Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-22
Daily Yeaaehse 5onrnal,
City and County.
AFTERNOON WITH HOLMES.
The Current Events Club Has a Delightful
Afternoons Entertainment.


day, for an Afternoon with Holmes .
with Mrs. A. W. Philbrook, Grove street.
Mrs. F. c. Dudley presented the paper,
of which the following is short abstract ::
Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in
Cambridge. Mass, on the goth OF August.
1909. His grandfather was in the French
and Revolutionary wars, and his father
was minister and author. On his
mother side he was n descendant of the
Wendclls, divers and Quincys. He en-
tered Harvard at the age of Is. was one of
the famous class OF 90 and took high rank
in scholarship. Among his classmates
were james Freeman Clarke, ". H. Chan
ming. Rev :. f. Smith. the author of
America. and Judge B. r. Curtis Alter
his graduation he studied law and then
medicine. spending three years abroad.
In 1886, he received his degree Of NJ. ID.
at Harvard. was professor mt Dartmouth
for several years, and in 1917 became
medical professor at Harvard, which posi-
ton he held for many years. He married
Amelia Jackson, who was sympathetic
devoted wife One of her friends said her
pleasant expression was caused by con
slant smiling at her husbands wit DIR.
Holmes literary work began With col
lcpe paper to which he contributed %
noems. Nearly three fourths of his verse
is made up Of personal and occasional
mems When the Atlantic Monthly
came into existence he wrote for it, THE
Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, and
afterward "Thc Professor and Poet at the
Breakfast Table" His first novel was
elsie Venner. The best known of his
later writings are Before the Curfew
and Other Poems" and cover the
Teacups. ... I'll.
One of the most Interesting events of
his life was the breakfast given to him by
the publishers Of the Atlantic ON his 10th
birthday One hundred GUESTS consisting
of poets, novelists and essayists, were re-
ceiyed by him and his daughter. DR.
Holmes read his poem, The Iron Gate,
and three distinguished people contri-
buted articles in poetry and prose. Mr..
Field read fairy tale showing that the
good fairies had showered upon DR..
Holmes unreasonable gifts.
His last poem was published in the
February Atlantic-a tribute to his friend,
the late Francis Parkman. On all sub
jects he had something bright and origi-
nal to say "He was all sunshine; in his
face the very soul of sweetness shone.'
As someone has said, He set the world to
laughing and to loving Tenderness and
gentleness marked his manner.
And now the busy useful life is ended.
Peacefully MS he had lived he died. OF
him it may well be said Mankind are
always happier for having been male
happy: so if you make them happy now,
you make them happy 20 years hence by
the memory of it." And certainly we may
all be happier for having lived during the
life of such a man.
"Say not the Poet dies!
Though in the dust he lies,
He cannot forfeit his melodious breath,
Unsphered by envious death!
Life drops the voiceless myriads from its roll;
Their fate he cannot share -..-
Who in the enchanted air
Sweet with the lingering strains that echo
stole,
Has left his dearer SELF the music of his soul!'
We DER his turf may raise
Our notes OF feeble praise, ...
And carve with pious care for after eyes
The stone with Here he lies"
He for himself has built nobler shrine,
Whose walls of stately rhyme
Roll back the tides of time;
While DER their gates the cleaning tablets
shine ....
That wear his name inwrought with many
golden line
He sleeps; he cannot die?
No evenings long drawn sigh,
Lifting the rose leaves on his peaceful mound,
Spreads all their sweets around
So, laden with his song, the breezes blow
From where the rustling sedgc
frets rude oceans edge
To the smooth sea beyond the peaks of snow,
His soul the air enshrines and leaves but dust
below!
Readings from the writings of Holmes
were given by Mrs. Vaughn, Mrs. Sher-
burnc Mrs Hill, Misses Michaelis and
Welch
: In answer to the roll call, quotations
from the works of the author considered
and incidents in his life were given
The next meeting will, for several
reasons, be held on Tuesday, December 4,
instead of the regular day wednesday,,
mt the home of Mrs. T.. c. Dudley, win
throp street The origin and work OF the
Maine State Industrial School for Girls,
will be considered in a paper by Mrs, Sar-
gent. One or more of the teachers from
the schools will be present In addition
to this, Mrs Sherburne will give notes on
the recent Chinese Japanese war, and the