New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-20

toward that Kind OF vapia ana futile manlIcs'a-
ton. lie himself never spoke unless he had
something t, say, and what he said to the
point and brief as it could be made. lie WAS
model legislator rs he had before been q model
man Of business.
A remarkable thing shout him was the con-
slant openness of his mind to new impressions
Some modern phys ,oloCists hold that during tho
active first half Of life the brain is ene-Geo III
extending it's telegraph system. so TO SPEAK
! that during this formative period it is laying
down new Tires for fresh currents Of idea'ion 10
move upon but that when growth ceases and the
decline of life begins the cerebral functions arc
confined to the O. GRAFTON OF the thought lines
! already created, and no more construction is
done Now the inevitable implication OF tins
theory Is that old men cannot take in new IDEAS :
that their conversation Is, in fact, physiological
and not to be escaped and that they are incapable
Of advancing with their age. Samuel Morley was
a standing exec ton TO, or contradiction of thls
hypothcs s, for he vps learning and broadening
concerning amusements lie had been brought up
in that strait sect which holds the stage 10 DC
an abomnaton, and regards dancing as an Imnor'i
act There is no evidence that he ever saw
play or attended ball in his life. IL is certain
thu, on one occasion he sternly rebUked his own
/
dancing at childrens party. But when
he was an old man and deeply IN
terested in tightening the burdens OF the work
ing1nen he came to realize the good that was in
all kinds of amuscments. and he did not hesitate
to subscribe freely to the building OF Peoples
Halls and such places where nightly
performances Of various kinds were TO
be given. This is but single In
stance of his growth in liberalism, but it is the
more remarkable because his personal habits and
incinations never changed. lie cared nothing
for the pleasures of the table. He at no time
drank much wine, and having been challenged by
q worldngman to his personal practice in that
respect, while delivering temperance lecture he
at once publicly declared that he would drink no
more wine and he kept his word with character
stic resoluteness and loyalty. Not long before
his death he was publicly decorated with the blue
ribbon, and his biOgrapher states that ever aftcH
he was careful to wear the badge wherever ne
went, and to have it attached to all his coats
lie was not the man to be ashamed Of his colors.
The influence of Samuel Morley upon his time
was unouestonably great, and as unquestionably
good No indiv idual in this any former age
has done more to elevate and ennoble his genera
ton to purify and extend the practice of Chris
tianty, to maintain a lofty standard of CONNER
cial ethics to advance the cause of the people as
against the distractions of corrupt custom, the
ant -popuar interests of an aristocracy, and the
hardening influences Of plutocratic modernism.
Whether in private or In public every act OF his
was calculated to win esteem and respect not
alone for the man himself, but for the principles
he illustrated and the beliefs he upheld. Near
the close Of his career Queen Victoria honored
herself by Offering him a peerage; and he honored
himself far by respectfully declining It,
Such q could not possibly have been en-
nobled by any earthly sovereign. He belonged
to an aristocracy which is distinguished by deeds
and not by titles, and whose claims to pre- emil
nence consist solely in the free sullrages of their
appreciative fellows. And Samuel Morley was
| too sane and sound thinker to deceive himself
for n moment as to the worth OF such gilt
Vanity indeed was foreign TO his nature In the
midst Of fattery he retained his democratic SIM
pljcity. out of which nothing could move him.
tenderer heart never beat nor greater. lie
passed through the world wearing the white
flower of blameless life" and he left 1t the
better for his presence. The example OF such
Christian, patriot state ;Han, phanthrops''
friend. husband and father is worth many books
and churches and schools. The study oil such
career may well be a liberal education to such
as have their eyes and ears open. In an age
which seems no longer to recognize obligations
which is selfseeking beyond all former expert
ence. which takes as it, motto carpe diem, which
adm Us success rs a niartle for the worst lnstru-
mentalties which winks at fraud in trade, III
politics, in all things, this story of man VINO
owed no dollar of his great wealth TO dishonesty
who never bargained away principle, VINO uscu
his whole life and all it brought him as sacred
trust II be administt red with clean hands, may
not perhaps be altogether welcome, but Gssufcdly
it. is full of the wholesomest suggestion and in
struction