Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-12-22
PARTING WITH REGRET.

Parting with friends has its sad.
ness and sorrow, and what better
or dearer friends have men than the
business or occupations they have
pursued for a lifetime; and of no call.
ing is this more true than of the
newspaper business. Once engaged
in even as o printer, it has its iasui.
nations that hold men through ev.
cry fortune or misfortune; and even
if relinguished for time, the love
and desire to get back to the old
haunts become ruling passion
strong unto the end of life.
What thoughts must not come to
the mind of him who lays down the
stick and the pen, after the eye has
grown dim at the work, aud the
hand feeble with the toll OF years
Yet every period of life has its com.
forts and consultations that we know
not of until they come to us as the
reward of perseverance, aud the per.
Torrance of every duty.
So must it be with newspaper
men, the same as with higher pur.
suits or lower callings. There is the
same duty in each. Fifty-one years
ago Mr.. n. N. Hoffman began as
printers apprentice in AIorgantown.
He has completed his course, and
after long years Of faithful work, is
seeking that peace which the world
cannot give.
West Virginia journalism will al
ways remember the name Of HoFF
MAN as one of its pioneer lights,-an
example for us ALA memory the
press of the future will delight to
honor.
Whether marble or brass ever
rises to his memory is of little avail !;
there is an indelible inscription in the
minds of his associates, upon the i'm.
perishable tablet of time,--the age
in which he llved,-the impress of
bis lfe's record,-well done, thou
good and faithful servant,-honeSt
labor and an honest life shall bring
thy greatest reward for the days
that remain to the rosary of thy
years in time, and for the reign of
the just in eternity.
The last words of the aged writer
carry the force of life's lesson home
to the fraternity, to prepare us for
the inevitable; and his prophetic
vision scans the future aud finds the
assurance that men live and labor
not in vain -
lam glad to be able to congrat.
ulate the country, the State and the
county upon continued prosperity,
and feel that no more suspicious
time could be selected for laying Off
all cares and responsibilities Incident
to newspaper work. AS o Republi
can it is source Of great satlsiac
ton to know that the State and Na.
ton have again returned toa recog-
milton ofthat party as the embodi.
ment of the best type Of statesman
ship, and the sure protector OF gen
uine democracy and republican in.
stitutions. AS a veteran Of the
evils of warfare, am happy in the
belief that my eyes shall never
again see the blood and smoke Of
battle or my ears hear the discords
of war, involving my countrymen in
carnage, suffering and death. be.
lieve the growing authority of the
religion of "peace on earth and
good will among menu is daily d.
minishing the evil influences that
promp: men to resort to brute force
instead OF reason rs the arbiter Of
their differences.
find myself at an age when the
physical and mental powers of an
active and healthy person should be
in their prime and when employ
ment should bring pleasure and
profit, shattered ia health by the
hardsbips aud exposures in cident to
service in two wars, and as a reward
of patriotism, compelled 10 step
aside from the busy current Of life
and to become an idle observer OF
affairs in which | would gladly con.
time to participate. None but
those who have undergone sim.
liar experience can appreciate the
mental suffering of such case.
Words cannot express it. Sympathy
and kind offices Friends have done
all that could be done to alleviate
and make cheerful the hard lot, but
there remains still the burden and
the gathering gloom that cannot be
evaded or endured by others. This,
with such fortitnde as l may sun
mons from the consciousness OF rec
titnde aud nnselfishness in the dis.
charge of my duties in the relations
OF citizen, soldier and purveyor Of
news, must endure as best / can.
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The Western MARYLAND Railroad