New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01


dramatic critics, died last night at his
home, in New Brighton, Staten Island,
of heart disease. Mr.. Winter, who for
many years was dramatic critic Of The
Tribune, was eighty-one years old.
The man who was beloved by stage
folk throughout the world had con-
tinued the literary work he loved even
after repeated attacks Of angina pee
toris prevented him from leaving his
bed. Il was not until June i that he
became so weak that he was unable TO
longer continue his writing.
Even for a lew days after that he
insisted on debating to a stenographer.
He was first stricken on February g..
1916, and from that time on his health
gradually gave way. lie was uncon-
scious when the end came.
William Winter was born on July 10,
1886, in Gloucester, Mass, the son Of
Charles Winter and his wife, Louisa
Wharf Winter As a boy Re had a
bookish turn Of mind, even in his earli-
est years. He read freely whatever he
could find at homo, devouritg Young'S
Might Thoughts" the poems OF Henry
Kirke White, THE Sorrows of Ner-
Their" and, most of all, Shakespeare.
BY the time he was eleven he had be-
gun to write, and for lack OF other
confdant would read his productions
10 the sympathizing old servant of the
household. That household was pres
entity moved to Cambridge, and Winter
was placed in the high school. then IN
the full enjoyment of its fame. He
went through its course and was grad
uated in 1852. After his graduation he
entered the Harvard Law School and
received the degree of Ii. Is.
Influenced by LongfelIow
lie took to public speaking at an
early date. While m Cambridge Mr.
LongfCllow bee. nc attracted and gem
timely attached to the brilliant youth
and Influenced him TO go into the abo-
lition movement. He was fiery ana
ardent orator and went through the
Fremont campaign with tremendous
enthusiasm. This public speaking grad
ually led to his giving lyceum lectures
on literary subjects. Mr.. Longiel!o%
took the deepest interest in his WORK
and stood 10 him, indeed. as literary
SPONSOR Winters first volume, col
Boston in 1854 mostly trash" he
called i. long after was dedicated to
Iongfellow. and "for that reason" as
the author was wont TO say, 1t had
considerable success.
Mr.. Winter was married on December
s. 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Campbell,
Young writer of stories. born at Eder.
line. Loeb Awe. Scotland. She had good
looks and talent, but In worldly goods
was in the same condition Us her lover
They "had nothing" said Mr.. Winter
once, in recalling those days, and we're
quite willing TO divide the same. ne
little household had many a struggle
with poverty at first. The tide was not
long in turning, however In 1901
George William Curtis. whom winter
had met in 1854 or 1855 at Longtel-
lows. recommended the young poet TO
William Young, proprietor OF The Al
b;on," a paper with Southern anIila-
tions and having a pronounced Top,
Derhead" tone. But with the political
course of the paper Mr. Winter had
nothing 10 do. He became its dramatic
critic. and was presently made BOOK re-
viewer and assistant editor. Salaries
gore small in the middle century days,
hut the work was congenial and popu-
lar; the young man was IN spiehuia
health and in the happiest spirits, ana
Inc world went very well with HIM
Ills dramatic articles, written over the
SIGNATURE of "Mercutio," IN a vein at
once vigorous and poetic, attracted
vi6e attention, and in the midsummer
Of 1885 he Joined the staff of The ! rlo-
rre. being appointed TO the post OF ora
matte critic. His career thenceIorth
developed along lines practically set-
lied. but his range was always "lue'
lie wrote not only dramatic CRITICISMS
Int innumerable miscellaneous papers,
hook reviews. editorials, comic verses
eouibs. parodies, letters o: travel and,
of course, poems.
English Sketches in The Tribune
lie was, indeed, ever poet ana ~
was with a poets eyes tnat ne saw
England when he visited that country
Tor the first time in 1877 and wrote tne
sketches. first published in The IT'D
mo. which in 1873 were gathered 10
ether in book form, under the utle
of "The Trip TO England and nave
since not only had wide popularity
both here and abroad. but have largely
irGuenced other writers on the land-
ecano charms and historical and III
crarv associations of England. Mr.
Vinter made many subsequent jour
news 10 that country, where he pos
sessed the friendship OF some OF the