New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-10
OBITUARY
Colonel Thomas Wentworth Hig.
glnSon Dies in CAMBRIDGE.

Cambridge. Mass. Nav Colonel Thorn
as Wentworth Hgginson historian. author.
minister and soldier. one OF the last OF the
eISup OF FAMOUS scholars and abolitioniSts
OF haf century ago, died at his home
here to-risht' aged eighty-seven years.
colonel Hlgginson had been IN about ten
days. A general breaking I'D If his health.
due TO old age. became apparent. but was
not considered serious until to-day, when
he became unconscious. and no hope was
held out for his recovery. Death occurred
az ll.25 tonight lie leaves wife and one
daughter Mrs. j. d. Barney. OF Boston.
who were with him at the end
: In the death OF Colonel Thomas Went
worth Higginson there passes one OF the
last OF the pupils II the old New England
circle Of master spirits He was student
under Longfellow a neighbor OF oliver
Wendell Holmes a college mate Of Edward
Everett Haze and friend Of Emerson. Whit
tier ana LongfellOw. He was known 10
the public In the threefold role OF author,
preacher and anti-slavery fighter. IA es-
sayist. historian. biographer and writer for
the young. he made for himself an unusual
place in American literature Though the
author Of volume OF verse. ne never
claimed place a poet. modestly emitting
this work Such as They Are"
BY his general optimism and spirit OF
perennial youthfulness he kept himself to
the last green In the hearts Of his friends
and readers.
I'D own a balloon or an airship II
could afford IT," ne said on his eighty-sixtn
birthday Then he added. with a touch of
regret, II wish we had mad automobiles
when / was a boy. The old times were
good, but the new times are better"
He was delegate 10 the first convention
that advocated womens rights He claimed
the honor OF being the first person 10 ad-
vocate athletics in the colleges.
Colonel Hlgginson was born in Cam
bridge. Mass. in 1893. the son Of stephen
HggiGson, a Prominent merchant and
philanthropist OF Boston. He was gradu-
ated az Harvard in the class OF Al, after
ward studying at the Divinity School in
Cambridge. where he vas graduated in
1871. In thar year he vas ordained pastor
OF the First Congregational Church OF
New0uryport Mass.
Slavery Teachings Unpopular.
He left this church in 1880 because Of the
unpopularity Of his anti-slavery teachings,
and in the same year stood unsuccessfully
as the Free Soil candidate FOR Congress.
He then became pastor ~ a church in
Worcester. Mass. from 1852 10 1888. Leay-
Ing his charge in the latter year, he de-
voted himself to literature and to anti
slavery agitation. For his part IN the
attempted rescue OF Anthony Burns
famous incident in the anti-slavery days.
ne was indicted for murder. together with
Theodore Parker Wendell Phillips and
others. but was released on account OF
saw in the legal papers He also took part
in organizing parties OF freestate emil
grants to Kansas in 1856, and served as
brigadier general in James II. Lanes forces
in that state organized TO drive out the
Missouri invaders
Mr. Higginson was made captain in the
5lst Massachusetts, Regiment in 1852; in
the same year he was made colonel Of a
regiment Of colored troops, the lst South
Carolina Volunteers. afterward known as
the 33d United States Colored Troops the
first regiment Of freed slaves mustered into
service. Colonel Higgnson saw consider
able active service in the war He took
end held Jacksonville. Fla: az Wilton Bluff
he was wounded. in August. 1853. and in
October Of the next year resigned on ac-
count Of disability. He then went 10 New
port r l.. 20 live engaging in literature,
and afterward 70 Cambridge. He was a
member of the Massachusetts Legislature
in 1850 and 1881 serving as chief OF staff
e. h. II
81 he was member Of the State Board
Of Education He was also state Military
and Naval Historian. 1ss9-'es. preparing in
that capacity two official volumes entitled
Massachusetts, in the Army and Navy.
1S61-'65.-
His wife an Author.
He married in 1879 Mary P Thacher
who rs also an author
Colonel Higgnson contributions 10 cur
rent literature are numerous. several Of
his books consisting OF ESSAYS that first
appeared in The Atlantic Monthly; he
also contributed largely 10 other periodicals
His first publication was a compilation IN
collaboration with Samuel Longfelow en-
titled "Thalatta" OF poems for the sea
side. published in 1855. H was also the
author Of Outdoor Papers" 1853. Nal
bone. An Oldport Romance" 1859: Army
Life in a Black Regiment" 1870; Atlantic
Essays" ISL: The sympathy of Reig-
ions" 1871. "Odport Days 1879; Young
Folks History Of the United States" 1875;
History OF Education in Rhode Island"
1876. Young Folks Books Of American Ex-
plorers." lS7-: Short Studies ~ American
Authors" ls7a: Common Sense About Wom-
en-" 1851; Life Of Margaret Fuller Ossoli."
1884: Larger History Of the United States.
1875: The Monarch ~ Dreams" 1876
Hints on Writing and speechma king 1877
concerning All Of Is" 1899 Tine Profess
sion of the Flowers" isaS: "Old Cambridge"
1902. Contemporaries. 1870. Henry W
Longfellow." 1909. John g Whittier"
1903: "A Readers History of American Lit
erature" 1870: Part Of Mans Life"
1879; Life OF stephen Higgnson" 1917. and
'Carlyles Laugh and OtHer Surprises
1909 He also translated the complete
works Of Epic;etus. 1855. and edited "Har-
ward Memorial Biographies 1850. and
Brief Biographies Of European States
men" 1851.
He was a fellow Of the American Acade-
my Of Political social science ana mem
Der II the American Historical Society. thu
American Antiquarian Society the New
England Historic-Genealogi'al Society. the
Massachusetts Historical Society. the Mil
-arv Historical Society. the Loval Legion
and the Grand Army ~ the Republic He
had been president Of the Harvard Chapter
NJ Phi Beta Kappa some years ago he
received the degree Of Doctor Of Laws
from Western Reserve University. and 81
iS9s received the same degree from his Alma
Mater