Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-23
DEATH OF EDWARD BELLAlY.
Started Out as a Lawyer, and Changed to
Literary Pursuits-Was Compar-
ativeiy Young Man.

Springfield Mass, May 22.-Edward
Bellamy, author and humanitarian,
died early this morning at his home in
Chicopee Falls. in the 49th year of his
age. Mr.. Bellamy has been in feeble
health ever since he finished his
Equality" some eight months ago In
deed, long before it was completed he
had the most significant warnings that
his vital energies were being UNDER
mined, although 1t was not until Au-
gust that his physicians definitely told
him that one of his lungs was affected.
At the earnest solicitation of his ply
sicians and family he resolved to
try the effect of the Colorado climate,
and early in September last removed
with his family to Denver, where he
was welcomed by n host of friends. He
received, however, little or no benefit
from the change, and since January
has been rapidly failing. When he
recognized that recovery was impossi-
BILE, he became very anxious to get back
to his old family homestead at Chico
pee Falls, Mass, where he was born,
and where he had lived his entire life.
His brother went to Denver to help
him realize his wish and on April Goth
brought him back very weak but very
peaceful, to his old home.
He was born at chcopee Falls on
March 20, 1850 and was the third son
of Rev. r. X. Bellamy, for thlrty-five
years the pastor of the Baptist church
at Chicopee Falls. After finishing a
course at Union College, he completed
his education by year, of European
travel and study.
By the study of law he was, at 81
years of age, admitted to the bar OF
Hampton county, Mass. From the le
gal profession he went into journalism
and for several years was assistant
editor of the Springfield Union. From
there he went to New York City to ac-
cept a position as editorial writer on
the New York Evening Post, where he
was engaged for about one year, when
he returned to Springfield and in CO.
partnership with his brother, c. j. Bel
lamy, started the Springfield Daily
News. Meanwhile he published "Six
to One: a Nantucket Idyl," DR.. Hell
denhoff's Process" Miss LudinGtons
Sister" and other books.
1t was in 1883 that his famous book
Looking Backward was published,
the sale of which, up to the present
time, is over 100000 copies in America,
and probably over 100000 copies have
been sold In England and other for
eign countries. Looking Backward"
has been translated into German,
French, Russian, Italian, Arabic, Bull
garian and several other languages. 1t
Is stated that Emepror William pur-
chased 1000 copies of Looking Back
ward" which Is distributed among the
students and working classes of Ger
many. His reason for so doing. If this
is really true, is apparent to those con-
versant with German politics.
on the S0th day of December, 1891,
Mr.. Bellamy, being convinced that IL
was his duty to supplement his efforts
in Looking Backward" by educating
the people toward reforming govern
ment, issued the first number of the
New Nation, a paper destined to be-
come the most quoted and influential
political or revolutionary journal in the
world. An idea of its influence may be
Judged from the fact that since the
New Nation was started, many papers
devoted to nationalism have been
launched in the United States, Canada
and Mexico, and thousands of papers,
through the direct inspiration of the
New Nation. have started departments
devoted to political reform. which are
conducted and edited from the writings
of Mr.. Belamy in the New Nation and
looking Backward,
He leaves a widow and two children,
besides two brothers, Charles j. Bel
lamy, editor OF the Springfield Daily
News, and Frederick Bellamy of
Brooklyn, N. V His funeral win take
place at his home in Chicopee Falls,
and by his special request will be of the
| simplest possible character.