The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-19
OBITUARY.


BOGART.-RoBERT DICKSON BoGART was born
a Pelair near Tallahassee. Fla, on the 1Ith day
of October 1851 and departed this life in Savan-
nah, on the 10Th day OF December, 1887 IN the
thirty-Seventh year of his age. He was the son
of William S Bogart and Jane Henry Bogart.
When in his third year his parents moved TO
this city which was ever afterWard lis home.
He enjoyed and improved exceptionally good
advantages of a liberal education. Fortunate
in the possession of an Intellectual and scholarly
father who placed the highest estimate upon
liberal education, he was favored with the very
best instruction, and was, from the time be was
eleven years of age, pupil at the Chatham
Academy, of which his father was Principal,
and where he was carefully prepared for his
college course. In the fall of 1867 he went TO
the University of Virginia, and spent three
years within its classic walls, careful and sue
Having completed his education. in the latter
part of 1870 he began his business and active
life in the counting house of Andrew Low &
Co. thoroughly furnished for an honorable and
useful career. Anxious to learn business, be
agreed not to charge for his services during the
first year; but at the end of ten months, so
faithful and valuable had he been, that the firm,
of its own motion insisted upon his acceptance
of seven hundred dollars for this period, aud
ever afteTward. until ne went into business for
himself he enjoyed the fullest confidence and
highest appreciation of his employers. being
quickly promoted to the most responsible posi-
tions.
'Tne only public office ever held by Mr. Bogart
was that OF Alderman IN our CITY government.
To this office ne was twice elected, and, as
chairman of the important Committee on
Finance was in the active discharge of his pub
lie duties when stricken by the mortal sickness
" hich terminated his earthly career. 1t is strict
ly true of him that he never il any way by
word or deed, sought Office He not only never
aspired to it, but greatly preferred the private
life of a simple citizen. Modest and retiring,
refined and sensitive. thoroughly domestic, pub
lie office not only did not attract him, but the
conspicuousness and publicity incident to it
repealed him. When. however, he was per-
Suaded that it was his duty to serve the public,
he did not hesitate to accept the trust, and this
acceptance, with him, meant intelligent, CON
scientious and complete service. He took with
him into public life, and there Illustrated them,
the qualities which distinguished HIM in private
life-unbending integrity, the full and undivided
purpose to do his full duty, anda conscientious
ness and all energy which spared no pains
labor in the performance of his duty. But sim
PIE Justice was done him by his colleagues when,
in their recent official notice OF his death. they
spoke of his deceaSe as public calamity" and
gratefully expressed the truth that this com
mupitv he's been much the gamer by his life and
example,
buI il is the private life Of the lamented dead
which most attracts, particularly those whose
high honor il was to enjoy his confidence and
his friendship In his Essay on Friendship"
Cicero represents Scipio as being accustomed To
say That nothing IS so difficult as to preserve
a lasting and uubroken friendship to the end of
life" The writer knew Mr.. BOgart a friend
from earliest childhood, and during large part
of the time possessed his intimate friendship.
Nothing ever occurred, nothing was ever said.
to mar or shake that friendship, but much to
cement and deepen il. There never was truer
friend His disposition was essentially loyal
and pure, describing, utterly, selfshness and
selfseeking. A friend who knew him could not
even harbor suspicion AZ 10 his sincerity or his
steadfastness He could with entire confidence
ALWAYS count upon that friendship under any
circumstances. Honor and right alone limited
its manifestation. Life would be utterly life
1e-g ,rirhC on wi L o,,J
fidelity one might confidently repose, " is an
observation taken from the same nimitable
essay already quoted from. can there be, - It
SuggestiveY asks "a more real cOmplacency
indeed than to lay open to another the most
secret thoughts Of ones heart, with the same
confidence and security as if they were still CON
cealed in his own Thoughts like these come
with potent emphasis IN The shadow OF his loss.
True lrieudS are not common among men. sad
though the truth Is. and this friend was, to his
friends, truth itself.
The deceased was, in the completest and best
sense of the word, gentlemen--a Southern
gentleman. He not only possessed those quail
lies which 90 to make up the real gentleman
anywbere-honor, truth, good manners and
retinemeut-hut also. as fully as any man ever
knew, those which distinguish typical South
eru gentleman of the best class. Of q class Of
which there were once before the inrOads of
what some are pleased to term the progress =
of the present day, much larger number OF
representatives than may now be found, 1t
may be the hurry of the times, the eagerness of
the race for money, and the sharp competitions
of trade which have leSsened the number. but
for some reason, such gentlemen are not now
frequently met Everywhere, not only in social
life, but in his counting room and in the marts
of trade despite its irritationS, he was always
perfectly courteous and polite, He understood
and illustrated the difference between candor
and brusqueness. between plainness AMI rude.
ness Of speech OF great sensitiveness
and dehcacy of feeling himself, he never,
under pretense of false candor or business
laconicisnl. wounded or offended the feelings of
the most sensitive, no matter what their posi-
ton or station in life. 4 beautiful and striking
characteristic--one which gave his manners and
bearing their special charm-was his treatment
of old age childhood and womanhood. Nothing
could have been more deferential and delicate
and purity Here the real gentleman appeared
in his truest and best cblors, snd showed that