The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-04-25
John Wannamaker.
Editors Virgiaian:-

|
There is to day no more conspicuous
character helping to make the history O
the present than is the distinguished gen
| tleman | have named above. When called
to the exalted position he now holds ant
honors, many were cruel enough to say
| that he had bought his way to place an(
power, and some honestly thought thai
his appointment was an experiment. A
few weeks of service and the world il
sa' isfied of the wisdom of his choice, an(
men who differ in politics unite in saying
that the Government never had in its en-
ploy more faithful, fearless, and efficient
servant. The wisdom, the caution. the
courage, and the tact which have so long
and we'll served him in the conduct of his
great and growing private business, he has
now periodically consecrated to the de-
mands of his country, and like an athlete
trained for the larger field. the sterner en-.
deavor, he LEAF into the arena with hard
ened muscle and husbanded nerve force.
ready for the shock of battle. and sure to
shout the song of victory.
But not only is he conspicuous as Cabs
net officer, but as friend of man and friend
with the people of Philadelphia for years
gone by. his form has been familiar to its
streets and his face to its social circles,
and yet week by week those very people
oro opnonod in oonoro,c rivalry tho ono
club with another, the one society with
it's 81 ter, the one business organization
with its co-workers in doing honor to their
famed fellow citizen. Old friends Strug-
gle for front rank at the receptions which
are rendered him, and hasten to take by
the hand this friend of the every day walks
of life, and the gardens of his home city,
give generously of their flowers which
are fashioned not into garlands for his
brow, but into bewitching bouquets and
fair festoons and artistic arch, and grace
full grouping to give new charm to the
home of which he is the hero, and new
beauty to the place made attractive by his
presence. In his own country, among his
own people, and yet honored as few men
are ever honored. Welcomed home from
the plain post of duty, from the simple.dis-
charge of daily work with honors rarely
accorded even to warrior who has saved
his country from the yoke of the oppressor
or added largely to that country's power
and possessions.
,f hn SO Fri ,of lev Of y,nnn hnt n
his Maker, too and though every moment
of every waking hour of the week, is busy
to him he still finds time in which to
make ready as teacher of a class in the
Sunday school whose members border On
thousand, to prepare himself to talk on
the Sabbath of Christ to the children, to
fl a-lessly discuss Prohibition, and to con-
duct to the ed fic alton of others young
mems prayer meeting. Think of all these
things being done bya Cabinet officer, who
nj elects no public duty, on the afternoon
of the Lord S day, and tell me he does not
stand without a parallel in human history.
Most of the worlds workers who are
worn and Wearied with the labors of the
week. turn over for a second nap on Sun
day morning, and satisfy their conscience
with one service in the forenoon and the
Sunday newspaper for the rest of the day.
Not so with John Wanamaker. He has
thought better, worked more effectually,
accomplished more than any Of them dur
ing the six days gone, and yet rises to the
work of Sunday as though he had been
waiting and resting for its return. He
renews his strength, runs but does not
weary, walks and does not faint Is not
this country, this age to be congratulated
that such a character is unfolding in con
spicuous place, and that such light is set
on candle-stick and not hid under
bushel? What m IN IS there of US who
measures up to the full lines of duty, who
has not learned to render unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars, and unto God
the things that are Gods. Faithful as
citizen, faithful as christian, and angel.
and man, Heaven and earth unite in say
ing well done,' AN ADMIRER.