The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-30

Jack Austin died in his rooms at the
California club on Sunday night. The
place of his demise was as appropriate as
that of a battlefield for soldier, for he
was one Of the most distinctively club
men In the city.
The comparison of soldier to club
man, q society fatterer, may seem tnap-
posite. In fact, have heard some cynics
remark with the suspicion of a sheer that
he died as he had lived. So he did, but In
all faith, Jack" Austin died brave man,
even as he lived a fearless man, and that
in face of the fact that for twelve years
past he has gazed without blenching into
the very sardonic, empty-eyed face of
death and fought him with every breath he
drew.
He came here almost dead man, In the
iron grip of an incurable ma1ady. He could
1t is true, have HE'D him to a parson, and
with quivering nerves and faltering cour-
age in the face Of the inevitable, have
sought the comfort of religion. In that
he did not do this no one but the good God
has any right to pass Judgment on him.
But he chose to go ahead with what work
and what merriment he could find. He did
not ignore his tailor because he was
doomed, nor neglect his linen because he
was dying nor did he avoid jest or the
company of the beautiful, the bright and
the careless because he knew not whether
the next day would find him among the
grim majority of those who have peopled
the earth. For twelve years he kept up the
fight that he knew he must finally lose.
Jack" was of the same stock as those
world-careless New Workers, who left their
sports and cigarettes and other concomlt-
ants of a luxurious life to swing sabers
against Spaniards at Siboney. He fought
death in the same gallant way here as
they did there. A friend of his, who sew
eral times watched by him when every
respiration threatened dissolution, found
him always with a smile on his bloodle
lips and the spirit Of brave gentleman
shining in his unfaltering eye.
His fidelity to his friends was unswerv-
ing his generosity never failing to those in
distress, his word unimpeachable and his
sense Of honor keen.
Twelve years ago when he came here he
began as newspaper man and pegged
away at reporting, with the same gallant
spirit that he showed throughout. What
ever he wrote he would stay by in the face
threatened by DULLES that he would be
"done up If he printed certain facts. He
printed them. And the buYlies, after q
short, decisive interview with him, decided
they would leave him alone. His body did
not weigh a hundred pounds but his spirit
weighed a ton.
De mortufs nil nisi bonum. It Is true
that under other circumstances faults
could be written about Jack that-but
that time Is passed. He was what have
said of him; in some things more, in others
less, but the others are before higher
tribunal.
When the news of his death was read
yesterday morning There we're many men
in the city who felt that grip at the heart
strings that comes when some one looks
up from the paper and says: "AIh! Did yor
know that so-and-so is dead?" And there
were doubtless some bright eyes that were
dimmed and rosy cheeks that were paled-
for the day.
Whether you loved Jack" or dislikei
him, whether you were satisfied with hi.
policy of life or found'it Objectionable. thu
| best wish can make you, is-may you bt
able to fight the dread master of us al
with as gay a heart, as cheerful a man
ner to others and as brave a soul
| THE BOHEMIAN.