New-York tribune., 1908-12-16

DONALD G. MITCHELL ok MarveTO-
Who died last night at his home, near New Haven
books met with much favor. Hs was one Of the
pioneer writers the charms Of country Ire giving
My Farm az Edzewood." He was also widely
known a lecturer. and he az one tine asso-
cated with Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe in editing
a popular weekly magazine, Hearth and Home
He received the degree Of IL D from Yale IN
1878
He was the son Of a Congregational minister and
the grandson of Justice Stephen Mix Mitchell who
succeeded in establishing the claim Of Connecticur
TO the Of land in Ohio known as the Western
Reserve. Mr.. Mitchell was born at Norwich. Conn.
on April p 1872 He prepared for college IN 4
boarding school in Ellington. Conn, the head OF
which was DR.. John Hall. whose traits were arrer-
ward depicted by the author in the hero OF his only
novel Or Johns After his graduation al Yale.
in Is41. young Mitchell whose health had become
somewhat impaired by his close attention 70 study
spent three years at work his grandfather's
farm. at Salem Conn. where his interest was
aroused in rural life and agricultural affairs OF
which he afterward wrote much While living there
he became a contributor The CultvatOr, a
farm paper published in Albany, and won prize
offered by the New York State Agricultural So
ciety for plan Of farm buildings
In 1874 he went abroad and in the course Of his
stay in Europe Of two years he wrote many let
ters 70 The CuItivator'' and other journals He
spent winter the Island OF Jersey. and the fol-
lowing six months in rambling about England on
foot gathering a variety OF Impressions He tnen
made an extended tour OF the Continent On his
return he published his first book, Fresh Clean
ings or a New Sheaf from the Old Fields OF Con-
tinentaI Europe" On its title page appeared the
name TX Marvel"
The author took up the study Of law in this city
for a time but his health proving equal 70
confinement in an Office he went abroad again in
ls4s travelling in England. Switzerland and France
and being in Paris az the time Of the outbreak His
observations bore fruit on his in The Battle
Summer. Being Transcriptions from Personal OBJ
servations in Paris During the Year 1s+s-
Nj Mitchell then definitely devoted himself 70 4
literary career He began the issue OF The Lor-
gnette. OF Studies Of the Town. by an Opera-Goer.
weekly periodical Of the style and size Of Irvnss
.SaIu1aguudL The name Of John Tirnon' aP-
peared in The Lorgnette." and Mr. Mitchell kept
his secret nearly a year The paper attracted at
tenon by its brilliancy Of style and caustic COM
rnent. and the separate numbers afterward ap-
peared in book form
In 1850 there appeared the extremely popular
'.Reveries Of 4 Bachelor" by * Marvel the first
charter of which the author had contributed 10
The Southern Literary Messenger in which uluch
OF Edgar Allan POes work had appeared This
earlier uaDer bore the title a Bachelors Revere
The work attracted instant and widespread atte1-
ri0-% 57 its delightful contemplation OF life from
the sIippered ease of the chimney corner year
later il was followed by Dream Life which was
y,--irrou in the same vein OF hazy reuliniscence
Of real life. These books have been many times
reprinted and appear have charm for each
new generation of readers and lovers OF literature
and they have been Classed with irving 5 Shel-Ll
Book among the American classics
Mr. Mitchell was appointed United States Con-
sui At Venice in 1858 BY President Pierce, but he
resigned in q few months ard collected material
for a history of the Venetian Republic out II vas
never published. He used some OF the tactS n
1s-a- Writings and in a lecture before the Tale
Arr School on Titan and His Times, which ap-
ueared in later volume OF niscelaneous "riJlnss
entitled Bound Together
NJ Mitchell returned America IN l855. and
y,gz vr-fTa mad
7-1,i-7 he purchased about three miles from New
Haven and named Edgevood- Il vas there that
he vr~ore the many articles and sketches on rural
r4a combining practical information with literary
refinement and tender sentiment, which appear II
his hooks Ny Farm at EdgewOod' Wet Days
A. Edgevood'' and Rural Studies with Hints Tor
COUNT, Places reissued as 'Out-of-ToWn Places
These appeared between 1888 and 1851 Fudge Do
irrs made I'D Of papers in The knlckeroocker
Magazine - also appeared N this period The au-
rbor was an occasional contributor 70 Harper 5
Magazine" and The Atlantic Monthly, In Vhlch
his only novel Or Johns" appeared. and other
publications In 1858 he was editor OF The Atlantic
Almanac and in 1859 was one OF the EDITORS o.
The Hearth and Home
- 1876 MIR Mitchell was one OF the judges Of in
dustrial art the Centennial Exposition IN Fhl--
derphia and N 1878 was United states corlrnls-
si,r.- - the uor.s Exposition. He was lecturer
on literature az Yale for number OF years. and
,re member Of the council Of the Yale Arr School
from it, foundation His lectures on literature ani
history appeared in the volumes entitled English
Ids Letters ana Kings" which included From
-eir 10 Tudor" From Elizabeth 70 Anne and
sOueen Anne and the Georges" He was also The
,yrbor Of .se-er Stories. with Easement and At
rio ABOUT Old story Teuers. Pictures Of Edge
wood Daniel Tyler Memorial Volume The
WOODBRIDGE Record and American Lands and
Letters"
In 1850 Nj Mitchell married Miss Mary Pring-e,
NJ Charleston : C.. = granddaughter of Mrs. Re
nerc, Nlot-e the Revolutionary heroine They had
three daughters. OF whom one married son OF
Professor Hcppin. OF Yalc-