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Show OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.-The poet, who of all that ever lived, knew best the desires of humanity, has told us that among the things which old age delights in is troops of friends. We venture to say that since the world began there have not been many who have had more reason to be content in this respect than Dr. Holmes, who reaches today the threshold of old age. Among those who know him personally we do not believe there is one who is not his well-wisher, and tens of thousands, all over this broad continent, in the land which has given to us our language and in its world-encircling colonies, regard him with affection. And well they may. For his sunny humor has cheered them in moments of depression and anxiety, his rare common sense has guided them amid the perplexities of life, and his cheerful optimism has made them think better of their fellow-men. During the larger part of his three score years and ten his pen has been as busy as though his sole occupation was to write. Yet it has been only in the intervals of professional work that he has used it. The skilled and indefatigable physician, whose presence has brought comfort to so many sick chambers, has found time to write poems that the world will not willingly let die, has charmed us with his graceful prose, and bestowed his wit and apt speech on every social gathering of importance that Boston has seen for two score years. He is not of the kind that rusts out, and we are sure that every one of our readers will echo our wish that he may live in health and happiness for a score of years to come.-N. Y. Mail. |