Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-13
ON THE PULLMAN TACITUS,

July H. 1895.
Until looked into a pair of resolute and
earnest blue eyes. whose glance met mine
with an expression of welcome in far off
Tennessee this afternoon, had not seen
Alexander r. Shepherd for eight years.
Then he stood upon platform beneath
the starry canopy of heaven, with head
thrown proudly back and features flushed
with pleasure, and looked out upon sea
of upturned faces. Not far from where
he stood was an arch, gaily bedecked
with flags and banners, beneath which
he had passed but a few minutes be-
fore, escorted by the thousands who had
surged out to do him honor long withheld.
The broad avenue 1t spanned had been
packed by -citys populace, and now
all had crowded to his feet to hear the
simple words of thanks he had to say.
A stranger, pushed and jostled and bewil-
dered, reached my elbow and asked me in
wondering sort of way who the man
was. In moment of inspiration I replied:
''Your grandchildren will know the capital
of their nation as his monument. That
man is Alexander r. Shepherd"
little thought then that 1 would one day
be the humble emissary who would kill
southern leagues, and greet the hero of that
memorable night when he again came to-
ward Washington, proud to assure him
that the esteem and affection in which he
was held had increased as the square of
the days he had been absent, and still less
could have believed that 1 would see the
same strong, sturdy frame; the massive,
characterize and impressive face; the same
moving, animated mass of self-reliance that
I remembered so well, little creased here
and there. and gray on the edges perhaps,
but-Aleck Shepherd.
There is no disrespect in the use of that
reDetitiOn
is suggestive. Once the loyal ones who
stuck to that cheerful abbreviation were
few, indeed. Boss was the sharp conf
monplace of the multitude. But 1t Is Alecll
now on the tongues and in the hearts of
all, and so let it be, for it signifies i'm
mensity Of purpose, steadfast determine
ton. and the ability to dare and to do, and
to succeed.
Alexander r. Shepherds Career.
Few lives contain a record of greater
achievement than that of Alex. r. Shop
herd To Westinghouse, Of course, his
name is honcred. for the marvellous work
he did for the city-work that was accom-
plished in three brief years-but which
transformed Washington from an ill-condi-
toned city of cobble stone and mud to one
of the most beautiful capitals of the world
Mr.. Shepherd had before, in the prime of
his manhood he undertook this great work
for his native city, achieved success in
the foremost citizens of Washington. When
he was called to the task of saving and
regenerating the capital city he gave to
1t all his wonderful energy, and at its end
retired to private life again to endeavor to
save his fortune from the wreck sthat
threatened it from the three years of ne
glect it had suffered while he was giving
his services to the public. He was COM
PEELED almost to begin life anew, and ban
ished himself to the wilds of northern
Mexico, far from lines of communicat ion
where he has performed another work, in
overcoming natures obstacles, which in
nself would be counted as a great life
achievement. Alex. r. Shepherd was born
In Washington.
He began the active struggle of life when
a young boy. his mother having been early
widowed and thrown upon her own re-
sources. He steadily surmounted every OBJ
stacle, and as young man became master
of a lucrative private business His strong
loyalty to the Union at the outbreak of the
war was proved by his volunteering at the
first call for troops, and entering the ser
vice of the government with the old Ma
donal Rifles. In that very year QS6D his
remarkable administrative talent received
public recognition by his election as pres-
dent Of the city council. When, ten years
later, the capital was threatened not by
foes of the government, but by the many
who ridiculed its professions and demand
ed a removal Of the seat of government to
some more worthy place, Alex. r. Shep-
herd again came to Its defense. As chair