Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-11
TO HIS FINAL REWARD.
Death Of DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes
at Boston.


Holmes is dead. Without the sem
blance of struggle or pain he passed
away as he has lived, peacefully and
beautifully.
The end came at 1910 O'Clock yester-
day afternoon at the venerable poets
town house, 296 Beacon street. He
was surrounded by his children and
Vlslply conscious of their presence up
to within few minutes of the last,
though unable to speak. Then he
closed his eyes wearily and seemed to
fall asleep, as indeed he did-the sleep
of death at which the whole world
will mourn.
Dr. Holmes came from his summer
home at Beverly ten days ago, and
while not quite in his accustomed
health at that time, did not regard him
self as i'll, nor was he so regarded by
his children and friends. For several
years he had been a sufferer from
asthma, and the day after his return
to Boston, he had a particularly Sc
we're attack of this malady.
1t was the beginning of the end. DR..
Holmes never left his bed again, for
while the asthma was conquered, it
left him in such a weakened condition
that he never rallied.
the dark river. Gradually and peace
fully he waited for the end, knowing
full well that it was near, for DR..
Charles p. Putnam, of So Marlboro
street. told the sufferer "a week ago
that it must come. DIR. Putnam had
been the Holmes family physician for
years and knew his patient well. His
practical eye saw the gradual break
ing up that others could not see Never
robust, Dr. Holmes lived to the great
age he did through having taken the
best of care of himself at all times
DIR. Putnam knew that when the final
Illness did come it would not be a long
one. His last call upon his patient
was made at o'clock yesterday morn
ing. At that hour he found him little
changed, except for the ever-growing
weakness, so gradual and insidious in
its work that even DR.. Putnam did not
apprehend that the end was nearer
than day or two at the least. on
the strength of this DR.. Putnam went
to Weymouth to attend patient, first
arranging with his brother, DR.. James
Putnam. of log Marlboro street, to call
upon his patient during the afternoon.
1t was not until nearly noon that
DR. Holmes attendant and family no.
llteu any ueClueu CIldUSe III ms con-
dition. This was in the form of an un-
usual exhaustion, and almost before
any stimulating remedies could be ad-
ministered, Dr. Holmes had become
partially unconscious, his breath came
shorter and shorter. and within the
brief space of quarter of an hour the
great poet that all the world has loved
was no more.
DIR. James Putnam had been sum-
noned upon the first intimation of a
change, and came at once, but only
in time to see the great mans eyes
close in death.
Tonight the serenity and peace that
always characterized DR.. Holmes life
was found about the house in which
he lay dead, but none of the family
was to be seen.
Save for the faint sweet odor of flow
ers which pervaded the place there
was nothing to suggest a house of
mourning.
oliver Wendell Holmes was born at
Cambridge, Mass, Aug. 49, 1909 He
was graduated from Harvard college
in 1929, and began the study of law,
which he subsequently abandoned for
that of medicine. Having attended
the hospitals of Paris and other Euro
pean cities, he commenced practice in
Boston in 1886 In 1888 he was elected
professor of anatomy and physiology
in Dartmouth college, and in 1S47 was
appointed to a similar professorship In
the Massachusetts Medical school, from
which he retired in 1882.
AS early as 1886 his contributions in
verse appeared in various periodicals.
and his reputation as poet was es-
tablished by the delivery of a metrical
essay, entitled Poetry" which was
followed by others in rapid succession.
AS a writer of songs, lyrics and poems
for festive occasions, he occupied the
first place. He was for many years a
popular lecturer. In 1857 he COM
menced, in the Atlantic Monthly, a SER
les of articles under the title, "TheAu-
tocrat of the Breakfast Table" which
were followed in 1860 by THE Profess
sor at the Breakfast Table" and in 1872
by 1.-The Poet at the Breakfast Table"
and again in 1855 by 1.-THE New Port
folio" In addition he has published
"Astraea," 1850; Currents and Coun-
ter Currents in Medical Science" 1861;
ELSIE Venner" a romance of destiny,
1861; "Borderlands in Some Provinces
of Medical Science" 1862 ; Songs in
Many Keys" 1864 "Soundings from
the Atlantic" 1864; Humorous Poems"
1865; "The Guarding Angel" 1865;
Mechanism in Thought and Morals"
1870; Songs of Many Seasons" 1874;
John l.. Motley" memoir, 1878;
THE Iron Gate and Other Poems,"
1880; Medical Essays" 1888; Pages
from an Old Volume of Life" 1888;
Ralph Waldo Emerson" 1884; "a Nor
tai Antipathy," 1885; "Our Hundred
Days in Europe" 1887; Before the
Curfew," 1888; and numerous poems
recited at various reunions and din
ners. In 1886 he visited England, where
he was received with great cordiality
Editions of his collected poems have
appeared from time to time, the first
in 1896, the last in 1889 He has con-
tributed largely to current medical
literature, as well as to the literary
journals and reviews. A series of gen
ial papers from his pen, entitled "Over
the Teacups," appeared in the Allan
tic Monthly during 1890.
Wilson Opens His Campaign.
Charleston, w. Va, Oct. 9.-Con-
preSsman w T, Wilson onapad b;,