Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1867-01-31
For the Free Pres.
In EIeinoriani.

and philosophers from the earliest antiquity that
we should not for their own sake lament the
death of the good, whether it be that of the in
roceut child who has been taken from among us
ere his guilcless heart has been touched by the
canker worm Of sin, or his little barque just
launched as it were upon the troublous tides of
lifes ocean, has encountered the perils and storms
of the open sea- or whether it be that Of the vir-
tuous man who having passed the dangerous
shoals and quicksands of youth and successfully
battled with the tempests of maturer age, I'M
scathed and undismayed, is at last called upon,
at the appointed hourto forsake his struggles up
on the tossing sca of an ever dangerous Time,
and enter into the calm and peaceful haven of a
safe Eternity.
Epaminondas the Theban patriot, having been
asked by some ofhis friends whether he, Chabrias
or Iphicrates deserved to be most esteemed, re-
piled TO them, "You must ir,! see US die, before
that question can be answered. How trueitis,
and at the same time how sad the reflection to
US that are yet battling amid the trials and dam
gers of the world, that no one can be pronounced
really happy or virtnous, until death has set its
seal upon his life, and thus determined its char
acter forever.
Man does not live for himself, alone his nfu-
ence and example, whether for good or evil, af.
fects to greater or less degree all with whom he
may he thrown into contact, hence, when those
that have held pro .ninsnt and influential positions
during their life, by reason of their talents or
other accidental advantages are taken from US,
in spite of the old bat erroneous maxim that
nothing but what is good should be spoken of
the dead, it is but proper that the life ola bad
man should be used as beacon light to warn
others against the rocks upon which its unhappy
possessor was wrecked, while the example o. the
virtuous should serve as an invitation and q
guide star to havens Of rest and peace.
Such an example and such a guide star, the
writer of this brief but heartfelt tribute to the
virtues of beloved and lamented friend,
would point to in the memory of the Hon. JAMES
Dixon ROMAN whose recent death has already
been noticad and commented upon in the journ-
ais of the town. Gifted with mental endowmcnu
of the hghs,: ORDER possessed Of all those virtue,
that dignity and render eminent the man and T. e
citizen in the various walks of life, whether pub
lie or private, and adorned with those lighter
graces of manner and disposition, that attracted
around him 40 large circle of admiring friends,
Mr.. Romans life in this community has been one
OF marked prominence and usefulness lie was
admitted to the Bar of this county in March
Term, 1884, where he pursued his profession
with distinguished ability and success until a
few years before his death when he retired from
active practice.
As Il lawyer he was distinguished by the re-
marsable clearness and capacity OF his mind -
Any Industrious student of binary abilities but
gifted with energy and perseverance, may be-
come successful practitioner, AMI in time may
occupy respectable all even n high posi-
ton in the ranks Of his profession, but Mr.. Ro-
MN in addition to the essenta! qualifications OF
application, energy and perseverance,, possessed
Others that rendered hin lawyer of an entirely
different and higher grade; his mind with intui-
tive force appeared to grasp AMI thoroughly COM
prshena the principles and reason of the law
in their fall scope and in all their veriel spp!ica
tioss.
But It is not AZ lawyer alone, tina. M. Roman
has been prominent and dstir -uished m.a in
orr community. Tue ability WITH whicl, he has
acted for the past fifteen yssrJ as President of the
h:gsrssown Bank, during avery difficult and
critical period of its financial history, and the
high cred 1T and satisfactory condition in which
he has left the affairs Of thst Institution, are well
known and appreciated by the public generally.
WMr Romsn represented this district in the 3jth
Congress of the United States with fidelity and
distinction. lie was also member of the Peace
Convention that sassem5lei in Washington,
in fhn ri IF A.
the dire calamities then impending over the land
which subsequently eliminated In the disastrous
civil war, that desolated so many family altar,
filling the land with fratricidal strife and s,tura-
ting many battle field with haternal blood.
His public spirit AMI lberaIity were amongst
the striking characteristics ofOur departed friend
Foremostin every useful enterprise, and work of
public improvement, such was the energy with
which he WAS wont to accomplish every thing he
undertook, that the mere knowledge ofhis being
interested in any project of the kind; seemed at
once to inspire aud secure the public confidence.
The Hsgerstown Telegraph Company and the
Arlington House works of this Sort both
OF which in great measure owe their inception,
and completion to his zeal and enterprise.
His charity and generosity to the poor are we'll
knowa in our midst. Amongs; the last acts of
his life was tine recent donation of five thousand
dollars to the poor of this town. By this, and
numerous other exercises of a benevolent heart
and an open hand he has earned an undyinp
claim to the admiration and gratitude Of the suf-
fern3 and the needy, and though m my of his
good deeds were done in secret, we trust and
hope tina; Our Father who seeth in secret hath
already rewarded him openly.
For many years previous to his death, Mr..
R'man was afflicted with painful aud compli-
Gated disorder which he bore with patience and
fortituie, AMI during the long period of his en-
tecoed health, he attended to the usual vocat ions
OF his business, with undated vigor of mind and
anms'irci ehecrfulness of spirit. His last ill
ness. was but for few days duration, and it
seemed as if in compensation for long years of
suffering, God had granted him quiet and q
peaceful ead and when the hual summons came
so calmly did he pass away, that his weep
ing friends who stood ar,u,J k,o,v ,,....i