Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-10-23
A Tribute to the Memory Of Dr.. R
n, Fairleigh.

~ d4E4e4Bu'
In making our advent into tn,
world, the event is heralded will
delight by our immediate friends
When life's work is done, and done
well, and the individual passers int
the great beyond" it is with sadness
and sorrow, that we envelor
him in mother earth, treasuring VI
only his good deeds, and whatever Of
fault, we cover up in his tomb
DIR. II. M. Fairleigh has passed out
from the thinking, active, busy world
We too moved along with him in that
restless current, in which there had
been push, energy, a hearty rivalship
and wholesome competition. lie fin
ishes his race, and reaches the goal
when scarcely fifty years ofage. That
goal is rather to be courted, than
Stunned. He is in good company, and
well panoplied for engagement in
those fields which await him. Cir
cumscrIbed in life here, he energies
into new Existence that knows no
bounds, and from those heights, what
is il he cannot behold and enjoy Into
what activities may he not engage !?
Schooled here under severe ordeal, he
is ripe for action, for giving honor,
and glory. Engaged in doing
good on this terrestrial sphere, why
may he not subserve grander pur-
pose in that Celestial Kingdom, of
whose cities fable tells us her streets
are paved with gold, and whose por-
tails are closed with gates of pearl.
This goodly land, land of promise,
can be reached in no way save by the
gate of death, the only transit made
TO far oil country, without the in
prevention of pecuniary aid. lie
strove not here to heap up material
wealth that would perish, it would
purchase no whit after the dark riv-
err was crossed. His simple aim was
to supply the requisite elements for
well being, 80 long as he walked a
sojourner, this mundane sphere. No
spirit of avaice, or covetousness
marked him. His hand was ever
opened for Charity, and for good, and
hundreds of people now stand up and
call him blessed. lie stands endorsed
by our medical fraternity ; they loved,
honored and respected him. His adj
vice, and counsel was often sought
at the bedside, and none could say lie
was wanting in wisdom, learning,
and accomplishments. Who can tell
ofIthat countless army of patients un-
der his care through long profess
sional life, who were eventually re-
stored to health; and that long list of
blanched cheeks, and feeble pulses,
whose souls were soothed into the
beyond, by his gentle touch, and en-
couraging words.
Dr.. Fairleigh served in the Nation
al armies as surgeon, with great
briliancy, and success, from the very
onset of that direful war, until its
close. His position threw him in
company with the first, and foremost
men of the army, with many of whom
warm friendships were formed only to
be severed by death. He was very en-
thusiastic as tenant of Masonry, and
held in succession all offices, from tho
lowest to the highest state organiza-
ton could give. The late DR.. R)bt.
Morris distinguished Mason, of
more than national renown, a great
oriental traveller, author and schol-
al, was his friend, and always a guest
at his house in his periodical visits to
our city. For the ministers of the
Gospel of Christ, as preached in its
purity, he had the profoundest regard,
and love but for those of Puritanical
can't, who wished TO subvert
the Church of Christ into temper
ance organization, he held them in
utter disregard. stunning them as he
did the arch angel of discord
lie loved Boffhers Bottomey and
Lewis; in turn they loved him, and
well they might, because he was hon
est, good, and true. Children had
been born to him, the hostages of his
love; personating fair and accom-
plished women; with sons rejecting
his manly beauty, with loving and
sacrificing wife, imbued with all the
characteristics. which go to constitute
and round out christian mother.
This good man and great doctor, has
gone out, and before us let us learn
some lessons from his character.
What are they, you ask T? l answer,
Charity, in more senses than one,
absence of a spirit of avarice, self
sacrifice, heart that embraced all
humanity in his arms. His erect
form, manly carriage, handsome face,
stately walk, coupled with urbanity,
courtliness, and politeness, made him a
commanding figure, and will not soon
be forgotten.
And now we bid him good bye,
looking forward to the time, when we
too shall stand on the margin of that
kingdom, to be welcomed as we had
been in times past on his own thresh-
hold, with cordially surprising
that of king. TO us who remain,
the world and its end is dark. No
ray of light Eliminates the dark flu
ture, save the glimpse of eternity
that glints through the portals of the
ages past and to come, by spectre of
! Revelation. There was flower that
bloomed before my home, whose por-
tails unfolded only at night, in strange
contrast with her sister flowers that
reveled in the sunlight, and one like
the stately sunflower. ever turning its
gorgeous face TO the God of day.
Contrasting this phenomena, with my
dead friend /; | find in it fit illu,tra-
ton of his life, who preferred TO hide
from the eye of day, his good deeds:
but their perfume distilled itself up
on the zephyrs of the night, and the
dewy plants, and grasses, canghtitup,
exchanging the delight of the morn
ing. w. NJ. FUQUA, M. d.