The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-02-15
THE RIVER PRESS.

on the score Of impracticability, dissolved as
it by a magic wand when the irresistible will
and remarkable executive abilities of George
Clendenin were concentrated on its achieve
ment. His latest enter prise, with which we
are all familiar and in which many of you
are interested, strikingly illustrates this. But
owing to his sudden recall, the partly matur-
ed plans OF his busy brain are lett in a some
what chaotic condition they may never be
fully revealed to us. Time alone can now
disclose the extent, magnitude and beEif-
cence OF the interests, purposes and cOncep-
tons involved in his great scheme for the de-
velOpment Of the Barker district and sur
rounding country. Their character, as des-
tined by him, we may never know for
though many Of you are endowed with SINH
lar distinct traits, and possess many of the
individual tokens characteristic of our de-
deceased friend, and which, combined, form
or delineate the clever, accurate, far-seeing
and farreaching business man, you will par
don me for saying that I know none among
US who is able to assume within himself those
concomitant features of ability that were so
peculiarly blended in George Clendenin, and
take his place and complete his plans in the
development of the field from which he has
j Aot uNVnL 0nSAs J. ACAA CAClC Ak AOuTs auus
in saying SO, | disparage none. It requires
not the eloquence of words to gloss over or
bring into relief his deeds they stand forth
and will ever remain living induces of his
genius, q lasting monument of his eventful
life.
George Clendenin was q mar of men, cool,
calm and digni6ed upon all occasions and
under all circumstances and when visited
with affllction he bowed his head to the will
Of Providence and bore his sufferiDgs with
manly courage. And while his death is q
sad loss to our community, we must not for
get that there is one, living, for whose sake
we must speedily blend our sorrow with res
pectful content, and by cur generous tributes
of coincidence endeavor to alleviate the sting
of this double blow. Not many months
since, we joined with them in earnest prayer
over the grave of their child. We know of
the mothers intense grief for the loss of her
only child, and how heroically she strove to
hide her sorrow for her husbands sake.
Then, he was by her side, by his untiring de-
vOtion be aided her to break the ashen crust
Of grief till its mourntul mantle trailed in the
dust of hope and merged into an abiding
faith in the wisdom of Gods decree. No
mere question of convenience, social or per-
sonal, could thereafter affect the bond be-
N"SNh VASUls tAOy v ~ IN uIS0lu Vi
their united hopes, in the JOY and comfort of
each other. Blu, alas, the thread of happi-
ness is now snapped in twain, the wifely
head is bowed in the lonely widows sorrow,
and friends and sy%mpathizers smooth the
green shroud over him che loved so dear.
Painfully we pass over the Solemnity of the
death bed, the awful tenderness Of the part
ing scene between the heroic wife and devOt-
ed husband, and the last fond look of the
glazing eye turned upon her from the very
threshold OF existence. Let us, with q tear
full prayer, draw the veil over the ~recollec-
tons of the bed of death, with all its mute
and stifed grief. Let us strive to comfort
the stricken one let US weave q chaplet of
flowers DER her sorrow, entwine upon her
brow the garland of sympathy in this her
great afhiction, and help to heal her broken
spirit with oar tender tributes of regret.
George Clendenin is no more, the icy hand
of death is laid upon bis heart, his poor dust
lie returning to the dust from which it was
taken, but he will still live in the affections
of his friends. With %undisguised regret we
saw the bier pass by, and with profound sor-
row we followed the respected form that it
bore to its final resting place, the grave. He
has now gone from amongst us. and we can
only hope that he will receive the eternal
reward of a good man.
Green be the turf above thee.
Friend of our better days;
None knew thee but TO love thee,
Nor named thee but to praise.
When Judge Tat,an had concluded the
choir sang the sweet, familiar ''Rock of
Ages" the assemblage rising and many of
them joining in the beautiful hymn. The
chairman then put the resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted by a rising vote,
and while the people were still standing the
Rev. w. A. james dismissed them with the
benediction.
And SO closed the last scenes in the univer
sal tribute which the people of Benton and
Of Barker paid to the memory of the man
who had been called from their midst. We
simply repeat the words with which we CON-
menced his inadequate portrayal of the loss
which this community has sustained, "a
good man gone," and add, 'Peace to his
ashes"
Resolutions Of Respect.