New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-11
Notes from Ilse Capital.
To My TOwnsfOiks CAfar."

| To NV TOwnsfOiks CAfar."
| | am at this moment, my dear towns folks
'afar," in no mood for sharp utteranccs.
| had carefully selected some words of keen
ness with which to handle a matter or so
here that needs the severest overhaulng.
| had gancred up and prepared to give vent
to some Damascus-biaded Moughts, and had
my pen dipped and uplift for the task, when
the illness of valued friend-we shall all
be i'll on some one or other of these days
reached my ear, and dropped all and went
to him. AS he lay there upon his bed, /
said what is man, and what are all the
guided pegeantry Of Earth! How transit
tory is our life how unavailing all our
efforts to the contrary when the summons
for our departure comes. AS l left
that house of sadness, l cannot say that
l did so with the feeling that my friend
Robert II. Booker's summons, was not on the
way for him. went again to his house and
found HIM, in obedience to the summons, -
it had come, though in great bodily pain
fast journeying from home and friends, and
yet nearer and dearer ones--his family to a
better state than ours, and into which he has
finally entered.
Robert ii. Booker has gone, but his exam
pie remains. Hewas one ofthose rare amongst
us would we had more of them-who mind
ed well his own business, and pursued it with
an assiduity that eliminated into light, a
guiRing star, for first attempts at all our in
dustres. He was 4 member of the firm O
Booker & Stewart, BARRIERS, in the highest
sense of that profession. The firm Of Book
er Il Stewart meant business, active business,
business increasingly. They formed co.
partnership over twenty years ago, and sc
continued an unbroken harmonious existence
without ripple of dissatisfaction or dis
content to this present, and only now dis.
solved by death.
In these days of our unrest, and unceas
ing change, and succomb to the dominant race
yet notwithstanding when our young men will
their stou.ht heart and fresh blood are seeking
business which compels development, Ell
sures success. and finally independence; in
these days when our youth require what i,
just HOW loO hCSlCtlCu, Soou tuutS
which cannot be taken from them; in these
days when we conduct so few business
houses here or elsewhere, and evince Sc
little business confidence in each other, ant
so little spirit of business venture anywhere
in these days, l affirm that the firm o
Booker s. .&era,t must ever stand out as
rare example among us to be initiated ant
commended.
AS man selfemployed, Robert II. Book
er's industries were scarcely bounded by hi.
physical ability to perform them. He wa:
ever at his post. In his dealings he wa!
always exact but equally just. AS hus
band and father he was comparable with thu
best among us. His love for his children, a.
l remember, exhibited in many little touch
ing incidents, almost surpassed that of an,
mother. AS friend, he was frank, sincere
steadfast. Under sturdy exterior, kind
gentle, tender, who among us, can ever for
get him: We followed him to the portals o
the grave, but could go no further, ant
could only say JareneU friend and brother
fareweW
More anon,
OLD Boy IN "SpECTs.n