OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3565, 20 July 1927, Page 2

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

ADDRESS AT LUNCHEON CLUB.

BY REV. J. ERNEST PARSONS,

As the secretary of the Palmerston North Citizens’ Lunch Club (Mr. ,T. H. Stevens) stated at yesterday’s meeting of that body, the Club endeavoured to obtain lectures on every type of subject, but was unfortunate in that it had been found difficult to find lectur. ers who would address the members on what perhaps was the most absorbing subject of all—literature. After hearing the address delivered by Rev. 1 J, Ernest Parsons yesterday the Club may congratulate itself on having unearthed one lecturer who is capable of speaking on that difficult subject with sympathy and understanding. as his address yesterday on Ollivcr Wendell Holmes, fully demonstrated. Mr. H. Christmas was the chairman for the day.

This famous American writer, said Mr. Parsons, was born in 1809, a year of wonderful babies—Charles Darwin. Alfred Tennyson, Gladstone, Abraham Lincoln,.Edgar Allan Poe. Chopin and Mendelssohn. Describing the personal appearance of Holmes. Mr. Parsons said that it had been written of him when only 19 years of age that he was of small stature, and had an exceedingly smooth face. His hair was always most carefully parted, and his coat was always tightly buttoned. He smoked “ most devoutly.” And only a year later than the date of this description he had had his first poems published.

He had at first studied law but had found this " too dry ” for him ~and forthwith had taken up the medical profession. “ His wit,” said the speaker, “is illustrated by the sign he displayed when he set up practise as a doctor—‘.AH favours (and fevers) thankfully received.’” In 1838 Holmes had, been appointed professor of anatomy and physiology at an American College, and in 1845 he was’appointed to a similar position at Harvard Medical School.

Equally at home with both prose and poetry—he had been born and bred among books, said the speaker— Holmes had early had several of his works published. He was most famed, however, for his “ Breakfast Table ” series, which the speaker recommended none of his hearers to miss. His poems, too, had become famous, several of them as had been prophesised when they appeared, living long in the world of literature. AH his works were characterised by a wonderful use of the simile and a remarkable and wholly delightful wit.

At the ripe old of SU it' had been said of Holmes, by Henry Drummond, he is the chirpiest man I ever saw. He has no quarrel with life, and he is pleased with everything and likes to be patted on the back.” A few years later this remarkable arid brilliant man died, happy then as he had been throughout his life.

Throughout the address Rev. Parsonb quoted Extracts from. Holmes’ works, concluding with the final lines of his most famous poeiu.

Mr. J. H. S’evons voiced the Club’s thanks to Mr. Parsons. /