The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-28
Terms SS per assssssns, i,s adeanoe.
A Good Life.
lFrom the New York Tribune.l


,, should our neurology be confined to men
;,',ne ,one wnom some special gift or service has
invested with certain amount of fame? The
contemplation Of distinguished lives is not al
ways eieVating or encouraging TO the great
mass OF undistinguished men. hut we can
never be too often presented with the record
OF honesty that never sweryed. of simnle d,,-
ties always faithfully performed. of stead fast
principles that never excluded charity. and of
Christian love that never grew cold. These
qualities always centred in the peaceful, com
Piete and harmonious life upon which de-
sire to lay one leaf OF remembrance.
On the 9th of March, upon his farm, near
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, JOIN AeNEw
died. On the 10th he was buried in the eem-
etery at Longwood, beside beloved son and
daughter. He was simple farmer and knew
no other world but that Of the quiet commu-
nifty in which the 72 years of hIs life were
spent. In that world, however, he was a per
manent moral power. Never asserting him
seli, always shrinking from prominence above
ms nelghbors, in any form, few could guess
the full influence of his quiet example. the
wide, warm atmosphere of his tender human
lty, until he was suddenly called away from
among them. With good intellectual powers,
ana fresh, active, inquiring spirit, which
kept pace with all the moral and political de-
deiopments of his time, his distinctive auali-
ties were, nevertheless, his natural rectitude,
and unconscious goodness. He never profess
ed virtue, but pas it. 141es4I - SHa
One of the very first to join the anti-slayery
movement in the days of Benjamin Lundy,
and mistaken in his adherence during the
time of trial, no bitterness toward even jts
fiercest enemies ever alloyed his principle.
One OF the very first, also, to enlist in the
cause OF temperance, he stood firm amid all
changes of sentiment, neither joining in the
outcry against individuals who stood aloof
from the movements, nor expressing severer
feeling than pity for the excesses it endeayor-
ed to heal. The too common fault of profess
ed retormers-that Of charging moral delirl-
quency upon those who do not accept their
views-was never his. The sense of his hui
man brotherhood was too deep and strong
his nature was too simply pure and modest, to
claim any moral ascendency over his fellow
men. He was not rich enough to give great
deal oil money, but he gave, on every side,
help, counsel, encouragement No man ever
doubted his word, no man ever wished him an
injury. ar 81 .a,a-et.El -l.Tll z
During the most stringent rule of the Fugi-
tive Slave law, he never failed to speed the es-
Gaping slave on his Northward way. Yet,
while staunchly demanding both Liberty and
Right for the Colored Race, he avoided that
other fault of overlooking their present imper-
hopes of social equality. BY them he was uni-
versally mourned. They came from long dis
tances to look upon his remains, and it would
have given an added happiness to his last days
to have known how many of them sorrowed
beside his grave.
The contemplation Of such life refreshes
our faith in the natural elements of Coed in
Man. His sphere was limited and secluded
but he filled it completely, nobly, and with q
light that shall linger long behind. BE was
ambitious only to be true; he was proud only
to be beloved. Therein he found the secret
Of perpetual youth. During the thirty years,
from early childhood up, that have known
him, he never grew day older in heart or
brain. He bore sorrows with sweet resigna-
ton, troubles with serene patience, and took
the simplest joy as special bounty. Hence
bis life was happy as it was good, and grief
Tor his death Is almost taken away because 1t
SO beautifully rounded beautiful existence.
March 20, 1896. BAYARD TAYLOR.