The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-09
A REST THAT Is THE SUREST AND
THE SWEETEST.

| Will Shields is at rest at last Many
and many weary months ago, lured by
| the promise of relief from an impending
| shadow and possible escape from a heart
! tormenting bane, accompanied by his
| faithful wife, he fed from home and
| friends to land of strangers. Later, she
who had sacrificed all for the hope hello
! out by that same promise, sought with
/ him in the deep fastness of lonely noun
| tains. where bright waters ever CLINT and
| sparkle in their cleansing impidness of
plateau whose rare pure air is ladened
with the curative aroma Of the reisoaous
pine and balSam, sought IN an exile life.
among these solitudes, for the balm that
in its healing should bring back life ana
strength and happiness, but sought and
waited all in vain. His insidious foe. that
relentless enemy, heITdity. would not be
placated or overcome, and SO another VIC
tim, despite his brave heart and its ever
faithful and patient ally, was doomed.
Recognizing the sad inevitable his only
remaining wish was that he might fall
surrounded by loyal friends, encouraged
by their looks of kindness and words of
love, while over and about him should
be the throbing pulse and prophetic life
of the new spring-ume, its birds and buds,
its blossom and green. Our local readers
know the rest. He was brought back, ar
irving al his old home with its gladening
scenes but a few days since, his eyes
frightened under kindly sympathies and
his heart beating more quickly. respon-
sive to the old hopeful songs of his church
and all of the many brotherly assurances
of blessed Immortality, with which he
was greeted. But the end TO all and to
everything for him, came none the less
surely, and William Shields was at rest.
Life is Observation-Disclosures; death is tri-
umphant-eyerywhere and over ALL In
looking out as We write on this bright and
assuring Spring-tirne afternoon, upon
world of flowers. which once blown for
ever die, out upon leaves which can only
decay, out upon falling life everywhere,
one is almost ready to conclude. that af-
ter all life is but death, or that life was
only instituted that death might be. Ger
tain it is if death is not this hfe's soul
recompense, it is its universal aim, end
and doom, leaving only 10 the living the
single hope that the open doors of the !
tomb may prove the portal TO an existence |
which shall be found superior to the death |
encountered everywhere in this world
But the attenuated form, the emaciated |
remains of all that was of earth OF him |
we knew and who but a half an hour be- |
fore his exit shook hands with his wife |
and boy and said good bye TO all within |
the room, will be borne tomorrow morning |
to the church where he was wont TO wor- |
ship Him who made and gave and takes |
all; but the songs of praise he heard Will |
give place TO dirge for himself, to sup /
plicating prayers and to tears. Hence TO |
the slope of many mounds to hide from |
view the last Semblance of him We knew, ;
whence returning we shall see nor hear
nor know no more of that with which we |
had 10 do, forever
William Prentiss Shields was born in
Ohio June ,1sis; died May Z, 1895: married |
eighteen years ago at Mt. Sterling, H., |
to Ella Glenn Ross, daughter of eX-Gov-
ernor A. A. Glenn of this city; came to
Wichita in 1879; leaves WIFE and son. The
funeral will be at the Christian church /
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, conducted
by the Masonic order, the services having
been postponed that the only living sister,
who lives in Illinois, NIGH be present.
And so the restless tnroS or the world
for him is over, the grind of years has
ceased, the moan and toss of soul and the
touch of the flow of woman's tears are
no more to be sought, endured or evaded
all ended in the death which came TO
him, as 10 every child of earth, as rest
the sureSt and the sweetest.