MELVILLE AT HOME. 



479 



'God bless you, old fellows,' was Melville's first greeting, as he 

 sprang among them. 



From Philadelphia Mr. Melville proceeded to his home at 

 Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, and was cordially received by citizens 

 of that town. While in New York he had received from them a 

 congratulatory letter, which closed as follows: 



' But if you have not brought us talcs of new lands and new 

 seas which hide behind the glaciers of the Arctics, there has come 

 to us over that polar messenger, the telegraph, other tidings of 

 frightful sufferings, manfully borne of partial rescue and finally 

 of a self-devotion and heroism in the search for your lost com- 

 rades, that throws a melancholy sweetness over the monotonous 

 agony and the final deep tragedy of the voyage of the Jeannette. 



'The whole civilized world is thrilled to the core with the 

 story of your search for the dead. You, as the leader of that 

 search, have earned a foremost place in the roll of Arctic heroes. 

 And we, your neighbors, in welcoming you back to your home- 

 in common with the rest of mankind accord to you the respect 

 and the homage due to one who holds life as of little worth when 

 duty or humanity calls. May the past years of suffering be atoned 

 for by an unclouded future a future in which no long Arctic 

 night will have a place, but where all will be warmth, and sun- 

 shine, and happiness. "With heartfelt respect we greet you, 

 neighbor.' 



