Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-12-24
Charles Ganage Eastman.
A Copy Of ills Poems Turns Up In .
Boston Auction Room.
SKETCH OF THE POET, WHO WAS A
NATIVE OF FRYEBURG.

Included In lot Of old books, psmph
lets, broadsides, newspapers, etc., re
tailed at public vendue Ia Boston or
November 20 and 81 was q copy OF th'
first edition Of the poems Of Charles
Gamsge Eastman, native Of Fryeburg
The copy brought $3.50. II was . pre-
sentatlon copy from the author, hi'
autograph inscription, "Col. John Apple
ton, with the respects Of the author,
being on one OF the front fy-leaves o
the book. "Col. John Appleton" the
presentee of the book, was, probably
Hon. John Appleton Of Portland, who
was graduated from Bowdoin College in
1884 and became q prominent lawyer
and Democratic politician, being fol
several years editor Of the Eastern Argus
OF Portland, and from 1851 to 1858 mem
Der of the National House OF Represents
tives.
Mr.. Eastman was the oldest of The
six children (tbree sons and three daugh
ters) of Benjamin Clement Eastman and
bis first wife, Mary Rebecca (Gamage)
Eastman, and was born on June l, 1918
When he was q child, bis father, who
was q jeweler and watch repairer, re-
moved from Fryeburg to Barnard, Vt,
became convert to religion there In
1922, and soon afterwards became a
Methodist clergyman. The boy, obliged
from bis early years to depend chiefly
upon bis own resources, worked his way
through the district schools and neigh.
borhood academies up to college, enter
ing, in 1888, the class Of 1887 at the
University Of Vermont, at Burlington.
While he was at the University, he began
to write for the public press, his first
contributions being to the Sentinel, a
newspaper published at Burlington. Hi.
contributions to the Sentinel were
marked by force and directness unusual
in one Of his age, and, attracting the al.
tention of his political party (he was a
Democrat from bis earliest years), he
was soon contributing to other Demo-
cratic newspapers of the state. His con-
tribuiions winning appreciation most
flattering to the young writer, bis mind
was soon turned to what was destined to
be his lifelong vocation, that of journal.
ism. In consequence of being involved
10 little rebellion among the undergrad
yates of the University In 1885, be then
left the University, and was soon en-
barked, under full sail, upon his career
as a journalist. Before the subject of
his connection with the University Is
dismissed, 1t may be stated that In 1852,
when he delivered an alumni poem at
the University, the authorities OF the
University gave him the degree OF A. B.
az of the class of which he had been a
member when an undergraduate there,
so that he has since figured as an
alumnus Of the University as Of the class
of 1887, being listed as graduate of
that class In the University's general
catalogues issued since that degree of A.
B. was thus conferred upon him. In
1880 he became editor of the Lsmoile
Express, a new paper established at
johnson, VT, but, that journal not
proving financial success, 1t was dis.
continued, and In 1910 he moved to
Woodstock, VT, where, with some as
sociates, he founded the Spirit of the
Age, which soon attained high rank
among the Democratic organs Of Yer
mont, and as the editor Of which he be.
came q leader In the councils of his
party throughout the state. In Dscem-
Der, 1S45, be sold his interest in the
Spirit of the Age and removed to Mont
pelier, where, with Joseph B. Danforth,
he purchased the Vermont Patriot Of
that town, he and Mr.. Danforth CON.
tinuing as joint owners OF the paper till
July, 1851, when he bought the interest
of Mr.. Danforth, aud thenceforth was
the sole owner OF the paper till his death.
He was postmaster at Woodstock from
1S43 till January, 1S48, and at Mont
pelier from 1853 till 1858. He was
elected member OF the Vermont Senate
In September, 1851, and reelected in
September, 1852, was twice his party's
candidate for Representative In Con
gress, and was delegate to the Demo
cratic National Conventions of 1855 and
1860, in the latter of which conventions
he was an ardent supporter OF Stephen
A. Douglas as his party's candidate for
the presidency. At the time Of the
Democratic National Convention OF 1850,
be had for quite while been suffering
from Bright's disease, and his participa-
ton in the labors and excitement of that
stormy convention "a long session of
which, 1t will be- recalled, was held At
Charleston, s. c., and long adjourned
session subsequently held at Baltimore,
Md.-so exhausted him and 80 aggra
vated the malady from which he was
suffering as undoubtedly to hasten bis
death, which occurred at Montpelier on
September 18, 1880. Douglas and his
wife, in the course Of the stumping tour
which Douglas made through the
country after he was nominated for the
presidency, reached Montpelier In the
evening of July 80, and at the Pavilion
hotel there, where they had quarters,
Douglas made a speech that evening.
They left Montpelier the following morn
ing at 8 O'Clock, but, brief aud busy as was
Douglas tarry there, he took the trouble
while there of making q personal call
upon Mr.. Eastman, who was then con.
fiued to his house from his last sickness,
and who died less than seven weeks
afterwards. At the time of his death he
was q member of the Democratic Nation
al Committee.
Mr.. Eas. man INDUCED in the writing
of poetry from his college days, and was
frequently invited to deliver some OF bis
longer poems before college and other
societies, but not till 184S, when, from
the press of his own firm Of Eastman
& Dauforth, at Montpelier, the above
m men toned frat edition of bis poems was
issued, that his rank as poet was &C
corded Its merited recognition. His
poems are chiefly Of lyrical nature, and
iu them with equal truth and felicity are
reflected the characteristic features OF
the rural life of New England. Perhaps
the most popular OF his poems ID that
entitled "A PICTURE" one Of the proofs
of It's great popularity being the large
number of snthologiss, recitation books
and other collections Of literary gems in
which It has been reproduced, some OF
the books 10 which It may be found re-
produced being az follows: "A New
Library of Poetry and Song" (edited BY
William Cullen BryanO; "Ths Firesidt
Ency yclop@dia of Poetry" (edited BY
Henry T. Coates); "Child Life" (sditet
BY John G. WhittIer); "Cyolop@dia o
| American Literature" (edIted by Ever
A. and George L. Duyckinck); 9TH
Poets and Poetry Of America" editet
by Rufus W. Griswold); "Golden Poems
(edited by Francis r. Browns);. "a
Treasury OF American Verse" (edited b.
Walter Learned); "One Hundred Choic
Selections, No. Z" (edited BY Phinea
GarretD; "a Library OF America
Literature" (edited by Edmund Clsrenc
Stedman and Ellen Msckay Hutchinson)
. and 1.-THE Poets of Maine" (edited b
3 George Bancroft Grifith). His poer
. entitled ''Dirge" 10 reproduced 10 "a
American Anthology" (edited BY Ed
I mund Clarenoe Stedmap), In "One Hur
dred Choice Selections No. 9" (sdite
j. BY Phineas Garfett), In "The Hous'
. ho,d RooL NJ poatrvH fadIted nv Oharle