The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-23
EDWARD BELLAMY DIES
THE GREAT AUTHOR OF LOOKING BACK
WARD" PASSES AWAY.
A Life Sketch Of Him Who Wrote one Of the
Most Remarkable Books Of the Nine
teenth Century.
teenth Century.

Springfield, Mass, May 22.-Edward
Bellamy, author and humanitarian, died
early this morning at his home, Chico
pee Falls, in the forty-ninth year Of his
age. Mr.. Bethany had been i'll feeble
health ever since he finished his Equal
ty'' eight months ago. Indeed long be-
fore it was done he had the most signiti-
cant warnings that his vital energies
were being undermined, although, it was
not till August that his physicians defin-
itely told him that one of his lungs was
affected At earnest solicitations of his
physicians and family he resolved to try
the effect of the Colorado climate, and
early in September last, removed with
his family to Denver, Col. where he
was welcomed by q host of friends.
He received, however, little or no bene
fit from the change, and since January
failed rapidly. When he recognized that
recovery was impossible he became anX-
ious to get back to his old family home
stead at Chicopee Falls, Mass, where
he was born and where he had lived his
entire life His brothers went to Den
YER to help him realize 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
26, 1850. and was the third son of Rev
II. X. Bellamy, for thirty-hve years the
pastor of the Baptist church at Chico
pee Falls. After finishing a course at
Union College, he completed his educa-
tion by year of European travel and
study.
And by the study of law he was, at 81
years of age, admitted to the bar of
Hampden county, Mass. From the legal
profession he went into journalism, fin
ally in co-partnership with his brother,
G. ]. Belamy, starting the Springfield
Daily News. Meanwhile he published
''Sx to One, "a Nantucket Idyl," Or
Heidenhoff's Process" Miss Luding-
tons 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 half million of copies have been
sold in England and other foreign coun-
tries. Looking Backward" has been
translated in German, French, Russian.
Italian, Arabic, Bulgarian and several
other languages. 1t is stated that En-
peror William purchased ten thousand
copies of Looking Backward" which ne
distributed among the students and
working classes Of Germany. His rea-
son for so-doing, if this is really true. is
apparent to those cOnversant with Ger
man politics.
On December 30, 1891, Mr.. Bellamy.
being convinced that it was his duty to
supplement his efforts in Looking
Backward" by educating the people to-
ward reform in government, issued the
| first number of 1.-THE New Nation" a
paper destined to become the most
| quoted and influential political or evolu-
tionary journal in the world. An idea
of its influence may be judged from the
| fact that since "Fhe New Nation" was
! started, over three hundred and fifty
| papers devoted to nationalism. have
been launched in the United States. Can
ada and Mexico. and thousands of pa
| pers through the direct inspiration of
THE New Nation" have started depart
ments devoted to political reform, which
are conducted and edited from the writ
ings of Mr.. Bellamy in "The New Ma
ton" and Looking Backward"
he leaves widow and two children,
beside two brothers, Chas ]. BelIamy,
editor of the Springfield Daily News,
and Fred. X. Bellamy, of Brooklyn N.
\. His funeral will take place at his
home in Chicopee Falls. and by his spe-
cial request will be of the simplest possi-
bic character.