The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1890-07-04

that time and progress have wrought,
can but contrast the picture this spot pre- =
scented fifty years ago with its appearance
to-day. That was indeed long time ago
for man looking so young. and having
no wrinkles on his heart, to have been in
his stems" am indeed older than
seem, bat
Time has laid his hand
Upon my heart gently-not shifting il;
But as harper lays his open palm
Upon his harp to deaden Its vibrations .
Yonder then stood cottage which was
the abiding place of hospitality and
charity, and all the golden virtues which
decorate the higher christian life. 1t was
the home of filial affection and parental
tenderness; the common resort of the most
elegant and cultured society; a place
from which no soul with sorrow laden
was ever turned com fortress away; the
happy homestead of happy household.
The grand old master of that house has
long since passed over the river, and his
gentle and loving wife now sleeps by his
side. In life both were loved and honor
ed for all the graces that adorn human
character and attract human love. In
death both are remem bered by the rich
and the poor, as examples of all that was
noble, philanthropic and humane
Though long sin ce retired from public
employment. and with ample wealth
around him, enjoying the odium cum dig
nitote Of typical southern planter, yet
he had in earlier life held high trusts
among his people-a major-general in the
war of 1872, distinguished journalist
and writer of magazine literature and in
early life a physician of preeminent
ability and large practice. was for a
considerable period of my student life an
inmate of that cottage and treated as one
OF the children of the family. A thous-
and years Of life's tickle changes and rev.
olutions could never efface the impress
ions then received of the moral and in
tellectual chara cter of that grand old
man. He had been a deep student of
science, history and philosophy. His
mind was treasure house of knowledge
gathered from books, from foreign travel
and from his early and close fellowship
with the great men and statesmen of the
country. And yet, with such splendid
capacity for the high achievements of
state craft, he cared not for the tihsel of
rank, or the prestige of Office, but PREFER
ed to larry beneath his own happy roof
tree to watch the development of his
children, to EDUCATE them In virtuous
principles, to do his duty as neighbor, a
friend and philanthro pist, and to enjoy
through the frightening shadows of a
useful life the sweet companionship of
his loving wife. He was what Carlyle
would call zone of those noble, silent
men, scattered here and there, silently
thinking, silently working, whom no
morning newspaper makes mention of,
the salt of the whole earth. Blessed, and
blessed forever, is the country where they
most abound" And yet he was my ora
Gle, my Gamaliel, at whose feet any
docile youth could learn "the wisdom of
the wise, the strength that nerves the
strong and the grace that gathers round
the noble" In broad philanthropy and
charity, in learning and culture, thought
him the greatest man ] ever saw, and in
Roman virtue, severity of morals and
dignity of character, The most august and
admirable. particularly recall to-day
his tender sympathy for that unfortunate
class whose reasons were dethroned, and
his oft-discussed theories upon the treat
ment of mental diseases. And now as /
look upon this splendid pile, which has
taken the place of that happy cottage, and
reflect upon the noble and Christly pur-
poses to which it is to-day dedicated, |
can but think if that grand old man, with
all his te nder sollcitude for better and
holier treatment of the mind diseased,
could be quickened into life, and revisit
the grounds on which his homestead
stood, and see the changes for himself, he
would rejoice that things are just as they
are. All honor to the memory of the
philanthropist and patriot, Gen. CALVIN
Jones. All honor to the great common
wealth that has done this benefaction to
its helpless citizens, and all honor to the
men of action, the commissioners, the
distinguished specialist, the architects,
the mechanics and the humblest laborer
who haye done their duty to that COM
monwealth so nobly and so WELL"