Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-02
DEATH OF MAI. SYLVESTER.


Passed Away Yesterday.
Major Richard H. Sylvester, associate
editor of the Post, died yesterday at his
residence, 422 9Th street Major Sylvester's
association with Washington newspaper
work dates from the birth of the Washing
ton Post, which he has been connected
with IS the principal associate editor since
that time. He was widely known in Wash
ington and the west. where he lived before
coming here. and was universally held In
the highest esteem. He was writer of
great force and a man of fine intellectual
and moral qualities, His editorial work
has always ranked high. and he was re-
garded as an authority, particularly as to
political matters. His death occurred unex-
pectedly yesterday morning, but his health
has been broken for the past year He
was man of wonderful industry and pos
sessed an activity and energy remarkable
In one of his age. In August, 1891, he was
stricken suddenly i'll at his desk and for
some time his condition was regarded as
critical, but after an absence of a month
during his convalescence he returned to
Washington and resumed his newspaper
work
His health gave way again, and Cor three
months. up to the time of his DEATH he
had been confined to his room. On awak-
ing yesterday morning he seemed to be in
better health and spirits than he had been
Tor some time past, but at 9 o'clock al
most without warning, ne passed quietly
away. Major Sylvester has had a varied
and useful career in intellectual pursuits.
He was born at Charleston, ". H, April
Il, 1880. His mother was a daughter of
Senator Henry Hubbard His father was
Henry Sylvester, who held various Eosi-
lions OF trust in Wellington under Presi-
dents jackson, Van Buren, and Polk. Major
sylvester was four years at Phillip Exeter
Academy, was short time at Yale and
was graduate of the Ann Arbor law
school, at which place he was admitted TO
the bar. He removed from Michigan to
Iowa, where he occupied a position of re.
porter of legislative debate, and later be-
came associated with the Iowa CanitaJ
reporter, afterwards the Iowa State
freSS. he was for two terms Superin;end-
ent of public schools of Johnston College
Iowa, and three years treasurer of Iowa
City. During the war he was A newsna
per correspondent
In 1869 he became associated with the Ct
Louis Times. and was for a number Of
years its managing editor When the Post
was established in Washington he began
ms ASSOCIATION with it as principal associ-
ATE edltor. he was man greatly beloved
by all his associates and held in universal
esteem.
Perhaps the characteristic which most
marked the late Maj Sylvester was his
gentleness and courtesy to his associates
To work with the major" as he was af
fectionately called by all his acquaintanc.s,
was to iove him. He was a hard worker,
always the hardest on the paper with which
he was connected. yet he never spoke of his
work. Reserved, yet full of sympathy:
firm in opinion. yet never offensive. and al.
ways considerate, he won friends as few
in his trying position have won them The
countless irritations of newspaper making
did not sour his temper or wreck his julg-
ment A disappointment more than ordi-
Eartly serious he would greet with a bit of
drfly uttered humor. Not only his imnle-
date associates loved him. but the printers,
from the foreman to apprentice. Sugges-
ton took the place Of complaint He gained
purpose left in
others heart Such a man has not lived in
vain, no matter whether his store of honors
be small or great. His life has been a les
son whose effect never dies.
The funeral will be private. from the
family residence, 400 9Th street northwest,
at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. 1t is ex-
pected. however, that the employees OF the
Post and newspaper men will be present.