Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-10-21
JULIA WARD HOWE,
FAMED P0ET,DEAD
Author Of Battle Hymn Of the
Republic" Passes Away.
WAS NINeTy-ONE YEARS OlO
Her Death Was Due to Old Age,
Which, With Cold, Weakened Her
heart-Wrote For Fifty Years.


Heart-Wrote For Fifty Years.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe. poet and pa
triot, and the writer of the famous
Battle Hymn of the Republic" passed
peacefully away at her summer home,
"Oak Glen" in Middletown, r. l.
Mrs. Howe had been i'll since Wed
nesday last, when she had severe
chill Death was due to old age, which,
with cold. weakened her heart She
was in her ninety-second year.
On Sunday Mrs. Howe appeared to
be recovering from her cold but con
tinued to remain in bed. Monday heI
condition changed suddenly for the
worse and she lapsed into unconscious
ness. which ended in death.
At her bedside were her three
daughters. Mrs. Florence Howe Hall
Mrs Laura Elizabeth Richards and
Mrs. John Elliot, with her husband.
Julia Ward Howe. the Grand Old
Woman of American literature, will al
ways be remembered as the author OF
the famous Battle Hymn of the Re
public.
Samuel Ward. prominent New York
banker. and was born In New York
city on May 27, 1919. Her mother was
a descendant of the distinguished Gen
eral Marion. of Revolutionary fame
and was a highly cultivated woman
who inculcated in her daughter the
love of poetry at an early age.
Mrs. Howe soon became proficient
in several ancient and modern Ian
guages and in music. When twenty
four she was married to DR.. Samuel
8. Howe, of Boston An extended tour
abroad followed. during which they
visited England. Ireland. the Italian
lakes. Rome. Florence and Paris.
About this time Mrs. Howe com
menced to write poetry, and few
years after her return, In 1912. brought
out Passion Flowers" her first book
Her literary work once started, con
tinued for over half a century, during
which time she produced a great many
poems and a number of magazine ar
ticles
She also wrote an excellent biogra
ply of Margaret Fuller. published in
1888. Modern Society" was a scath
ing analysis of some of the ideals and
practices which are more or less prev
alent in this country. From the Oak
to the Olive" was book of European
travel, and a companion volume was
nj 10
included words for the Hour" QS56),
Later Lyrics" US66) and Prom Sun
set Ridge" QS9S). A book of her
"Reminiscences" appeared in 1899 and
proved very interesting reading. as she
had met a number of distinguished
people in her long career
But her popular fame rests on the
famous Battle Hymn of the Repub
lic," the song of the Civil War 1t is
sung to the tune of John Brown" and
commences: Mine eyes have seen the
glory of the coming of the Lord" Mrs
Howe wrote it carly one morning
The night before she had been out
riding in the country near Washington
and her party had narrowly escaped
being captured by troop of Confed.
crates.
AS they came into Washington they
sang John Browns Body" and the
tune kept ringing in Mrs. Howe's head
all night When she awoke before
daylight she began to make verses
to 1t.
1t was first published at Charles.
town. Mass. Captain James Greenleaf,
an organist of the Harvard church, set
the notes for the music. and Massa.
chusetts regiment made them first
noted by singing them at Fort Warren
In 1861.