Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-09

US, it prompted to all shat was good
and 'acted well its part"
We who have crossed over the center
line of life find that day by day there
is increase of those who will welcome
us on the other shore.
Men drop so fast ere lifcs mid-stagr We t-ead,
Few know so many friends alive Is dead.
1t is well that it is so, 10: from the
/ fact comes reconciiement 20 tie inevita-
bic.
Last night as l looked through the
Record for the tribute paid TO Senator
Barbour's memory on the occasion Of
his decease it was with deep interest |
saw that the announcement ofhis death
was made by Senator Kenna.
The fact had passed rom my mcia-
ory, but as 1 read the eloquent tribute
to the dead Nirginian by the living
West Virginian how vividly did Ircra!l
the scene. The youthful orator. w.o
but yesterday was one of us, has also
joined the vast majority. In the early
days of the first session Of this Congress
there died the virile, active, energetic
Senator from the State Of Kansas, Pres
ton B. Plumb. Senator Kcnna made
reference to his untimely taking off,
and, as though he held in hand
That golden key
That opes the palace Of eternity
said impressively:
Mr.. President, in this second sudden vista
ton Of Providence in the present session OF
the Senate, we recognize power in whose in
scrutable wisdom We were born TO live and in
the presence of whose unchallcngeablc majcs-
ty we are born to die.
These two Senators from adjoining
States had much in common. They
were not only close friends but near
neighbors, and had an intimacy of
knowledge of each other that enabled
them to gauge each the other In Ian
guage more eloquent than | can give,
John Z. Kenna gave this estimate Of
the character and tribute to the mem
ory of John S. Barbour
He said:
And yet, Mr.. President, speaking for my
self and making frank expression Of the in
spiration of which this solemn occasion pos
sesscs me, | have felt as the associate and
neighbOr and friend of Mr.. Barbour that
memories Of his private virtues and public ca
reer, elevated and clean, and noble as they
were, give back, at least in some degree, 4
compensation from tho grave They soften
by the sweet influences which radiate from
the consciousness of n life well spent, the as
peritics of grief which nature is prone to in
dulge on occasions like this This death is to
my mind the gathering of ripened fruit, the
garnering of the sheaf in the full measure Of
its golden maturity
John S. Barbour was in all the relations OF
this world an elevated character and an up
right man. His sterling qualities Of mind
and heart bore practical fruit. His genius
for affairs made monuments in the business
and public walks of men, as, in u narrow
sphere, his humanity made gratitudcs which
will follow like angels guarding him to the
tomb.
When the Senate, as is its custom, shall
have set apart a day to be devoted TO the re-
counting of his manly virtues, and the exc
hibition of the elements of his lofty character,
it will be seen of all that his traits were above
those OF most of his fellow that he was
useful and valuable to his country and his
countrymen; that he practiced justice and
fair dealing that he was imbued with 4 love
of right: that he gave example worthy of emu
lation by youth rs well as by age, and that he
moved and had his being, without ostenta-
tion or form, in tho reverence and vcncratiOn
Of his God.
Choice words fifty spoken. Great
hearts tribute to great heart. 1t can
well be said of either now that both are
gone
Calmly he look'd on either life, and here
Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear;
From natures temperate feast rose satisfied
Thank'd Heav'n that he had lived. and that
hp died