Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-15
IN mEsoRlax.
wN. r. SMITH.

NM. Il. SMITH.
I,:sno. offer that one feels warranted in
making publ. record of personal grief, bnt
the death of Mr.. Smith carries sorrow to so
many hearts, takes from oar mids. such
conspicuous figure, that venture TO do it,
pleading in justification, his msny noble
qualities of heart and mind and my keen
appreciation of hi, true friendship.
During my acquaintance with him, COW
ering period of nearly Is years, came
to know him so intimately, TO
know 50 much of his inner
lie. have spent SO many
hours with him in the quiet OF his own
home, listening to his reading of the bsst
thoughts of MASTER minds or TO his words
of wit and wisdom as they poured from his
overlooking storehouse of anecdote and ex-
perience, that his passing away seems ike
the goiog out of great part of my life. 1t
takes away that which has contributed much
to my enjoyment and given me material aid
in my search for knowledge.
His mind was not of the sluggish sort, he
was conten,ed not with mere existence.
simple breathing automaton he could not
be. With him every swing of the pendulum"
meant "life as well as time
he reckoued ''time by heart.throbs, not by
figures on dial" He grasped the prob
lem of life as though he knew he should
conquer, and right grandly dill he win the
victory.
No heart ever beat for the needy and the
suffering more kindly than his, no purse
ever responded more readily, or in a rela-
lively isrger measure. No movement hav
ing for its end the advancement of the in
terests of this city, ever fou ID warmer or
more julicious advocate than he.
Intense in all his feelings, passionate in
his denuucia,ion Of what he deemed fila
cious, quick TO discern, rapid to attack AMI
agile in defence, he was powerful ally in
any good cause, and source of dread to
any Antagonist.
Slch man must necessarily create fric-
| tior-scmetmes bitter emmities-and Mr..
Smith well knew what all this meant; and
| yet as the shadows stretched away toward he
East, and the twilight Of life csme down
upon him, all the troubles and asperities of
the journey melted away, and he bcheld
the past as one sweet vision.
| Fond of his family and faithful to its
demands; ford of his church and valiant
in its service; fond of his city and inter
ested in its welfare; friend of education
and earnest in its behalf; attached to his
business AMI self-sacrifcing in his devotion
to its interests, he goes out of our presence
bearing with him the tender love of a large
circle of close friends and amid the ''well-
done p'audits of all who knew him.
Though nearly half century separated
us in years, there sprarg up between us a
sort of intimacy which meant much 10 me-,
and through which | saw his true character.
Faults Re must have had for he was hu-
man, but in the sunlight of his virtues they
fade away, and, taling him all in all, as a
citizen and as friend, there was no better
in this community. Strong, true, original,
thoughtful, forceful, he worked his way
along the pathway Of success by virtue Of
his own strength, and left the indelible i'm
press Of his character upon his day and
generation.
Though living in the world transition Pc
Rod from the tallow candle to the search
light, from tbs stage coach to the steam
eng ne, he kept in step with the march Of
progress he saw in the wonderful works of
man the hand Of Col. Thankful for the
past, conf lent of the future, he died as he
lived, vi h his face tox arl the morning.
His life was worthy land the elements
30 mixed in bin, that nature might sta nd up
and say to all the world, This WAS ran /"
| c. S. II.