Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-09-30
IN MEMORIAM.


truest sense, OF man combining refined in
stincts and kindly manners. His dignifiee
and delicate attitude toward all females
his appreciation of the society of ladies
and his uniform bearing toward other gen
tlemen, were characteristics very strongly
marked. 1t were very high praise, but
richly deserved, to say that he was of the
old school, one Of that class born and bred
before the present generation, before the en-.
quilting tide of low ideas and coarse man.
ners introduced by and following the pc
litical revolution Of thirty years ago.
The geniality and cheeriness of his ma.
ture and disposition were remarkable. Per.
haps no one remembers to have seen him
frown. The difficulties, disappointment
and burdens incident to life's abiding strug-
gle were sustained with an equanimity Of
mind and consistency of temper which favor
ably impressed his friends, though some of
US, at least, make no claim to the possession
of those virtues. We believe they consti-
tute special gift to some fortunate mortals,
or may be largely matter of inheritance.
We do not remember to have met him with
out smile upon his face. That warm,
hearty grasp of his hand, which has SO
much to do with making up our estimate of
peoples hearts, was perfectly natural to him
The counterfeit thing requires only mod
crate experience and observation of man
ners to detect 1t is only real, true kindl-
ness of heart, a spirit of actual benevolence,
that can give the genuine pressure. Nothing
was ever truer than that old sentence writ.
ten in our copy books in the long-ago
True politeness is born in the heart"
There was in our brothers nature vein
of humor which sometimes rose to the dig.
nifty of wit. The merriment twinkled in
his eyes, and was irresistibly gestured forth.
But when the occasion or the subject re-
quired gravity, none was more sedate and
thoughtful than he. Two or three of the
most sensible, and, had they been needed,
most useful, addresses before this body, were
delivered by him. His contributions to the
press indicated no small measure of ability,
evidencing considerable of that scarcest of
all commodities, common sense.
Our deceased friend was one of the best
members the Waverley Club has ever had.
Joining it almost as soon as organized, he
walked with US till the hour of his death.
Living remote from the village, and com.
PEELED, throughout the summer, to attend to
the business from which he drew his sup.
port, he was necessarily absent much of that
season, but his interest never waned; while
numbers who came in long after himself
have fallen out by the way and have been
forgotten. Up to the limit of his means, he
was very liberal. There was never once a
call for money for the use Of the Club that
he did not respond. He highly valued the
library, used it freely himself, and urged
Others TO read, as one means of mental i'm
provement.
His life was admirable and his death was
glorious The sun Of his existence never
shone out so full orbed and splendid as
when 1t drew near to its setting. The
crowning act OF his generosity was the sac
rifce Of himself. Jesus said "Greater love
hath no man than this, that he lay down
his life for his friend" 1t would be only
simple justice to cut into his tombstone these
words of Christ. II ever one man died to
save another, A. G. Merriwether did. When
his minister was taken i'll of dangerous
and commonly fatal fever, he took him TO
his own home, nursed him unremttingly,
and, humanity speaking, without doubt saved
his life. Then, all worn out, with all his
powers of resistance gone, he took the fever,
and laid himself down to die. There never
was palmer case of self.immolation. A
real hero has been amongst US. Such as
God accounts heroes, not as men count
them. The army of jail-birds, cut throats,
nationalities banding in hordes, led by
tyrants, overrun q fair land, and, because
Of overw helming numbers, subjugate no.
BILE people. Because victorious, the siaugh-
ter which swept into common grave right
and freedom with their brave defenders,
denying other mausoleum than the uu-
marked trenches where glory and grandest
herOism lie buried is commemorated in vul
gar pageant, lying history, and ribald song
This is not heroism; IL is tyranny,tr triumphant.
Had the weaker prevailed, these who are
now called "heroes" would have been named
scoundrels. But here, right in our midst,
before our very eyes, a real hero has fallen.
He saw the image of God in the face of q
brother, and loved him for that cause. lie
accounted not his own life dear il he might
win back from the grave another life that
was tending thither IL Is 10 Just such and
TO all of them that the Master speaks "In-
asmuch as ye have done it to the least of
these, ye have done il unto me-" Life is
grander than DEATH but that may be very
beautiful, and is bountiiu of promises when
"the gentle spirit, already loosing its cables
from earthly shores, feels soft, pure airs
blowing toward it from the land unseen"
All that goes forward in this world turns
sober minds to reflection. Nothing ought
to be so influential in producing solemn
thought as the constant defamation Of the
ranks among which we ourselves stand, and
that serious cogitation is not best employed
when bent upon the grave. With dying
we have nothing whatever 10 do. 1t is no
affair of ours. IL lies entirely beyond our
control, is predetermined and provided for.
We are responsible for nothing which issues
from it. We have no concern with time,
manner, instrument. These are all eter-
nally fixed. The Interests that lie beyond
the hidden line are assured on the hither
side. We have TO do with life; let death
take care of ITSELF Emmerson has this say.
ing every man Is not 50 much work.
man in the world as he Is a suggestion Of
that he should be. Men walk as prophecies
of the next age" That this remark Is
philosophy illustrated and confirmed by
fact every one may see. All science, knswl.
edge, and art is progressive. Foundations
were laid centuries since whose utility and
intention begin only now to be partially
apprehended. | must not grudge that a
succeeding generation shall take my little
stock of knowledge, my little skill, or my
experience 10 make them more effective
servitors OF their own age. Without any
sense of Injustice, or of transportation
lHutcut Witbout hiJ touStdciobfOh NJ uhb
have all along been debtor 70 an unknown
teacher dwelling in the buried past One
cannot really live destitute Of an ideal. lie
will never reach it; but that there is a iel.
low striver, a related spirit, in our view, at
our side, Is blessing in the form OF inspira.
ton and encouragement To be fond Of life
is weak, ignoble to be enamored of h0inS
is sublime, divine. II the speech Of the ages
whoae ffturitv il eternal cOuId be heard and
recognized amid the whrl, the din and the
dust Of the evanescent moment, IL would bt
understood az the call from the trivialities
that vanish 10 the furnishing Of the mind
the enlargement of the heart, and the sane
tifcation of the spirit destined TO the innnit'
greatness of the already great!
Woods Blister, 10 prompt and elfectiv
in the treatment Of Splint, Spawn, Sweeay
Sprains, Shoulder Lamencss, Curb, Ring
a. II