Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-10-22
JULIA WARD HOWE,
FAMED POET,DEAD
Author Of Battle Hymn Of the
Republic" Passes Away.
WAS EIHETY-ONE YEARS OLD
Her Death Was Due to Old Age,
Which. With a Cold. Weakened Her
Heart-Wrote For Fifty Years

Which, With a Cold, Weakened Her
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" i'm Middletown. r. l.
Mrs. Howe had been an since We'd
nesday last. when She had a severe
chil Death was due 90 old age. which.
with a cold, weakened her heart. She
was in her ninety-second year
on Sunday Mrs Howe appeared TO
DC recovering from her cold. but con
tinued 20 remain In bed Monday her
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 Hail.
Mrs. Laura Elizabeth Richards and
Mrs. John Elliot with her husband
Julia Ward Howe. the Grand Old
Woman of American literature. will al
ways Doe remembered as the author OF
tie famous Battle Hymn OF the Re
public"
Mrs. Howe was the daughter OF
Samuel Ward. a 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 az an early age
Mrs. Howe soon became proficien.
in several ancient and modern Ian
guages and in music. When twenty
four she was married 20 Dr Samuel
5. 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 10 write poetry. and a few
years after her return. in 1872. brought
out Passion Flowers" her first book
Her literary work once started. con
tinued for over half century. during
which time she produced a great many
poems and number OF magazine ar
ticles.
She also wrote an excellent biogra-
ply OF Margaret Fuller. published in
1883. Modern Society" was 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 a book OF European
travel and a companion volume was
2 "A Trip 20 Cuba" Her books OF poetry
included Words for the Hour" QS56).
/ Later Lyrics" GS66) and From sun
set Ridge GS9S). 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-
Z lie" the song of the Civil War. II is
sung to the tune OF John Brown" and
, commences: Mine eyes have seen the
I glory of the coming OF the Lord" Mrs
4 Howe wrote IL early one morning
, The night before she had been out
! riding in the country near Washington
and her party had narrowly escaped
being captured by "a troop of Confed
n, crates.
! As they came into Washington they
F, sang John Browns Body" and the
, tune kept ringing in Mrs. Howe's head
all night. When she awoke before
A.. daylight she began to make verses
! TO IT,
I It was first published at Charles
town. Mass Captain James Greenleaf
an organist OF the Harvard church. sci
the notes for the music, and a Massa
chusetts regiment made them frs
noted by singing them at Fort Warner
in 1861.