The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-10
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
One OF Americas Foremost
Men OF Letters.
Andrew G. Curtin, Pennsyl-
vania's War Governor.
The Death of the Latter Not Uncx-
Dected-A Prominent Figure In War
and POIitics-GOvernOr Pattispn's
PrOclnmRtion-A Noted BOtanist-
other Deaths Occur.

BOSTON, Oct. 7.-Oiver Wendell
Holmes. the we'll known poet and author,
died at his home 296 Beacon-st.. at 1915
p. m. today. Heart failure was the i'm
mediate cause OF his death. though the
doctor has slowly been failing for the
last four or five years.
An asthmatlc difficulty also assisted in
the final breaking down Of the aged
"autocrat."
Ten days ago DR.. Holmes returned to
his BeacOn-st. residence from his sum
mer home at Beverly farm. Before that
time slight symptoms Of improvement in
his condition we're noted and the reni0v !
was thought advisable. 1t proved. how
ever, very fatiguing and the doctor cid
not regain his former condition. Last
Friday a sudden attack of heart failure
seized him, which, with the long-sIand-
ing asthmatic trouble. prostrate1 him,
but this morning ne had apparently re-
covered. After the physicians had gone,
however. the 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 pre-
vious to his death
Around his bedside were gathered the
members Of his family. Judge Oliver
Wendell Homes. jr, the only surviving
son: Mrs Oliver Wendell Holmes, jr, and
Edward J. Holmes. nephew of the poet.
Although the poets death occurred short
Is after midday It did not become known
until a late hour tonight. The house was
darkened and police guarded the entrances
to prevent the household from being dis
turbed.
oliver Wendell Holmes was born at
Cambridge, Mass, Aug. %, 1893. lie grad
uated at Harvard college in 1929 and be-
gan the study of law, which he soon
abandoned for that 0f medicine. After
taking his degree Of N. ID. he spent some
time in the hospitals in Paris and other
European countries. He returned TO BOs-
ton in 1885 and began pr1cucng. In 1888
he was elected professor of anatomy and
physiology in Dartmouth college and in
lS47 was appointed u a similar professor
ship in the medical school Of Harvard
university. from waich ne retired in 1882.
But il is chiefly as a writer that DR..
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 metrical'
essay entitled Poetry" which was fol-
lowed by others in rapid succession. In
1857 he began in the Atlantic Monthly
series Of articles under the ut.e of The
Autocrat of the Breakfast Table which
We're followed in 1860 by The Professor
al he Breakfast Table" in 1872 by the
poet at the Breakfast Tab ." and in
1885 by the New Portfolio. In add
ton he has published "Astrae," 1850;
Currents and Counter Currents in
Medical Science" 1861: ELSIE Ven
ner: a Romance Of Destiny" 1861;
Border Lands in Some Provinces Of
Medical Science" 1862: Songs On Many
Keys" 1854; Soundlings from the At
lantiC," 1864; Humorous Poems 1865;
"The Guardian Ange,." 1867 Mechanism
in Though and Morals" 1870; Songs of
Many Seasons 1874; John L. Motley.
Memoir" 1878: THE Irong3te and Other
Poems" 1880: Medical Essays" 1888;
Pages from an Old Volume of Life"
Mortal Antipathy," "Our Hundred DAYS
in Europe" 1887; before the Curfu," 1888.
and numerous poems recited at various
reunions and dinners As a writer Of
songs, lyrics and poems for festive oc-
casions he has long occupied the first
place.
In 1886 he visited England, where he
was received with great cOrdlality. Edl-
tiOns Of his collective poems have ap-
peared from time 10 time. the hr5t in
1886. He had contributed largely to
current literature, as we'll as to tne lit
trary journals and reviews and for
long time held a warm place in the
hearts Of the people as a lecturer. A
series Of genial papers from his pen en-
titled "Over The Tea Cups appeared in
the Atlantic Monthly in 1890. The latter
years Of his life have been spent Ia quiet
retirement at Beverly Falls, broken ocea-
siOnally by lecture to the Harvard stu
dents.