Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-09-06

Bluehill, and is published by request of the
principal, f. ii. Slower
John Milton, the poet, was born in
Bread street, London, on the 9th of De-
cember, 1908, and from childhood showed
that he inherited the characteristics of
his father, even in higher degree. He
was passionately fond of music, poetry
and literature.
Millions earliest education was begun
at home with the assistance of private
tutors, among whom was a DIR. Young,
who afterwards became pastor of an
English church at Hamburg.
He was next sent to st. Paul's school,
then under the mastership of Dr. Gill,
where from his twelfth year he was
accustomed to study until midnight,
habit which doubtless resulted in his loss
of sight in after years.
When seventeen years of age he entered
Christ's college, Cambridge, where he
remained for seven years, graduating B.
A. in 1929 and NJ. A. in 1852. During
his collegiate course he was Mt first nick
named "The Lady OF the College, but
soon won respect for himself.
Between 1924 and 1882, he wrote his para
phrases of the 114th and 136th Psalms,
and lines "On the Death of Fair In
FAINT
For five years after the close of his col
lege life he returned to his fathers
house at Horton where he still continued
his studies.
In 1887, on the death of his mother, he
resolved to travel in Italy. Stopping for
few days in Paris, he met the celebrated
Grotius, and also visited Calico in
prison. He carried with him to Italy the
reputation of being he most accomplished
Englishman that ever visited her shores
Everywhere he was entertained with true
Italian courtesy.
Returning by Geneva he formed a life
long friendship with Giovanni Diodati,
the protestant translator of the Bible,
who must not be COMPOUNDED with his
nephew, Charles Diodati, Milton's school
fellow, an accomplished scholar and ply
stefan, who, though his father WAS an
Italian, was an Englishman by birth and
education.
After an absence OF about fifteen
months Milton returned to England
From 1911 to the Restoration he was
hotly engaged in the strife, welding
pen far mightier than sword. In 1913
he married Mary Powell, daughter of
spendthrift royalist. After her death in
1856 he married Catherine Woodcock, who
died two years later
On the Restoration, though at first
passed over, he Was for short time
placed under arrest, but liberated through
the efforts of Sir w. Davenant, who, in
like circumstances, had owed his life to
him.
Milton was considered as one of the
greatest poets of his time. If he had
never published a single poem his name
would have been enrolled among those of
the greatest thinkers and most powerful
writers of his own, or, indeed, of any age.
He held the gift of poetry to be from
God. To him to be a poet was to be
patriot priest and prophet.
Blind and infirm in his tifty-tifth year,
he married Elizabeth MinshuIl, who,
much younger than himself, kindly cared
for him in his declining years. Living
yery-quiet lie he nov wrote MS Two
immortal poems, Paradise Lost and
paradise Regained, and also the great
and pathetic tragedy of samson
Agonistes,
His Whols life was a prepara ion for the
crowning work OF his Old age, paradise
Lost But for nearly a quarter of cen
turv his men SeS inCesSantly nmpl0VeQ