The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-29
LEWIS ID. HAYES.

The death of Mr.. Lewis D.. Hayes removes
from the staff of the Indianapolis Journal
most valued and honored member. Though
fatal result was not unexpected Mr.. Hayes had
made so valiant struggle against disease that
his associates had come to feel it almost a GER
tainty that, after a period of convalescence, he
would return to the work to which he was de-
voted, and which he had performed so faithfully
and 80 we'll for number of years. But that
hope was rudely dispeled by the announcement
of sudden collapse and speedy death yesterday
afternoon.
Mr.. Hayes was in the prime of early manhood;
yet young as he was, he had already made
name for himself that ranked with those of the
best writer's of Indiana. The bent of his nat
ure and the development of his mind were
toward the quieter walks of literature rather
than to the combative. controversial give-and-
take work of political daily newspaper; yet in
the lat ter sphere, when he harnessed his pen to
the task, he could and did WELD trenchant
blows He had an unusually happy faculty of
dressing and redressing the same thought and
fact, so that iteration with him was never wear
some but the repetition came with q freshness
and force that maintained, and not infrequently
heightened, the effect This trait in his writing
was Of great value in a political campaign, and
was used with powerful force during the recent
canvass, when it was the policy of the paper to
narrow the issues before the people to two or
three dominant ones, and to steadily pound away
upon them, fighting it out on that line though
it took all summer. His political writing
clear, concise, impersonal and always dignified;
but. as has been said, this class of work
was rather a duty with him than a
pleasure. He loved books and literature
His liking was to deal with topics
outside the turmoil and strife of political con-
tention. and the editorial columns of the Journal
have for years borne the evidence of his grace
full fancy, his quiet humor, his genial wit. The
poetic vein of his nature was genuine and rich
His contributions in this form to the Journal,
and to other papers, showed the true poetic in
stnct and a finished method. His muse sung
Ito false note and very frequently its wings
scattered from her pictured urn thoughts that
breathe and words that burn"
He was almost singularly retcent. The cir
Gle of his intimate friendships was very circum-
scribed. He knew but few, and there was a
tendency, during late years. to robustness and to
an introspection that threatened to become NOR
bid. But as rule his mind was healthful in
its exercise; whatever there was otherwise was
due largely to physical failing. For long time
he had been subject to heart trouble, which, in
his enfeebed condition from fever and pneu-
monia, was the immediate cause of his death.
He was not given to intimacies he bore his own
troubles silently and with fortitude; yet now
and then the condition of body and mind alike
friendship; and, in the light of yesterdays sad
event, it is evident that these rare occasions
came because of the deepening of the shadow
that finally quenched the light Of life.
Mr.. Hayes leaves a daughter of about twelve
years of age. to whom the whole wealth of his
nature went out in pride and love. His mother
and sisters live in Attica, where his remains will
be buried and for this mother and these sisters he
felt deep and tender affection, evinced in many
transformations but chiyalric ways. Gentle by
nature, honest in impulse, affectonate in spirit,
amiabe in manner, true in friendship, faithful
in duty, conscientious in work, preferring others
to himself always, pursuing 1.-The even tenor of
his way along the cool, sequestered vale of life"
this was the character of the man whose death
his associates of the Journal mourn, and whose
memory they will ever cherish.