The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12
OBITUARY..

Died, March 20, 1850, Mt his residence in Pu-
laski, Oswcgo Co. N Y, Of inflammation Of the
lungs, Mr.. RALrH FRENcm, in the CD year of his
age
Mr.. French possessed from his youth weak,
frail constitution. The last twenty-five years Of
his life he suffered much from the asthma--some-
times almost to sufiooation. His habits were
strictly temperate in all things. Possessing an
amsble, quiet, peaceful and benevolent spirit, he
often overtaxed his energies in his efforts to
awaken slumbering community in behalf Of the
great reforms Of the day, for in those reforms he
was eminently pioneer. In 1916 he became in-
tcrested in religion. lie felt that Christians of
all denominations ought to and must cease oppos-
ing each other, and unite in the great object Of
securing the worlds reformation. Accordingly,
he attempted almost single-handed. to awaken an
interest with regard to the evils Of War. When
warned to do military duty, he always refused,
saying that he would never learn to shoot or JactsT
his )eliow-pen, but would pay the fine imposed by
law. In 1927 he Was one Of the three individuals
who had the moral courage TO stem the universal
ity Of public opinion in the place in which he
lived, and to oppose, with uncompromising hos
tility, every use Of Intoxicating liquors as bey-
erage. He was one Of those who first formed
Peace and also an Ant.Slavery Society in Pulas-
XII. Ia view Of their exceeding unpopularity, he
believed that his feeble efforts were necessary to
aid in their establishment When reminded of his
very Feeble health, and urged TO take more pop
ular stand in his efforts to do good, he replied
No. time is too precious TO court popular APP
plause, and too short to do much good" Thus he
lived-eyer bold active, and daring in the main
tenance Of right and the combating OF wrong,
| to the close of his life. He then died In peaee,
without u struggle or a groan. The sermon
preached Mt his funeral WIS founded upon the
text, "Blessed are the peacemakers" His tomb
stone bears the inscription, Blessed are the
peaccmakers,n and we humbly trust that he Is
now enjoying the pcacemaker's reward, AZ well as
that Of the friend to the oppressed.
An lRIsu MoDg OF SERVING WRIT-Tgo or
three days since an Irish gentleman, whose so
lic,or had vainly endeavored 10 serve writ OH
an I'M. p. for an Irish borough, who resides at
the west end OF the metropolitan suburbs, hit
upon the following mode Having sealed stone
bottle with an imposing crest, and marked it
"potheen," he forwarded it by an intelligent lad
OF thirteen, who was previously well instructed,
as present from friend In the West End, with
directions to be delivered only to himself The
bait took. The old Irish follower, who acts az
duenna to Mr.. -, as his guardian against tho
captivating approaches Of bailffs, did not think
there was anything TO apprehend from ohild
bearing n bottle of the nativep She never read
Virgil, and knew nothing OF "Timeo Danaos'
The master was called, and the present handed
duly over "There Is a note, l believe In the
wrapper, sr,p observed the messenger perhaps
| IL would require an answer The ex-M r IN
aid the newspaper Ia which the present was fold
ed, and took out an envelope "There's . writ in
that sir,p cried the youngster "you're served"
and bounding through the passage, was out Of
sight In an instant while the ex-senator looked M
II he Was converted into stone. Molly, with a
wet dish-cloth, which she aang amer the lad,