River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-06-10
ELEVEN YEARS AGO.
Address of Grover Cleveland at the death
of Oscar Folsom.

1t is now nearly eleven years since
President Cleveland, then a practicing
lawyer, delivered the following touch
ing and eloquent address at the meet
ing of the Buffalo Bar association upon
the death of Oscar Folsom, his most
intimate friend, the father of the lady
who has just become his wife.
1T has been said Light sorrows
speak-great grief is dumb, and the
application Of this would enforce my
silence on this occasion. But cannot
go so far, nor let the hours pass with
out adding a tribute of respect and love
to my departed friend. he was my
friend in the most sacred and complete
sense of the term. have walked with
him, talked with him, eaten with him,
and slept with him-was he not my
friend?
Il must not, dare not, recall the
memories of our long and loving friend
ship. And let not my brethren think it
amiss if | force back the thoughts that
come crowding TO my mind. | shall
speak coldly of my friend, but the
most sacred tribute Of sad heart, be-
lleve me, is unspoken.
''ln the course of a life not entirely
devoid of startling incidents | can
/ truly say | never was so shocked and
overwhelmed as when | heard on Fri
day night of the death of Oscar Folsom.
| had an engagement with him that
eveni3g, and was momentarily eX-
pecting him when | received the in
telligence of his injury; and before /
reached the scene of the accident /
was abruptly told of his death. l
shall not attempt 10 describe my
emotions. Death seemed so foreign to
this man; and the eXurberance of his
life was so marked and prominent that
the idea of his dying or death seemed
to me incongruous and out of place.
And before / saw him dead 1 found
myself rejecting How strange he
would look dying or dead.
Il had seen him in every other part
in the drama of life-but this-and for
this he seemed untitled.
His remarkable social qualities
won for him the admiration of all with
whom he came in contact. while his
great kind heart caused all to love him
who knew him well. He was remark
ably true in his friendship, and having
really made friend, he grappled him
with hooks of steel. ODen and frank
himself, he opposed deceit and indi-
rectiOn. His remarkable humor never
had intentional sting and though inn
pulsive and quick, he was always just.
In the practice of his profession andSin
the solution of legal questions he saw
which was right and just, and then eX-
pected to find the law leading him di-
rectly there.
is it not strange to find joined to
a iovial disposition kind and gener-
Gus heart, but he had besides these a
broad and correct Judgment. and a
wonderful knowledge of men and
affairs, and the instances are numerous
in my experience when his strong COM
nonsense has aided me easily through
difficulties Such was nv friend.
The sadness of his taking of has
no alienation. shall not dwell upon
the narrowing circumstances. On Fri
day afternoon Oscar Folsom, in the
midday of life, was cherishing bright
anticipations for the future. Among
them he had planned home in an adj
Joining town, where he calculated upon
much comfort and quiet. He bad al
ready partially perfected his arrange
menIs, which were soon to be FULLY
contaminated Within forty eight
short hours he reached the town of his
anticipated residence. But God had
interviewed. The hands of loving
friends bore him to a home, but not @ he
home he had himself provided. He
found peace in the home that God pro-
vides for the sons of men, and quiet,
all, such quiet!-in the grave. | know
how fleeting and how soon forgotten
are the lessons taught by such calami-
ties. The gay will laugh, the solemn
brow of care plod on, and each one
as before pursue his favorite phantom.
But il seems to me long, long years
will intervene before pleasant memoir
les of his life will be unmingled with
the sad admonitions furnished by the
death of Oscar Folsom.
Let us cherish him in loving remem-
brance, and heed well the lesson of his
death. and let our tenderest sympathy
extend to a childless father, widowed
wife. and fatherless child.