Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-24
EVERY WORD TRUE.

The death Of John A. Bell. managing
editor Of tho Detroit Free Press. fol
lowed in few days by the equally sud
den death OF Charles Williams, maneg-
ing editor OF the Cleveland Piain
Dealer, raises very serious question a.
10 whether both Of these gentlemen
were not victims Of ovcrwork. Both
were young men-Williams but q years
Of age-and each stood at the throttle
Of that intricate human machine, the
working corps Of . metropolitan daily
newspaper. They had reached those 20
sitions through intense and unremitting
thought and toil-They retained them
through an increased concentration Of
toll and thought, for the great reading
public il a mercileas tsskmastcr. and
constantly demands more and more at
the hands of its slaves. while its re-
wards are inadequate 10 the service
exacted. Hundreds OF the brightest
minds that are produced in this or any
other country are to be found today
toiling in various capacities 10 I'LL the
columns II the American daily press.
Cheerfully and even proudly do they
give Of the of -spring Of their spiritual,
mental and physical talents. Tor the
pleasure and profit u those whom they
know not, and by whom they are never
known. In winters cold and summers
heat under the glare Il the sunlight
and by the artificial rays that hold at
bay the threatening gloam of darkness.
they toll on, bravcly ignoring the pro
tests Of weary brain. heavy eyelids and
torturing nerves, until, with the last
task faithfully performed. they creep
YEARLY through the darkness which pre-
cedes the dawn toward q cherries couch.
counting few hours ~ forgetfulness
and renewal Of that mental and physi-
cal strength u which they have made
such prodigxl waste.
One day there is an essential wheel
missing from the great machine. lts
absence is indicated by a vacant chair.
A substitute is found the machine rolls
on. A week. month pasecs. and then
the fact is quietly announced that n
comrade-a brothcr-has departed for
ever from the scene ~ his lsbors. He
has found, in the bosom Of the mysteri-
our beyond, that rest which fidelity.
pride aud ambition forbade him 10 seek
here.
His fellows loved him. but the de
mands 81 that Unsuitable master. the
public. brook no delay. even from death.
A few brief words n regret perhaps a
tear hastily dropped-a guard Of hooor
chosen TO bear their comradc IN the
grave. sidc---a bier decorated with ma.
lures beautiful symbols q love. remcm-
brsnce and christianhopc. u few solemn
words Of parting. and all is ended. An
other has taken the plsc. u the de
parted Another wecks month. PER.
haps and hc IL forgotten. save IL cher
ishcd few who recall him at times. aAd
in hushcd tones recount HE virtues and
deplore HE end.
This il no fancy picture. II II duplL
Gated every day In this magnificent
country Of ours. Thee silent workers.
like tho coral insecta. faithfully per
form their missions and pass away. and
the great masees know and heed ~
little the story II their loves. ambitions
and achievements ~ they do of the
little animals whoee united labor ~ cen
turies has laid from the bottom 81 old
oceans depths the foundations of mighty
continents. Lansing Republican,