The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-24
EDWARD BELLANY DEAD
The Noted American Author Passes
Away-The Great Popularity OF His
Books.

Springfield, Mass, May 12.-Edwa-d
Belamy, author and humanitarian,
died early this morning at his home n
Chicopee Falls, in the 4s year OF his
age. Mr. Bellamy had been in feeble
health ever since he finished his Equal
ity' eight months ago. Indeed, long
before il was done he had the mos,
significant warnings that his vital en-
ergies We're being undermined, although
it was not until August his physicians
definitely told him that one of his
lungs was effected. At the earnest So
licitations of his physicians and family
he resolved 10 try the effect Of the Col
orado Climate and early in September
last removed with his family to Den
yer, Colorado, where he was welcomed
by host of friends. He received, how
ever, little or no benefit from the
change and since January failed rap
idly. When re recognized that recov-
cry was Impossible he became anxious
to get back TO his old family homestead
at Chicopee Falls, Mass, where he
was born and where he lived his entire
life. His brothers went to Denver to
help him healize this wish and on
April 26th brought him back, Very
weak, but very peaceful, to his old
home.
He was born at Chicopee Falls, March
26th, 1850 and was the third son of Rev.
r. K. Bellamy, for thirty five years
the pastor Of the Baptist church at
Chicopee Falls. -Afte finishing a
course at Union college, he completed
his education by a year of European
travel and study. And by the study of
law, he was, at 21 years of age, ad-
mitted to the bar of Hampden county.
10 oa11
sion he went into journalism, finally in
co-partnership with his brother, c. ].
Bellamy, starting The Springfield
Daily News. He published Six to
One" Nantucket Idyl, 'Dr. Heiden-
hoff's Process" Miss Ludington's Sis
ter" and other books. 1t was in 1888
that his famous book, Looking Back
ward" was published, the sale of
which, up to the present time is over
100000 copies in America and probably
over 100000 copies AVE been sold in
England and other foreign countries
Looking Backward has been trans
lated into German, French, Russian,
Arabic, Bulgarian and several other
languages.
It is stated that Emperor William
purchased 10000 copies of Looking
among the students and working
classes of Germany. His reason for SO
doing. if this is really true, is appar-
ent to those convensant with German
politics.
On December 80, 1891, Mr.. Bellamy,
being convinced that it was his duty
to supplement his efforts in Looking
BackWard', iby educat ting the people
toward reform in government, issued
the first number of The New Nation, a
paper destined to become the most
quoted and influential political or evo-
lutiOnary journal in the world. An idea
Of it's influence may be judged from the
fact that since The New Nation was
started, over $50 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 polit
ical reform, which are conducted and
edited from the writings of Mr.. Bel
lamy, in The New Nation, and Look
ing 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 New York. His funeral will
take place at his home in Chicopee
Falls. and by his special request will
be of the simplest possible character.