Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-02-13
En- skc.a.0it. .l.

i lOJ1, III Cue C1ty III Oll1Ot1GO, O'iS "
Accomac's brightest young men,
Edwin-F. LeCato, died. The usual
notices of his death were published
ct the time, but we feel that some
thing more than mere passing no.
tice of his death is due Med" 1t is,
in the first place, inexpressibly sad
to die far away from home with no
familiar face to look into, with no
one near to whisper of home and
loved ones-but when we add to this
his youth, his hopes and the half won
victory over the difficulties which be-.
set him at the start it becomes one
of the mysteries of Providence in the
presence OF which we are amazed
and lost, in wondering why, where
fore2
The sympathetic and touching tes-
tinonials, tributes of love andrespect,
that have reached his home from
Chicago, New York and other cities,
indicate that he had by his push and
energy in business, and by his polite
and courteous manners almost won
i a national reputation.
They testify also to the fact, that
the friends he won were some of ma
ture's noble men and worthy of all
neutrality-suspicious. in the truest
sense of the word.
In looking over some of these me-
mentoes ofloving respectand admira-
ton, we can hardly repress the half
uttered question, chow did he accom-
plish so much and win such friends
in SO short timc?n Let us look at
his character, for we shall find in it
strength and beauty enough to make
! its study interesting, and enough of
success in his life to make it instruc-
tive.
We knew him from boyhood up,
frank, open hearted, manly. AS an
employ ,e in the Eastern Shore Steam
boat c mpany, his work was always
characterized by thoroughness, he
was something more than a mere
wor,ler for wages, he entered fully
into the spirit of his work, and was
never satisfied 10 leave it until he
know it was done so w III that noFone
coaId improve on it. This was char
acteristi.. of ''Ned.n He was rapidly
promoted and having mastered the
business, he began 70 tire of its mo-
notonv. His active mind demanded
wider range and new fields for con-
guest. Having carefully thought out
plans, by which he hoped TO win sue
cess and fortune, he promptly re-
signed the pursership of the Tangier
and entered the firm of S. T. Clark s.
Co.. importers and dealers in bicycles.
The firm was afterward Incorporated
as The Clark Cycling Co., with "Ned"
as treasurer. After an heroic strug-
gle, the Company made an assign
ment, and "Nadn lost his money and
place. Adversely either overwhelmns
a man or brings to the front the finer
and nobler qualities of his heart. We
saw no difference in Ned except
that his faith in himself and his abil-
ity to win success seemed stronger.
He was as bright and cheerful as if
he was on3the flood tide of success.
Spaulding & Bros, of Chicago. of
fered him the management of the
cyclingadepartment of their house.
After meeting him and seeing he
looked so young, some doubt arose is
to the wisdom Of the selection. So
they wrote to the Overman Co., of
Boston. to find out about Med"
Mr.. Overman replied in this express
eive language, "If you rake the whole
country over you can't find a better
man" Splendid Endorsement that,
and all the more complimentary be-
cause unsolicited b. Ned
! We cannot fail to admire his cour-
age rs he assumes charge of this ex-
tensive business and begins to make
changes necessary to put in opera
ton his own well-thought out plans
Of conducting it. 1t was soon evident
that he was master of the situation;
and among tie many handsome floral
tributes of love that came with his
remains to be laid upon his grave
none spoke with such silent eloquence
as those. from the employees" IN
der him.
Spaulding s. Bros, not only gave
him entire charge of that depart
ment, but were so well pleased with
his management that they have
made it the standard and will follow
out his plans as the best yet develop
ed in that business. This is their
testimony and it is q rare compli-
ment to one so young in a strange
and great city with no capital save
honesty, ability, genial manners and
noble heart. His last letters were
bright and cheerful and full of the
enthusiasm that knows no such word
as fail. Med" was never known to
pass a brother rider in trouble with
ont dismounting and trying to help
him. His personality was unique,
his manner contagious and winning,
his friendship an inexhaustible
mine of sincerity. His religion was
of the Allow Ben Adhem kind, as IL
Illustrated in that exquisite oriental
parable which Leigh Hunt has crys-
tailed into verse as follows: