The Bessemer indicator., 1894-10-13
TWO GREATMEN GONE
o. W. HOLMES AND GOV. CURTIN
The "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table"
Suddenly Dies at Boston.-Andrew O.
Curtin, War Governor of Pcnnsyi yivaniA,
10 AlAo Called Higher.

Boston, Oct. SOLVER Wendell
Holmes. the well known poet and au.
thor, died at his home, 296 Beacon
street at 1916 yesterday. Heart fail
ure was the immediate cause of his
death, though the doctor has slowly
been falling for the past four or five
days. An asthmatic difficulty also as
sisted in the final breaking down of the
aged "autocrat."
len days ago DR. Holmes returned to
llis Beacon street residence from his
summer home at Beverly farm. Before
that time slight symptoms of improve
inent in his condition were noted, and
the removal was thought advisable. 1t
proved, however, very fntiguing and
the doctor did not regain his former
condition. Last Friday sudden at
tack of heart failure seized him, which
with the long standing asthmatic
trouble, Frustrated him, but yesterday
morning he had apparently recovered.
After the physicians had gone, how
ever, the doctor was seized with Il:
severe spasm, and before medical aid
could be called he had passed away
He was unconscious for short time
previous TO his death. Around his
bedside were gathered the members of
his family, Judge Oliver Wendell
Holmes, jr., the only surviving son:
Mrs. Oliver Wendell Holmes, jr., and
Edward j. Holmes, nephew of the poet
Although the poets death occurred
shortly after midday it did not be-
come known until late hour last
night. The house was darkened and
police guarded the entrance to prevent
the household from being disturbed.
Oliver Wendell Holmes was born at
Cambridge, Mass, August 20, 1909. He
graduated at Harvard college in 1929
and began the study of law, which he
soon abandoned for that of medicine.
After taking his degree of NJ. D., he
spent some time In the hospitals in
Paris and other European countries.
He returned to Boston in 1885 and. be-
gan practicing. In 1888 he was elected
professor of anatomy and physiology
in Dartmouth college, and in 1917 was
appointed to n similar professorship in
the medical school of Harvard univer-
ity, from which he retired In 1882.
But it is chiefly as, writer that Dr.
Holmes is known. AS early MS 1881
his contributions appeared in various
periodicals and his reputation as poet
was established by the delivery of II
metrical essay entitled Poetry" which
was followed by others In rapid suc-
ccssion. In 1857 he began in the Allan
tic Monthly series of articles under
the title of "rhe Autocrat of the Break
fast Table" which were followed in
1860 by "The Professor at the Break
fast Table" in 1872 by the "Poet at the
Breakfast Table" In addition he has
published numerous sketches, stories
and poems,
AS a writer of songs, lyrics and
poems for festive occasions he has long
occupied the first place.
In 1856 he visited England, where he
was received with great cordiality.
Editions of his collective poems have
appeared from time to time, the first
in 1896. lie had contributed largely
to current medical literature, as well
as to literary journals and reviews and
for long time held n warm place III
the hearts of the people as lecturer.
A series of genial papers from his pen
entitled "Over the Tea Cups" appeared
in the Atlantic Monthly during 1890.
The latter years of his life have been
spent in quiet retirement ut Beverly
Falls farm, broken occasionally by Il
lecture to the Harvard students.