New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
A USEFUL LIFE OUT OFF.
THE GOOD WHICH Mr.. RUNKLE DID.
SOMETHING ABOUT HIM FROM ONE WHO KNEW HIN
WELL.

SOMETHING ABOUT HIM FROM ONE WHO KNEW HIN
WELL
70 fbs Bdffor o. The Tribune
Sir: Busy New.York lawyers like many other business
and professional In this busting city, overworK
They It. and despite repeated warnings and
their premontons they keep on. impelled by the
Of conscientious desire TO DO with
their might all their hands find to do, until the
overwrought system breaks down tho physical
mschinery suddenly snda noble life Is ended ap
parently at the time Of It's greatest usefuness
There have been several striking examples Of ulh
within tho last year. but forcbe than the SUD
den death Of the lsto Cornelius A. Rumble. No ono
spprselaed better than he that who draws 70 per-
sistently upon the vital energies 10 sustain continued
mental labor and later meet Natures
penalty No longer than last Sunday the day before
his DEATH arkng upon this fact in hts homo
circle and himself on the prospect In tho
future Of relief from tho most severe portion OF MS
professional burdens But much more noteworthy In
c,dent Illustrating occurred few months ago. He
was returning Boston tho Sound steamer Pilgrim
and noticing friend Of his NewYork lawyer, In tho
saIoon stepped up behind him and tapping him on the
shoulder and calling him by said That was very
sudden about Van' wasn't lt7" What do mean r.
asked his friend "Haven't you heard" no said about
yanderpoelf Dropped dead with heart disease In the
Paris to-day Just learned OF 1t before came
on board the boat Do you know no went on, Win
araetersc intonaton he walked up and down, tap
ping tho book holding that Pm going to
die ip Ius. that way" aWhyT exclaimed his nstonished
frend for there nothing in Mr. Runhe's robust ap
pearance suggest such sudden termination OF MS
career. "wo work too hard" he replied You work
too hard; work hard Yes he repeated with no
show OF fear at such fate Pm going on just
ysnderpoei dld7 He DEATH indeed In the way In
which be has repeatedly said 70 friends be woud hKo 10
die He never able to understand why tho supphca
on to be delivered sudden death should have found
place in the Book Of Common Prayer And it Is re-
,rkabe how many persons since his death the thought
has occurred which Dr. Coyer gave expression beside
bis comm. It the in which we might all nope
10 die. He lay down TO sleep and-he suu sleeps.
But I think In the sunny nature, that was renecteo
even from his dead face another lesson that the many
men in this city who following the aims OF life IN tne
samo intense fashion AFFORD to ignore Ho never
allowed trouble get above him or subdue him; ano ne
was not without hard experiences either Dr. Conyer
called this disposition high heart" and IL that Is the
antthess Of down-heart the clergyman was certainly
right Never was he down-hearted This CHEEKY nature
found It's pleasure in domestic happiness ana 10
social life but carried him safely through experiences at
would have crushed q Of morose or gloomy disposi
ton But It had another aspect that Is pleasant TO re-
member but which had also It's serious side His sym
n,thles were 50 broad and feelings easily touched
that he could unhappness or sunerng
that t. was in his power relieve Consequently his
generosity frequently appealed TO and never vany
for an object he considered wCithy Many men In this
metropolis Of wealth have given away moro money than
ho but doubt II there many who have devoted 50
proportion of their property for the aid OF others
busy that coined the money from which these
gifts were made there will DO many pensioners to miss
tho generous hand that gave 50 freely
OF his work as lawyer another word should be said
His the lie the sneers frequently cast at his
profession composed OF those who trade falsehood
and the fostering Of contentious did indeed speak
the truth from, his heart That by means to
say that any could learn Of everything he knew for
tho asking On tho contrary few sdlfu he in
turning empty sway the who wanted Ind out what
AsA A,,.fa knAuw Dat han hA IA
ise stated anything to person as fact there was no
need 10 20 further He belied himself Judges
clients and opposing counsel knew this and trusted to It.
Upon tho other trait Of peaceuaker one itstroton Is
enough No confidence either social professional is
violated In telling the incident because heard the prin
cpal subject Of himself dead months narrate
it that prccluded This nd
vdual has been prominent figure In NewYork business
and oac.al life But he became involved IN heated
troversy over pocunary affairs with only brother He
the position which under his statement Of the facts
show Of psusbility TO IT. TINT his brother
had defrauded him He went To Mr. Runkle his
and wanted have his brother arrested Mr. Eunkle
him that while the Of facts mis- ht be such
believe that the engnery Of the law should be
employed In thu. form such controversies between
brothers. He out but returned the day, and
throwing down $500 check said: Rumble Pve made up
my mind There is your retainer want
you 10 70 ahead and make that arrest"
Mr.. Runke turned upon him with as much Of display
indignation he permitted himself to show and
said Blank nobody likes Ave hundreddoar reainers
better than DO. for they don't lie In every bush But
when advised take these proceedings the ques
ton Of fee had nothing do with IT, say TO you
that your brother be arrested 10 must be through
sore other attorney. And than that do take
that STEP will for you IN any other matter
Hero Is your check" The gentleman, who had been
client many angry and retained other
counsel to what Mr.. Runkle had refused do. IL
several year, afterward when he telling Of It. and
he had the meantime he said learned the wisdom Of
Mr.. Runkles advice he had subsequently gone 70 Mr.
Runkls with othcf important busnes but the latter ad
hered the resolution born Of bis Indignation and
fused To have anything to do with IL W. s. H
New.YorE March "a 1888