it was at last shattered.
The last hours of Dr.. Holmes were
passed quietly with his family by his
| bedside.
| Heart failure was the immediate
cause of his death. An asthmatic diff
Guilty also assisted in the final breaking
down of tbs 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 improve
ment in his condition were noted ana
the removal was thought desirable.
This proved very fatiguing, and the
doctor did not regain his former condi-
ton. Last Friday a sudden attack OF
heart failure seized him, which, with
the loDg-standing asthmatic trouble.
PROSTATE him, but this morning he had
apparently recovered. After the physl-
clans had gone, however, the doctor was
seized with Il severe spasm, and before
medical aid could be called he had
passed away. lie was unconscious fol
; a short time previous To his death
Around his beside were gathered the
) members of his family. Judge Olive:
. Wendell Holmes, Jr., the only sur
yving son: Mrs. Oliver Wendell Holmes,
e Jr., and Edward J. Holiness nephew of
=, , the poet. ..
, LOliyer Wendell Holmes was born in Cam
bridge, Mass, August 90, 1909, was the son OF
C Rev. Abiel and Sarah (WendelD Holmes His
h father was Congregational minister, the au-
thor of Annals of America" and other works;
his mother descended from Dutch ancestor,
l. and was related to many well-known families
+, in New England and New York. He entered
,f Harvard college at the age of 49, and graduated
IA in what became a famous class in 1879 he began
" the study of law, and after year gave it up
: and entered upon the study of medicine
is After the customary course at the medical
school OF Harvard he spent over two years il
a the hospitals and schools Of Europe, chiefly II
Paris; and after his return home took the de-
IL gree of NJ. ID. IN 1886 Three years later HI
n was professor of anatomy and physiology a
in Dartmouth college, but after two years serl
e, ice he resigned and engaged in general prac
tice in Boston. He married in 1910 Amelia Le
Jackson. daughter of a justice Of the supreme
IL court Of Massachusetts. Three children wer
ch born of the marriage, of whom one, o. W
in Holmes, Jr., served as captain in the civil wal
A.. and is a Judge and eminent writer upon lcga
subjects. In lSi he was appointed profeSSo
rs of anatomy at Harvard which place he hel
until 1852. He was highly respected as ma
If. OF science, and beloved as an instructor: bu
8. as time went on his literary genius quite oven
- bore his professional zeal, and 1t is as pot
IN, and eSsayist that he will be remembered
'er He began writing verse while an uudel
nd graduate, but his first efforts were not remarl
,,,o able While in the law school he contribute
~ to the "Collegian' a few poems Of light al
humorous character which first gave indie;
on tons of his future power among these a
,th Evening by "a Tailor and the Height of Il
,ha Ridiculous" There is a Renaissance of h
life in Paris in the tender poem; All, Glen
ere ontS! When l Saw Thee Last" y little lat
The was written The Last Leaf Twenty yea
ing passed with desutorS efforts and a slow
growing power when, by the publication of Il
, "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table he hccal
'e' famous, No literary efforts since the 'Nocte
ar had more strongly affected the reading wor
eat This success was due to its fresh and conve
s tional tone, its playful wit and wisdom a
+oa to the lively vignettes of verse by
'o" own generation he will be remember
as u great talker in the hg
ito. est sense. His intellect was keen and pow,
the fu; his observation instructive, and his
49,, thuSiasm and energy would have carr
"o' through man of less brilliant parts. He "
ape u man of his own century, and among the mi
advanced. Among specimens OF his var
nm powers may be cited the Last Leaf alrca
mentioned, the "Chamberod Nautilu
oi'' "Grandmothers Story (of the battle OF 81
Tor ker Hin, "Sun and Shadow For the Blu
and Centennial "on Lending Il Punch Bow
mn and THE one-Hoss Shay He was especio
happy in his tributes to brother poets AS
I.ongfellow, AS to Lowell, and as TO Whit
CON on his SEVENTEEN birthday
Eu- During the civil war he wrote many passi
Nisl, ate lyrics on the defense of the union-pr
th, bly, the best patriotic songs of the time.
''' But it appears that his fame will rest chit
upon the "Autocrat," the Professor
certain Of his poems, OF his writings in <
eral it has been said that his sparkling wit
flowing humor are evident to the most cas-
49, reader, while a closer study reveals other
'no more stately qualities which gave him pl
lome among the great writer's of the time.
ocia- Of his other works may be mention
W "Astraea' 1850: Currents and Count
~ currents" 1861; Elsie Nenn.r, a Romano
Destiny" 1861; Border Lands in 81
,nsas Provinces of Medical Science, 1862; "Song'
- Many Keys" 1864: "Soundings From the
ha'e lantic" 1854; Humorous Poems 1865; 81
Guardian Angel" 1868 Mechanism
,,,oo Thought and Morals" 1870; "So
""' of Many Seasons 1874; John L.
j, Dut ley, Memoir" 1873: Medical Essa
xtent 1888; Pages From an Old Volume OF Ii
, 1888: "Ralph Waldo Emerson 1856; "A Nc
Antipathy," Our Hundred Days in Euro
3, i00) 1857 Before the Curfew," 1883, and nume
,at Of poems recited at various reunions and DIM
, As n writer of songs, lyrics and poems
""' festive occasions, he long occupied the
IL the place.
IN hv In 1885 he visited England, where he was
ceiyed with great cordiality. Editions OF
collective poems have appeared from tim
being time, the first in 1886. He had contrib
rs in | largely to current medical literature as we
to literary journals and reviews, and for
E, ioi time held n warm place in the hearts o
s per neople ms a lecturer. a series of genial pa
,cent | from his pen entitled "Over the Tea Cups
peared In the Atlantic Monthly during ls9t
The latter years of his life have been S
Iron In ouiet retirement ut Beverly Falls Il
amily broken occasiohai'S w II ''N'''' " '"'
.o''o' With DR.. Holmes demise the last
u a"o the noted men of the year that
rlgn" duced Gladstone, Poe, Lincoln
riehV others has passed away.