Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-02
SAMUEL WILLIAMS.

The death of Samuel Williams, one Of
the editors of the San Francisco Bulletin, il
announced. He may be said to have died
in harness, as too many journalists do. A
few months ago he sustained stroke oil
paralysis complicated with apoplexy, and
though hopes of his recovery were at one
time entertained, the shock has proved
fatal to him. He was fifty.four years Of
age, and had been an active journalist for
some thirty years. He was a graduate OF
Williams College, a practical printer, a
ripe scholar and highly gifted writer. As
reviewer he had contributed largely to
the popularity of the journal with which
he was connected. As an editorial writer
he exhibited both force and keen judg-
ment. He was a most conscientious and
interchangeable worker, and his so.called
leisure hours were commonly employed in
the preparation of matter for which his
working-day had proved too short. A
genial, amiable, delightful friend and
companion, perfectly upright, truthful,
sincere and frank, his life was devoted
to the enforcement of those views which
appeared to him to he most Just
and useful. He was member
of that silent and scarcely recognized
army of faithful teachers who are
content to sink their individuality in jour-
nalism, and who, after performing more
laborious and telling work in ten, fifteen,
or twenty years, than nineteen.twentieths
of the so-called learned professions accom-.
plish in a life time, too often sink exhausted
in the midst of their ceaseless toll,
and pass into oblivion unnoted save by some
few lines of perfunctory regret in the
columns of the journal which has
drawn sustenance from their life
blood. 1t is the lot of the most
active and conscientious journalists to live
unrecognized and die unnoticed. The
great machine to which they have sub
mitted themselves clashes on monotonously.
The gap is filled, no matter in what
The toiler who has fallen is speedily left
behind and forgotten, and over his name
less grave there fall only the tears of the
few who, bound to him by the sacred
domestic ties, know whatEit is to lose the
husband and father. Yet it may be that
the silent, retired journalist who never
cared to push his way into " society"
who found his pleasure in the bosom
of his family and in the sweet
solace of Literature obtained all the
recognition for which he cared, or which
could have brought any satisfaction to him.
For there comes a period in the life of
every man who devotes himself to study
and reflection, and who lives by the
constant exercise of his literary powers,
when the rewards of popular applause, the
sweets of Office, the incense of what is
called Fame, the opinion of the multi
tude, seem fat, stale and Improbable, and
when there appears to remain nothing
better or higher in life than the steadfast
pursuit of that knowledge and Truth
which ever have been and will be
"caviare to the general. " Samuel Williams
was no cynic, but he had passed the stage
at which there is amusement to be found
in mingling with the crowd. Yet he i'm
pressed whatever was good in his character
upon the community constantly, and there
fore he was no recluse. His influence and
example were wholly pure and benefi.
cent. He had warm friends, and no ene-
mics but the enemies of his journal. There
are not many better men, and ADLER jour-
nalists are very rare.