The San Francisco call., 1897-01-03

His work as a journalist has not with
stood the all-effacing finger Of time.
1T is unfortunate, indeed, that the
fame of the best work of newspaper writ
ers is as epheneral as smoke in air or foam
upon the wave. The span of its existence
is compassed by a single day, and the
print, however precious, scarcely survives
the issue OF the paper that bore 1t.
'In writing he was affirmative witty
and terse; with q versatility of style he
combined an original and oftentimes
unique form of expression. A few years
since he came into ar estate, the posses
sion OF which enabled him to retire from
journalism ana enjoy deserved rest.
"At the age of 80 years, in the prime of
existence and in a period which has been
termed the youth of old age, he passed
away. Alter months of illness he sue
cumbed to a disease, the pain and suffer-
ing of which he hopefully and bravely
endured. When the announcement was
made to him that his end was nigh he re-
ceived the dread tidings with the forti-
tude of brave heart and said he was not
afraid to die. So during the long and
tagging hours of Wednesday last he
patiently awaited the coming of the morn
of eternity.
"Just when the sober twilight fell and
the shadows gathered about and the Stars
came out and the old year ebbed slowly
away into the sea of time the soul of Ross
Jackson went out upon the tide.
Addison In his vision of Mirzah de-
scribes to US how that plous Oriental was
taken by good genius TO great height,
whence, as in dream, he saw
beneath him broad valley. great sheet
of water bounded on either end by dark
ness and spanned by bridge of three
score and ten arches. The vale was the
vale OF Misery, the water was portion of
the tide OF eternity and the bridge was the
bridge of human life. Over the bridge
Mirzah saw a vast multitude of people
travelling in one direction, and from time
to time he saw them disappear and fall
into the tide below. A closer inspection
revealed that the bridge was filled with
traps, whereon whoever stepped was lost.
At the entrance to the bridge these traps
| lay thick and fast, toward the center they
were scarcer, but at the extremity OF the
arches they multiplied and lay Closer.
"Some disappeared in the midst OF mlrth
and jollity, catching in vain at the
bridge to stay their fall; others walked
along looking heayenward and while filled
with philosophical reflections stumbled
aud fell. Others again chased airy baubles
and as they extended for them their expect
ant hand to seize them, 10 they fell into
the tide below.
"When Mirzah turned his eyes from this
! sad vision he scanned the darkness which
covered the tide of eternity, and, behold
he saw through the darkness a multitude
of beautiful isles, covered with fruits and
flowers and sitting in the midst of the
shining seas. And upon these islands he
beheld persons garbed in robes of light
with garlands upon their heads and rest
ing upon banks of flowers, and to his
trained ear came the melodious sounds of
singing birds, falling waters and soft
voices.
"Then he turned to the genius and
asked that he too might go to those en-
chanted isles, but the genius said that
none could go thither save through the
gates of death on the bridge of life.
Through those gates, we trust and believe,
the soul of our departed friend has passed
to the enchanted isle. Our brother was
not a religious man In the churchly sense
of that term, but his life, hrs character
and his works were a living exemplar OF
that great principle, the keystone of
Christianity, 'Dounto others as we would
have them do unto you.'
HE was most generous man. To that
compassionate heart no hand of needy
suppliant was ever stretched IN vain. He
had a tear for pity, and a heart open as
day for melting charity. He was the most
companionable of men-sincere, affec tion-
ate and affable,
'He possessed the true spirit of humor.
Not the humor which is barbed with the
kindly. generous and spontaneous. His
nimble wit was best exhibited in quick
and sparkling repartee. Looking back
ward over his half-century of life we find
that our brother faithfully discharged his
role in the drama of existence. Years be-
fore the Christian era an ancient philoso-
pher wrote that we are here upon stage
where each ones duty is to perform the
part allotted to him. Though we may
consider ourselves lily suited in the cast,
yet 1t is our duty TO perform that part,
great or humble, to the best OF our ability,
so that the fault, If any there is, will lie,
not with US, but with the great disposer
of the drama.
"What wonder, then, with such life
ana such character that our dead brother
should be beloved of all and that sorrow
should sit enthroned in the bosom of his
friends. So many kindly sentiments have |
been uttered and SO many gentle things
said of him that if they could but assume
a physical form no nobler column could
be erected TO his memory. We're each ex-
preston of kindly regard flower a monu-
ment of roses would bloom Ger his ashes.
land so, kind friend. loving husband,
loyal companion and gentle spirit, hail
and sare wellp
Rhys Thomas sang "Come Unto Me-"
Then Wells Drury, speaking for the
working newspaper men OF the City who
knew Ross Jackson, said:
ut has been deemed meet that some
one who was associated with our friend in
his life work, and who enjoyed his COM
panionship in his hours OF recreation,
should bear witness to the sterling
qualities OF his character. It has fallen to
my lot TO say those simple words.
II can think of no greater praise than
to say of man that he was always just.
Such man was Ross Jackson.
He was ALWAYS the same His we'll
balanced mind was not perturbed by the