The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-16


 membership in tho famous fraternity of Skull and Bones" Ills chief in- terest in his studies was in English literature, and he was a largo contrib utor to the Yale Literary Magazine, of which he was later elected an cdit- or At the graduation exercises Of his class in July r. 18il he was vale- dIctory orator Among his classmates were the late Rev. Samuel w. Bar mum of this city, two of the founders of Beloit college, Wisconsin, Emerson and Bushnell, and the late Rev. Mir. Eustls of Springfield,
 Shortly after his graduation 9 threat of pulmonary disease, which had carried off several members Of his family compelled aim to abandon all study and retire to farm at salem. near New London, belonging to his maternal grandfather. Here he worked for three years and acquired hIs taste for agricultural pursuits, which led later in life to the pur- chase of tho farm at Edgewood and ia expressed in his "EdRewood' books. He won q prize at this timo for hls designs of agricultural buildings and became a contributor to tho Albany Cultyator
 As his health continued delicate, In tho fall of 1S44 hc sailed for Europe and spent some months in employ ment al tho Liverpool consular office, The climate there proving too severe for him, he went to the Island of Jcr- sey where he entirely recovered his health. Then followed a tramp on foot through England, and in the au- tumn another Of SIX weeks in Switz- erland, Tho next winter ae passed in Italy and in tho summer ho re- turned to Paris, whence he sailed for ' home in the fall of ts4G. Much of tac succeeding winter he spent In Washington n. C., followed by a trip ! through the southern states His first | book French Gleanngs" made up from sketches of his European travel, some Of which had been previously published in the American Review, " appeared In the following summer of . 1S47.
 In this same year he began tho study of law in the office of jno O Sargent in New York clty Tho con- ' nnomont proved, however too much . of strain for hs delicate heaItn and again in 1SlS ne sailed for Eu- rope, being present in Paris during tho bloocy rovoutlon of June of that year These scenes arc described n "The Battle summer, published on his return to New York in iSio.
 Soon after his return ne began the publication of an anonymous satirical weekly something llbo Irying's Sal magundl entitled "Tbe Iorgnctte.' The years 1850 and 1851 saw tho | publication of "Royerles of Bache- lor' and Dream Life Tho original essay of tho "Rcverlcs' was first con- tributed Co the famous southern lit- erary Messenger Roth books picture 1 llfc in remote ana hazy way with tender and sgnial sentiment and arc written in a chasloly delicate English not unlike that Of Washington Irving.
 on May a1 1853, Mn Mitchell mar { ricd Miss Mary r. PrIngia Of Charles ton, $ ( and In the following month sailed for Venice, where no had been appointed United states consul Hero he began the collection of material for a history of the Venetian republic, which was never written, although traces of his Venetian studies appear in some of his later writings, notably lecture on Titan before tho Vale Art school
 Returning 10 this country in 1855, he purchased tho 900 acre farm at ltdgewood, which has since then been his home and tho scene of many ot his most delightful writings This farm has beon tho subject of several volumes on tho practical and aesthetic value of country lra following tho publication in 1855 of Fudge DO.
 nEs In 1863 was written My Farm at Isdgewood,' followed In 1865 hl Wet Days ot gdEewond.' and u