New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-08

was moderately studious fond of reading stories.
of whispering. and-being a Yankee bOy-of
whiting and where he had for schoolmates
Margaret Fuller and Richard Henry Dana. The
next step was to Phillips Academy. at Andover.
where he wrote his first verses a translation Of
some portions of the Aened. There, too, he
came into contact-to him unwelcome-
many clergymen They were chiefly solemn.
severe. sepulchral in demeanor. Not all. for
there was whose visits made any day seem
like Thanksgiving" But there was another who
always made one think there was a funeral in
the house Had ii not been for him. l might
have been minister myself"
Although Abel Holmes was son Of Yale,
young Oliver Wendell was sent to Harvard. Il
member Of the class of 1929 Among his class
mates were Benjamin Pierce, benjamin Il. Cur
It's James Freeman Clarke. Chandler Robbins
G.. T. Davis, G. r. Bgelow and nd, samuel !r r. F.,
When he became a sophomore he may have
hazed among the other freshmen. Charles sum
ner; and year later may have extended the
protection of a ,tately Junior to such other
freshmen John Lothrop Motley and Wendell
Phillips the latter his own cousin. George TICK
nor was among his teachers, and JOSIAH quincy
was the president under whom he was gradu-
ated.
Young Holmes ranked as an admirable stu
dent in all respects. But his best work was in
the departments Of literature. He surpassed
most Of his fellows as an essay-writer and as a
debater. His contributions to the college periodi-
calls were conspicuous for their merit. often at
tracing favorable attention outside the college
world. After graduation he studied law in Bos-
ton for year. still giving much thought
TO literature, and within that year pro
ducing poem that made him famous The old
frigate Constitution lay at the Charlestown
Navy Yard, about to be broken up. Holmes had
conquered his childish horror of ships. and went
one day to see the historic craft. Returning home
an inspiration came to him. and, as he says
while standing on one foot, he wrote "Od
Ironsides"-
An old song, which sone perchance have SEEN
There was an hour wten patriots dared profane
The mast trat Britain strove 10 bow in vain;
And one who listened TO the tale or shame
answered
Whose eyes sim followed Ger his countrys tides
Thy glorious flag our brave Old lronsdes'
From yon lone attic summers morn.
Thus Knocked the spoilers with his schoolboy scoTn'
This splendid lyric was published in 1890, in
The Boston Advertiser" and struck fire in the
public heart. Every paper copied 1t; II was re-
produced on thousands Of handbs: Washington
for destruction was rescinded and the old ship
was saved.
The "schoolboy's" head was not turned by
this success. He kept at his studies. presently
leaving law for medicine. For several years he
studied the latter in Boston, then in Edinburgh
and Paris In 1886 he added IN. D." to his
name; and in 1897, his fathers death. put up
his "shnge' on the doorpost Of the old. gambrel-
rooted house on Cambridge Green. Two years
later he called ia the chair of anatomy and
physiology at Dartmouth. where he stayed only
a year Than ne married daughter of Judge
Charles Jackson and went to Boston to practise
his profession. His house was at No. Mont
gomery Place and there he made his home Tor
eighteen years. He had a summer home al Pitts
feld--which town his great-grandfat her. Jacob
Wendell. once owned entire. In 1871 ne became
Parkman Professor of Physiology and Anatomy
at Harvard and for eight months In each year
delivered four lectures week. Yet he kept up
his extensive Boston practice and still found
time TO place himself in the foremost rank OF
American literary men. He was editor. essayist.
poet. novelist and popular lecturer. all in one.
in each capacity winning such praise and
lcff Ion hoy n fnU
The work Of DR.. Holmes as doctor whether
as family physician, instructor demonstrator or
writer on medical topics, must always rank very
high in the records OF that great profession In
this place 1t can scarcely be more than men
toned with a few words of his own bearing
upon II in reminiscent fashion. He made his
farewell address to the Harvard Medical School
on November rs. 1857, and in the course 81 II he
said:
There are three occasions upon which human be,
ing has a right to consider himself as centre OF
interest to those about him-when ne Is christened
when he s chez aas the hero of his own bap
tism his wedding and his own funeral .
which one may make more of himself than under
ordinary circumstances he would think 1t proper
his own experiences~ln fact indulge in or less
egotstic monoogue without fear or reproach
occasions. have delivered nv last anatomical lect-
nre and heard my class recte for the last time
mood than that in which they have known me.
VIII you not indulge me in telling you something of
This is the thirty-six,h course Of lectures in which
Ssys Of X Rsce o hs ha
OF office gave instruction In physiology after the
generally prevalent In schools where the physi
illogical laboratory was no. necessary part of the
approval that the teaching of physiology was con-
stituted separate department and made an in
dependent professorshp. Before, my time Dr. War
rem had taught anatomy, physiology and surgery I'm
the same course Of lectures lasting only three or
larged new divisions and subdivisions Of It's ter
fessors in iss7 when first became member Of the
AND nd b% Mso n 6hs nsS IN h
work Of instruction In the medical school amounts
/ am afraid that it is good plan to get rid of
Ola professors aud am thankful to hear that
those Who are left in neea When they 'I lose their
offices and their salaries l remember one OF our
into his rlckety chaise. and said to me- half hu-
morousy. half sadly, that he like Old horse
they had taken off his saddle and turned him out
TO pasture. fear the Grass was pretty short
when that ola servant Of the public found himself
DR.. Holiness last class presented to him
lovng-cup. as farewell token of esteem in
acknowledging which he wrote:
This gift Of priceless value TO me and to those
one Of arcient date. which has come down to ne
as an heirloom n The mn generation from It's
temperate needs of my noontide rejection has n
supposed to represent the mineral suggesting the
name name Of the recipient the three words Ex Dono
anu gate 1863 MS piece O! SILVER
was given by his Harvard College pupils to the
famous tutor. Henry Fynt, whose term Of service.
hftyrfye years. is the longest on the college record
Tutor F1ynt was a bachelor. and this memorial gift
passed after his dea IN his niece Dorothy Quincy.
who did me the high honor of becoming my great
grandmother Through her daughter and her
daughters daughter II came down to me. and has
always been held by me the most loved and
venerated relic which time has beQueathed me. II
will lose its hold my affections for 1t is
q part Of my earliest associations and dearest re-
membranes.
But this lovlng-cup. which comes TO not by
descent, but as testimony that my own life a
teacher has not been unvalued but thought de-
serving of such An enduring memorial, must here
after claim equal place in my affections with
that most priced and cherished of all my house
hold possessions. i hope that when another hun
bred and nifty years have passed away, some de
scendant OF mine will say he lifts this cup and
reads the name Il bears. "Ie too loved his labor