Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-05-13
COMMUNICATED.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nav 8, 1873.

10 JOHN r. KING, ESQ, DEAR SIR !:
The sincere and widespread sorrow
which the death Of Col. Jas. s. Downs
has caused, is not confined to your COM
munity, county or State, but is shared
by many Outside their limits, who, hav-
ing had the happiness of his acquaint-
anee, had learned to appreciate and ad-
mire his truly noble and humane ma
ture with all its glowing and ''imperi-
Gus" charities. The loss by death of
carly friends-to mark the falling away
one by one of ones cctemporaries, is
the calamity of long life-a calamity
which those advanced in years must per
force accept, as the necessary condition
of their being. But to see
"Rerersed our natures kirdlier DOOM
in the sad and sudden taking away of
the good, young and highly gifted, is
to declining life a grievous and immed-
icable wound.
For the merited eulogy, and the grace
full and sincere tribute that you have Of
fered to the memory of your late friend
and associate editor, accept my CRATE
full thanks, and if I entwine some fow-
ers in the wreath that you have placed
on his tomb, you will pardon me the
liberty, for it is to me at once a privi-
lege and duty.
Possessing few of the advantages of
birth or a liberal education, Colonel
Downs attained status in. society aud
an eminence in his profession denied to
many of his early friends aud COMPETE
tors. This success was not owing mere
" to the possession of great natural
talents and an aptitude for business,
nor yet to the possession of brilliant
and perennial wit that
"Loved TO play, not wound
nor to plodding industry that ignores
social relations and liberal converse, but
in great part to the number and SINGER
ity of his friendships, while much mis-
cellaneous information and knowledge
of the English classics and acquaint-
ance with polite literature, rendered his
company and society delightful to con-
genial minds. To borrow the language
of great English orator of the last
century:
I'm his friendships, he was not only
disinterested and sincere, but in him
were to be found united all the charac-
teristic excellencies that ever distin-
guished those most renowned for that
virture. In them he was warm, steady
and Interchangeable, where his attach
ment was once placed there it remain
ed or rather grew" A kind and en-
gaging address was united to a prepos-
Sessing exterior,
"And a power of pleasing with ill to please, -
and while lie honored and loved men
of cultivation and honorable aspirations,
he held in contempt the pretenders of
either. To the poor man and to friends
under pressure of adverse circumstan-
ces, he was prompt to extend an open
purse and rescuing hand. Well may
St. Mary's county mourn throughout
all her circles, social and industrial, the
loss of such a citizen. Within my ex-
pericnce, and they embrace nearly fifty
years, no more useful, genial or popular
man has lived among US, or has de-
seconded to the grave more justly hon.
ored and lamented.
His respect for and devotion TO his
poor and humble parents was a trait in
his character worthy of all praise and
imitation. He cherished and honored
them. His thought and conversations
often reverted to them and to the trials
and hardships of his early life, and his
once humble condition.
He was keenly alive to and grateful
for any kindness shown to or eyinced
for him pending his first efforts to rise
in his professions. A refusal to write
an adverse criticism on "a first speech
delivered by him at some 4th Of July
or 22nd of February celebration gave
rise to an acquaintance that ripened
into friendship which death only has
dissolved. The remarks that accom-
panied that refusal he learned / know
not how. There is perhaps too much
leaf and blossom here, but they give
promise of much and good fruit" was
the sincere and lenient criticism made
on that occasion. He oftentimes kind.
ly alluded to it, and would say, "Say
no more, You had it your power at one
time to injure me and wound my feel.
ings, but you refused to do so. / viii
ever remember il"
/ Of the great and enduring loss that
his young family has sustained, and the
poignant grief that consumes one loving
and stricken heart, Icannot trust myself
! To think let aioro 10 write. In prescncs