The Forrest City times., 1894-10-12
bLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
hidden Demise of the Famous Poet
 and Essayist in Boston.
Had Been in Feeble Heait'i for Long Time, and Succunbed at Last to an Asthmatic Dificulty-B
 graphical Sketch.

olmes, famous as poet and author,
 ed at his residence in Beacon street
 1915 D. m. to-day from a complica-
 on of diseases. Dr. Holmes had been
 feeble health for long time, and,
 though an iron constitution had long
 hffied disease, it was at last shattered. he last hours of Dr. Holmes were
 bssed quietly with his family by his
 edside.
 Heart failure was the immediate
 huse of. his death. An asthmatic diff hllty also assisted in the final breaking
 own of the aged .'Autocrat" Ten lays ago Dr. Holmes returned to his beacon street residence from his sum- fer home at Beverly Farms. Before
 hat time slight symptoms of improve bent in his condition were noted and {he removal was thought desirable This proved very fatiguing, and the Doctor did not regain his former condi-
 ion. Last Friday a sudden attack of keart failure seized him, which, with De lopg-standing asthmatic trouble, Drostrated him, but this morning he had recovered. After the physi- &ans had gone, however, the doctor was <eized with severe spasm, and before /hedical aid could be called he had Dassed away. He was unconscious for
 short time previous to his death. ' round his beside were gathered the bembers of his family. Judge Oliver
 Wendell Holmes, Jr., the only sur Ewing son; Mrs. Oliver Wendell Holmes,
 r., and Edward J. Holmes, nephew of
 be poet.
 [Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cam
 ridge, Mass. August 29 1909 was the son of
 lev. Abel and Sarah tVendelD Holmes. His
 lther was Congregational minister, the au-
 bor of Annals of America" and other works; |is mother descended from Dutch ancestor,
 nd was related to many well-known families
 New England and New York He entered
 harvard college at the age of 16, and graduated
 what became a famous class in 1899. He began be study of law. and after year gave it up, 9nd entered upon the study of medicine. liter the customary course at the medical 3chool of Harvard he spent over two years in De hospitals and schools of Europe, chiefly in Paris; and after his return home took the de- Bree of M. D. in 1856 Three years later he Fas professor of anatomy and physiology at Dartmouth college, but after two years serv- 4ce he resigned and engaged in general prac- $lce in Boston. He married in lSi0 Amelia Lee yackson. daughter of justice of the supreme fourt of Massachusetts. Three children were porn Of the marriage, T whom one. O. w. Holmes, Jr, served as captain in the civil war, pnd IS judge and eminent writer upon legal Subjects. In lS47 he was appointed professor pf anatomy at Harvard, which place he held nntil 1882 He was highly respected as man pf science. and beloved as an instructor; but hs tune went on his literary genius quite over- pore his professional zeal, and it is as poet and essayist that he will be remembered. He began writing verse while an uuder- graduate but his first efforts were not remark Able. While in the law school he contributed 4o the "Collegian' few poems of light and Humorous character which first gave indica- Nons of his future power; among these are FEyening by Tailor" and the Height of the Rldlculous." There is reminiscence of his tlle Tn Paris in the tender poem: An. Clem- fntsl When Saw Thee Last" A little later was written The Last Leaf" Twenty years passed with desultory efforts and a slowly growing power, when, by the publication of the Autocrat of the Breakfast Table" he became Iamous. No literary efforts since the Noctes'' pad more strongly affected tbe reading world. lhls success was due to it's fresh and conven- lional tone, its playful wit and wisdom and 10 the lively yignettes of verse. By his own generation he will be remembered
 
 fSt sense, His intellect was keen and power lul his observation instructive. and his en- Ehusiasm and energy would have carried Through man of less brilliant parts. He was } man of his own century, and among the most Rdvanced. Among specimens of his varied powers may be cited the Last Leaf" already mentioned, the "Chambered Nautilus 'Grandmother's Story" (of the battle of Bun- Ter HilD, "Sun and Shadow" For the Burns Centennial" 'On Lending a Punch Bowl" Ind The One-Hoss Shay" He was especially happy in his tributes to brother poets, as to Longfellow, as to Lowell, and as to Whittier pc his seventieth birthday
 During the civil war he wrote many passion ate lyrics on the defense of the union-proba- ply the best patriotic songs of the time.
 But it appears that his fame will rest chiefly npon the "Autocrat," the Professor" and certain of his poems. Of his writings in gen. eral it has been said that his sparkling wit and Rowing humor are evident to the most casual reader, while closer study reveals other and more stately qualities which gave him place among the great writers of the time.
 Of his other works may be mentioned: 'Astraea" 1850; Currents and Counter surrents," 1881: Elsie Eenner, a Romance of Destiny" 1881; Border Lands in Some of Medical Science" 1862; Songs on Many Keys" 1864; "Soundings From the At- antic," 1864; Humorous Poems,n 1865; "The Guardian Angel" 1888; Mechanism in Thought and Morals" 1870; Songs Df Many Seasons" 1874; John L. Mot ley, Memoir" 1878; Medical Essays" 1883; Pages From an Old Volume of Life" 1888; Ralph Waldo Emerson" 1886; "A Mortal Our Hundred Days in Europe" 1887; Before the Curfew." 1888, and numerous poems recited at various reunions and dinners. As writer of songs, lyrics and poems for festive occasions, he long occupied the first place.
 In 1886 he visited England, where he was re- reived with great cordiality. Editions of his collective poems have appeared from time to lime, the first in 1886 He had contributed largely to current medical literature, as well as To literary journals and reviews, and for long