The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-11-25
POTTSVILLR LETTER.
EventfuI Week at the County's Capital
Neediul Reforms.

among the near relatives of the departed, the
universal verdict goes forth, "Well done, good
and faithful servant" and the people at large
are content. But when death claims for its
own young man just approaching the
prime of life and the chief stage of his use
funess, the people marvel at the wonderful
ways of Divine Providence. "Why is it,"
say they, chat this man is removed at
time when he could do the greatest good to
the greatest numberP Surely this cannot be
just--this cannot be the dictum of an all.
wise God And yet it must be so, else he
would not have been taken from u.s."
GOOD MAN GONE.
The foregoing thoughts were impelled by
the death of Rev w. A. Duffy, pastor of the
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church, of this
place, which occurred yesterday evening.
As the sun went down, so departed the life
of as noble man as ever handled a chalice
or performed the sacred rites of mass. He
had endeared himself to all alike. Protes-
tant, Catholic, Hebrew, all loved Father
Duffy, and when it became known on Tues
day that he was seriously i'll, the prayers and
good wishes of the whole community were
offered Tor his restoration to health But
"Man propos and God disposes, ''and Father
Duffy who had lived three years less than
two score has been removed from us to fill
more exalted position in the eternal world.
Never since the administration of Rev
OKecfe, who was parish Priest here in the
early ffties, has there lived one in the same
sphere of usefulness so much loved as Rev.
Duffy. When Rev O'Keefe was removed
the grief was universal as it is now, that
another great man of the church has left us,
but there is marked difference in their
taking off. Father O'Keefe had performed his
mission-had lived to be an old man and
then had died in peace, regretted and
mourned by all. Father Duffy would have
been thirty.seven years of age on January
1st next, had he lived. Who can say what
ones mission is on earth? 1t may be his
work, as laid out for him by the Almighty,
was done, and yet when we look at the
unfinished temple on Mahantongo street. and
remember that when he was placed in this
parish, with the distinct understanding that
a new church edifce should be his fist
particular duty, besides the usual solemn
duties pertaining to the Office of parish
Priest, we wonder he was removed. How
nobly aud eagerly he undertook his task ;
and how successfully and religiously he
carried it almost to the point of completiOn
The beautiful edifice now stands as q monu-
ment to the memory of good man, Father
| Duffy is dead to the world, but Father Duffy
| lives in the hearts of a grief stricken COM
muuity, who win mourn him as the one
young man in Holy orders who accomplished
the greatest good to the greatest number.
JUDGE PERsHING's ILLNESS.
Another event which gave us shock this
week was the sudden illness of our President
Judge in the Judges consultation room on
Wednesday, The Judge has looked apd
claims to have felt, remarkably well of late
| He was trying cases in court room No. 2, and
| Just after the noon recess had retired to his
room to prepare for his luncheon When
Judge Bechtel, who is trying the Phillips
homicide case entered the room, he discover
ed the Judge vomiting at the basin, and
noticed he had thrown up some blood 1t
was an alarming condition, but very soon
physicians were summoned, and the veteran
jurist was removed to his home, l am pleased
/ to be able to record the fact that the Judges
sickness is believed to be Of slight character
and by Monday next it is expected he will
occupy his seat ON the bench ready for peri
odical work again. Let us hope so at least
! for no matter how some of us may have diff
fered as to the policy Of continuing Judge
| Pershing on the bench for another period of
| ten years, the fact remains that his tire.
ment at this time caused by sickness OF other.
wise would entail upon us a great loss, and
would bring about next year another one Of
those disagrecable judicial fghts-which of
all contests, are most TO be dreaded in this
county. 1t is the hope of the masses, includ-
ing your scribe that Judge Pershing will
live out his term and many years of useful
ness thereafter.
CHANCE FOR REFORM.
Philadelphia lawyer, who visited our