Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-29
OPENING EXERCISES.
A Young Mechanics Tribute, in Verse, to
the Noble Dead.

Young Mechanics Tribute, in Verse, to
the Noble Dead.
When all were seated, and pending the
arrival of the Chaplain. who was delayed
by other duties, the exercises were opened
by President Hussey, who briefly explained
the object of the assembling of citizens.
Then came music by double quartet con-
sisting of Miss Gertrude A. Carley, soprano:
Miss Ida Desmond, soprano; Miss Harriet
B. Wheat, alto; Mrs. De Witt Renfro, alto;
J. II. Desmond, tenor; R. B. Potter, tenor;
G. NJ. Phinney, bass; ]. w. Clough, bass.
Rev. ]. F. Won Herrlich having arrived,
he offered fervent prayer invoking the
Divine blessing on all who had assembled
there to do honor to the memory of the
friend of Labor. The reverend gentleman
also referred in fitting words to the char
acter of the deceased.
LABoR's cHIEFTAIN.
The following "elegy." written by Ralph
Turner (son of JabeZ Turner), and who has
been for many years mechanic in one of
the railroad departments, was then read by
Thomas Warmly. 1t is not only glowing
tribute to the worth of the deceased, but
possesses unusual poetic strength and depth
of thought
No arch of triumph for the laureled victor
Returned from battlefield,
While shouting thousands, cringing from the
lictor,
Their half-forced homage yield;
No marble, sullied with the craven features
OF sensual, crime stained king,
At whose behest his groveling fellow creatures
Applauding anthems sing;
No pomp nor pageant, such as wealth would
render
Unto the dead high-born,
Are here to day to mock with useless splendor
The civic chief we mourn:
But, typical of modest, manly striving
OF unpretentious worth
This honest bronze we raise to him who, living,
Was peer OF all on earth.
No fulsom praise no false and flow'ry phrases,
We bring in tribute here;
No gilt, nor tinsel, with which Folly graces
Her thoughts for Falsehood's ear.
IT'S for a man we speak our words of mourning,
Who scorned all canting creeds-
Who held the truth above a lies sdorning,
And loved not words, but deeds.
He Stunned the crowd-the glitter and the glory
OF social fe for him
Held naught of worth; but, at the oft told story
Of want his eyes grew dim.
Yet not for fame his timely aid was given,
Nor for the worlds acclaim;
In secret silence, like the dews of heaven,
Unsought his bounty came.
He held the truest charity was labor
Given to willing hands:
That Wealth should yield unto its poorest
neighbor
That neighbor's lust demands.
He knew the humble hamlets OF the lowly
Held angels unawares;
That fairest blossoms sprang up pure and holy
In fields o'ergrown with Lares.
-,
ness,
That Envy did not dare
To slender friends whose faults Of human blind
ness
He knew all men must share.
Above sll petty shafts of spite or malice,
His earnest, steadfast way
He walked. nor qusffed from out the poisoned
chalice
Ambition gives 10 slay
No chance-born weakling of nine brief moons
making,
This gifted child of Time
For centuries prepared for his avaking
Unto life sublime.
Perfeeting cycles left their impress glowing
On each ancestral tree
From age to age, still bright and clearer showing
The man that was TO be J
By slow gradations to lies full fruition
king of men he came,
To bravely fill his grand and noble mission,
And win each worthy aim.
His life has LEFT the heirs Of toll his debtors,
For who e'er st1oye TO tree