The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-03-14

district who desire the paper Will kindly
notify other dealers to deliver it at their
houses.
William McAvoy.
Five or six years ago, nervy-looking
little man stepped out from the Third Dis
trict, and made announcement to the peo-
pie of the county that be intended to be
their Surrogate. He had scarcely been
heard Of then, outside of the lines of his
district, but among the active men in that
section of the city he was known for his
mingled holiness and shrewdness. The
little gladiator had scarcely thrown down
the glove before he made himself felt in
the fray. There was no blow or buster
about his movements; men heard SO little
about him, in fact, that they had almost
forgotten that he was in the race. But
when the delegates met, they were found
to be almost unit in bis favor The
nomination was achieved without appar-
emit effort, and when the vote had been
counted, it was seen that be had achieved
his election, too, by handsome majority.
Ever since then, William McAvoy has
been large factor in Hudson County
politics No movement has been under
taken by his friends without first asking
his advice. No movement has been dared
by his enemies without first learning how
he would treat it. His influence has been
felt in every Convention that has since as
sembled in the coudty. He has been power
in the making of all nominations. Many
of them he has dictated. He was SO active
10 SO many directions that when he asked
denomination, be met the combined oppo-
silion of scores of defeated knights, and
it seemed as though he would not be able
to Withstand the pressure exerted against
him. But when the Convention met, ihe
was seen still to be master Of the situation,
and as by the voice Of one man, the DELE
gates put him before the people second
time for their suffrages. No one needs to
be told of the result. 1t was an uphill
road for himto travel, but he was born for
the conquest; and his second notable trl-
umph was achieved.
He went into the contest however, with
cloud on his spirits. In the first battle
his judgment had been steadied and his
arm nerved by a wife who was dearer to
him even than all the pursuits of his ambi-
ton. Before the line had been formed for
the second struggle, she was gathered with
the dead. We know that from the sense
of that bereavement he never recovered.
1t was eyer present to him, sometimes
Christening him. sometimes making him
reckless of his own welfare. Its effect on
his health was as palpable as its effect on
his spirits. He was in no physical condi-
ton to bear the anxiety and labor of the
canvass; and when it was over, his con-
stitution had been SO badly racked that he
was forced to seek new strength In travel
and diversion. He started for Bermuda.
but he would not leave business long
enough to complete the trip, and he
returned to his desk from Florida, He
seemed well when he was welcomed back
by his friends, but there was an unhealthy
pallor on bis face, his dark eye had lost
some Of its lustre, and his intimate friends
could discern signs of growing weakness
In his manner and conversation. While
he bravely held himself still equal to any
task be had ever accomplished, not even
admitting to himself that he needed rest
and care, it was plain to those who knew
him well that he was failing; and when
pneumonia attacked him, it found him an
easy prey.
The Wilderness of his influence will be
shown in his death. His sudden taking
OH arouses personal sympathy in very
many households in this community, and
personal interest in very many others.
Countless strings, fallen, unwarned, from
his nerveless grasp, fly loose ends in the
air. for want of guiding hand. Each Of
them reached a question of State, or
nodded a line of policy, or decided the
individual fate of scores of men. None Of
them cauld be relinquished without com
motion. The sudden relinquishment of
all may produce quiet revolution that
only experienced public men may ade-
quately measure, but none the less marked
because they are less easily perceptible 70
the popular eye.
The man who thus boldly stepped among
the political gladiators and babe them all
make way for him was unlettered, and il
be was sometimes impulsiye and hot
headed, he knew the value Of friendship,
lived scrnpuiously up to all his obligations,
and was warm-hearted and generous t, a
fault