Clarence Cook

“ When all earth’s weeds were flowers;
Dear memories of the loved ones far away
Whom yet we hope to greet some happy day;
Dear memories of the travellers from Life’s shore,
Whom we shall greet again, ah! nevermore. ”

“ Oh never yet so glad a sight has met
These eyes of mine! Depart, before the snows
Of hastening winter thy fringed garments wet.
Thine azure flowers should never fade nor die,
But bloom, exhale, and gain their native sky. ”

“ And sang their summer song.
You only see the sheeted snow
That covers grass and tree;
The frozen streamlets cannot flow,
No bird dares sing to thee.
Look out upon Life’s summer days
That fade like summer flowers ”

“ He thought upon his brother Zimri’s lot,
And said, “He dwells within his house alone,
He goeth forth to toil with few to help,
He goeth home at night to a cold house,
And hath few other friends but me and mine
(For these two tilled the happy vale alone) ,
While I, whom Heaven hath very greatly blessed,
Dwell happy with my wife and seven sons,
Who aid me in my toil, and make it light;
And yet we share the harvest sheaves alike ”

“ Again my soul her quest began—
“Must I too fall beneath the ban?
And, if I die not in thy death,
Where shall I live who am but breath?
XXVI
“When the frame stiffens into stone,
And death and it are left alone,
And round about it in the grave
The rat shall gnaw and winds shall rave,
{25}
XXVII
“Shall I within the dwelling stay
To watch above the heap of clay,
And while the dreary ages roll
Lie housed in earth, a prisoned soul?”
XXVIII
If this be Hell, to sit and hear
The hum of life from year to year,
Yet have no part nor lot in all
That men do on this earthly ball,
XXIX ”

“ September 8th, Clarence Chatham Cook born at Dorchester, Massachusetts.
1849
Graduated at Harvard College.
Studied architecture for a season. Then became a tutor. Lectured on Art and gave readings from Shakespeare’s plays.
1852
Married Tuesday, October 26th, to Louisa De Wint Whittemore, widow of Samuel Whittemore of New York City.
1863
Began a series of articles published in the New York Tribune, on “American Art and Artists.”
1864
Editor of The New Path, a pre-Raphaelite journal published in New York. ”

“ Returned to the United States and renewed his connection with The New York Tribune.
1874
Wrote the text of a heliotype reproduction of Dürer’s “Life of the Virgin.”
1878
Completed “The House Beautiful” and edited, with notes, the translation of Lübke’s “History of Art.”
1884
Editor and proprietor of The Studio, a monthly magazine of art published in New York.
1886
Published an illustrated work in three large volumes entitled “Art and Artists of Our Time.”
1900
Clarence Chatham Cook died at Fishkill-on-the-Hudson May 31, aged 72 years. ”