Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-03-19
The late N. ID. Erwood. ESQ.

%, 1901:
Such is death, and such the change which
all must experience. IL is we'll that VIC
should keep this solemn fact continuallv
IN mind; too many OF Us live as though
this were our continuing city, our eternal
home we plan and seek gain as tboue n
laying up treasures we should never leave
And yet, We are daily aemonished Of our
mortal nature men Of all ages and ranks
die, some suddenly and some linrer;n,,v
What an admonitiou have we had witb.n
the past few days. in the death Of one Of
our most honored and useful citizens He
departed in the prime Of manhood. in the
midst OF lis usefulness. He had lone hen
resident of this vicinity-he had filled
many OF your chief places Of trust-he was
one OF the guardians Of your city-be had
sought faithfully to promote its interests
and. It Is not, I am sure. saying too much.
TO affirm that, in many respects. the citv Is
indebted 10 his wise and COMMEMORATE
policy. hir broad and just views. his public
and liberal spirit. From nv limited sc-
qusintance with him. il would no, become
me TO speak ct his character IN detail or ne
q whole. We never conversed togetber on
religion or temperance and kuow M,
the rank that should be assigned him. when
judged by the standard Of the Divine Mas.
ter. But may speak of him as he revealed
himself to me in q brief and casual ae-
quaintance. / saw in him certain traits
which commanded my admiration. and of
those traits let me speak freely.
was pleased with his gentlemanly man
ners. tits seldom that we meet one. in any
of the walks Of life, whose bearing is So
courteous, who combined so many of the
graces OF refinement. Ease, dignity and
polish seemed TO be natural TO him thew
did not appear to be assumed, not adopted
for presentation scene, but 10 belono %
him, and 30 make part Of his life. / do
not mean that they we're not the fruit Of
culture, for | do not suppose that any man.
however happily constituted, could resist
the influence Of the unpublished masses. and
attain to a high degree Of perfection in
manners, without effprt. All perfertior i
the result Of study, thought, and applic,-
ton and he is to be commended who seeks
Tor external refinement, as well as he who
seeks for literary or professiona! eminenee.
In saying. therefore. that the deceased was
gentleman, | ascribe TO him no ordinary
excellence. Much OF the pleasure Of life.
and the usefulness of men is destroyed Ly
uncouthness, rnughness, aud III breeding:
and many good men, sensible men, aud
educated men, are greatly injured by a
rowdy air, clownish demeauor, booiish
manner, or by being brawlers, and never
outgrowing the greenness and giddiness of
the boy. SO, too, many a talented man is
injured by his incivility by indulsinp in
a petty spirit Of dictstiOn by oHicious inter
meddling; by overbearing insoIence. or a
peevisb, fractions habit. Peaceful men re.
tire from the presence OF such persons. un>
willing to come in contact with those who
are constantly violating the rules of cnur-
tesy, and trampling on the feelings Of their
peers. A getleman is always civil-civil
to the rich and the poOr-tO those who apree
with him and those who oppose him-ciyiI
when pleased and when dirpIeased. All
love the society Of a gentleman-loye to
trade with him, converse with him, asso-
ciate with him. We cannot then commend
in terms too strong, the mauncrs of GER
tleman. j would rot cay a man cannot he a
christian without this accomplishment for
i have seen good men without polish. and
often giving offence in matters of courtesy.
but this may say, they would have been
better christians, more useful, more agree
able, if they had been gentlemen. Faith
In good manners should belong to every
mans creed
Our 5onored friend was also distinguished
for benevolence he had a heart warm Wi n
sympathy for the poor, and hand ever
open for their relief. Many wore the
prayers that went up for him in buts az
poverty as he lay upon his sick bed and
many were the hearts that sank in despon.
dency when it was announced that he was
no more. The poor lowered around his home
with anxious sOlicitrde. and when he had
breathed his last, they craved the boon If
kneeling by his silent form, locking upon
his face, and Offering by his side a petition
to the Father. Giving to the poor-.erv-
ing the needy! What is more praise
worthy? How painful the condition os the
poor! To want clothing for our children.
and know not whence TO obtain it TO be
! cold, md without fuel when the wind
drives through the creviees of our Nor
hut; to be without means Of subsistence.
and see our helpless ones furnishing for food
what is so distressing? The p0or-,hey
are old, the feeble, and the sick thew
are widowed mothers worn with toll
and wasted with sorrow they are orphan
children whose father sleeps in the grave :.
! they are the Gissipated who have RUNE i
themselves by strong drink BLESSINGS n
the man wh0se heart feels for them and
whose generosity helps them. Well did
the Savior place almsgiving among TIE
! principal virtues. "Come, We blessed. stand
upon my right hand share the blessing,
OF my kingdom, for l was hungry and ye
gave me meat, thirsty, ard We gave m.
drink, slck and in prison. and We visited
me-" Every act Of charity the Savior reck
oned as performed for him; every cup OF
cold water given to the poor. was gwen tc
him. What virtue is higher than that ol
charityf Who can ask any greater honor
than to have the poor, in the prayer OF
grateful remembrance. give praise TO God
for their benevolence? Let this be Line
and l am satisfed-let the aged and the
the sick, the widow and the orphan, breathe
my name in thankful SORROW, and to tbs
proud and naughty resign all other praise
The poor We have always with US, and thei,
call Tor aid is perpetual. Heaven grant
that 1t may never be despised.
This humane spirit gave our friend a ne
cular fitness for the official relation he held
TO those unfortunate men, suffering The
penalty of violated lava. His We've on
the structure Of prisons aud prisoc disei-
| f.'N'' 49, S"thOhti1 uulhne, anu adopted
after full and thorough investisat ton. Ii
has been with me o pnint Of duty to make
myself acquainted with the various systems
for building prisons and governing prison
ers; but never conversed with our friend
without being impressed, not only with the
accuracy of his views, but the extent of
his knowledge. Probably there Is no
! prison that combines more exceIlencies
than ours, and | am happy to know that
the discipline of it is humane-that its
authority rests not merely on power, but
also, on justice. mercy and love that the
prisoners are kindly treated, and the true
objects Of their imprisonment always kept
in view. How much Of this is to be attrlb>
uted to our friend, have no means of say
ing; but that he is entitled to a large share
of the honor, none will question. and we
have special reason for gratitude that such
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