Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-04-05
In Memoriam of John F. Peter.


On Tuesday last, a grassy slope in tn
beautiful cemetery of Oak Hill, near th
Chapel, whilst the birds were singing, will,
flowers Blooming in woodland and meadow
and where the rays of the sun seemed Il
gently linger, as the ever changing sympho
mics and solemn reqniems of Natures choi
swell and die away, we placed to rest the re
mains OF our playmate in childhood. GU
companion and associate in the rosy hours o
boyhood and our adviser and sharer in tn
trying realities and emergencies which hav
overtaken US in the great battle Of life.
And now with faltering hand and hear
overwhelmed with grief, in the same sea,
surrounded by the same scenes, where w
have sat for hours together and told of GU
joys and pleasures, or unused over cares ant
disappointment, until hope mounted the char
riot of manhood and Selling the rens in hanC
drove us into fields glowing with rudd,
spleador-it becomes our painful duty as it /
our sad pleasure TO add an humble but SINGER,
tribute of respect to those noble qualities which
so formed his character, enriched his mind ant
heart, and so shaped and elevated his cours,
through life as TO render him not only an OK.
emplar for the growing manhood with whom
he was thrown in daily contact, but mad,
him the object of love and admiration with
all who knew him--to add parting word ere
the casket Of memory is sealed over one who
was so gifted-so young but not too young
to die.
There are but few upon whom life has
opened so beautifully, or 10 whom the future
seemed 10 hold in reserve so rich a harvest
Just at the very threshold of life with a
character well formed, the dangerous chasms
of youth successfully crossed, with vigorous
mind and beautiful imagination, both of which
have been highly cultivated kind aud gentle
in disposition, pleasant and agreeable in man
ner, entering upon the profession of the law ,
to which he had early evinced u iondness and
in which he was making rapid strides 10 prof.
fessional eminence, he was fast gaining the
confidence of the public and carrying out al
brilliant and successful record when he was
summoned to appear before a higher Court
where honors are more durable and pleasures
unfa6ing.
As writer he exhibited peculiar talent
and. great fondness-bold aud original in thei
conception of his ideas, graceful in their for
nation and select and forcible in the language
in which they were clothed, he never failed
to make lasting and pleasing impression uponE
his readers. His love for the beautiful evincedE
itself in early youth and as his mind expanded
and developed under careful culture and closeE
study, il gave gratifying evidence of the fact
that he had wandered through the rarest andk
newest fields Of literature and drank deep froms
the streams which reflected the glories OF theE
earth and imaged the splendors of the Heaven /
For over year he has assisted in writinpk
for the editorial columns of the SENTINEL
and with what sound judgment and abili-s
~ be brought to bear in the discharge of hish
proper and legitimate duties we leave TO our
friends and the public. or one fact we areR
living witness that in the trying and deli-s
cate positions in which be was often placed
whether in the unmeasured heat of part,
strife or State or County policy or mattersE
personal, he has never written from a selfsls
standpoint or interested motives His iudg-E
ment upon all matters in the editorial depart-h
ment of the SENTINEL was the result of matureE
deliberation. Slow add careful ia the forma.
ton of his opinions, yet when once formed h, !
expressed them with that determination which,
was one of the striking traits of his charac. |
ter.
Retiring and secluded ia his habits he was
slow in the formation of his friendships, butt
when ouce his confidence was given it carried
with 1t every noble impulse Of his generous
nature, and it was only broken when he found;
II had been misplaced.
The setting of a great hope, The blasting of
hitherto bright and unbroken Joy is like tn,
setting of the sun. The brightness OF OUT
life is gone, the shadows ofevening fall around
us like shattered memories and the world
seems but a dim reflection. Eagerly we look
forward into the coming morrow, but id
brings no balm 10 wounded and bleeding
heart; II is ouly when the soul withdra MS
into itself that the stars arise and the night be-
comes holy. So in the midst of the great
grief that encircles the family altar he once
Rladdened with his presence, in the deep
gloom which prevails over our entire commu-
nifty, in the solemn stiffness of the hour let US
feel and know that this great ailliciion comes
from God-it is bis will, it will soften the
blow and lead us TO live purer and better
lives.
The Legislature of this State adjourned on
Mandau MIN ln.l H. G..;.l. IL.