Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-10-21
JULIA WARD HOWE.
Death Of "New England's Grand Old
Woman" Author Of the BATTLE Hymn
Of the Republic"


Woman" Author Of the "Battle Hymn |
Of the Republic"
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, 81, of Boston, |
for nearly three-quarters of a century |
leader in everything that pertained TO |
the good OF humanity and the advance" |
ment of her sex, sometimes called New
England's Grand Old Woman" died Mon
dav in her summer home. South Ports
mouth, r. l., after less than weeks Ill
ness with pneumonia. The venerable
author OF the Battle Hymn OF the Re
public" advocate of human liberty, phil
anthropist, educator, author, reformer
and public speaker led an active life
from her early days almost to the end.
Her last appearance at a public function
Of Importance was at Smith college oct.
5. when President Marion Leroy Burton
was inaugurated on that occasion the
honorary degree of Doctor OF Laws was
conferred on her, accompanied by this en-
conium:
Julia Ward Howe poet and patriot,
lover OF letters and learning, advocate for
over half century in print and In living
speech Of great causes of human liberty;
sincere friend OF all that makes for the
elevation and enrichment Of womanhood
to whom now in her serene gracious and
venerated age we offer felcitation and
pay grateful homage"
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe was born in New
York city May a. 1919, three days after
the birth Of Queen Victoria. Her father
was a man of wealth and influence who
| established the New York Bank or Com
| merce and was its president. The daugh-
! ter received exceptional educational ad-
| vantages for her time. Her home en-
| vironment was one of taste and refine
| ment, and her father received as guests
! such men as Bryant, DOngfellow and
others. prominent in the literary world
| Julia Ward showed her aptitude for lit
| erary work by writing poems at the age
| of 16 At the age of % she met in Boston
| Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. 20 years her
| senior This acquaintance ripened into
affection and their marriage took place
| April o. 1913 DR. Howe was n graduate
| of Brown university, a lover of liberty
| and a man of the highest ideals. He was
| al the head Of the institution for the
blind in Boston many years and was the
teacher OF the famous Laura Bridgman.
On their wedding journey DR.. and Mrs.
| Howe were accompanied abroad by anoth-
er bridal couple Mr. and Mrs Horace
Mann. DR.. Howe and Horace Mann were
two Of the noblest American philanthro-
pists. The first child ofDr. and Mrs. Howe
was born in Rome. She was given the
name OF Julia Romano. and in after life
became the wife OF NJ. Anagnos, a
Greek who was for years superintendent
OF the Perkins institution for the blind
! u. 7.
were quick to respond to the anti-slavery
movement and they edited for some year.
the Boston Commonwealth. an anti-slav
cry paper Their home for many years
was In South Boston. They were alsC
deeply interested in the struggle in which
the Greeks secured their independents,
from Turkey.
When the Atlantic Monthly appeared
Mrs. Howe was among its contributors
She made no pretence OF being a poet o
the highest rank; she sought to appeal I,
the hearts OF her readers rather than &
. their highest intellectual perceptions
, Her famous Battle Hymn of the Re
public" has made her name immortal
, but she has written finer lines although
, they have not attained the fame OF thi
, song Of patriotism. Her songs of mother
, hood have appealed to thousands O
mothers, and many who have lost thei
. ! own little ones have read with tear-dim
| med eyes Mrs. Howe's tender lines en-
: titled Little One" written after tn
, death Of her little boy at the age OF thre
, ! years.
/, DIR. Howe's death occurred in 1876 Ate
I | his death she continued to live on Bea co
! street in Boston. At this period Mr.,
, | Howe devoted much attention to tn
study OF philosophy and often wrot
> and iectured on philosophical theme,
, | While "A Unitarian in faith Mrs. How
y was tolerant OF the religious views O
y others. She not only lectured often fror
o. platforms but frequently appeared I
pulpts. Through her efforts the women
peace congress was established In Londo
in 1872, Mrs. Howe was active in tn
formation of the New England Woman
4 club and other OrganiZa tons As a
!, author through a long term OF years he
n best known works are: Passion Flow
l. ers. Words for the Hour" "a Trip t
q Cuba From the Oak to the Olive.
. Later Lyrics" Sex and Education