The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-08-05

4
ripe conclusions were characteristic of
large information, keen perception and
continuity of thought. Reference has
been made to his unfailing professional
amenity. 1t might be said that kindli-
ness was conspicuous i'm all his person.
al relations. He recognized the rights
of the humblest citizen and the small
est child. 10 learn that any thing he
had done or failed to do, said CT failed
to say had wounded any man, woman
or child was to be very uncomfortable
on his own account.
We shall remember Mr.. Meyers only
as an editor. Int this field his character
was developed, his ample powers won
the best recognition. To his work as
an editor was due such promotion as he
received in the civil service OF his
country. In order to understand the
full scope of his life work, however. it
is we'll to consider its various phases.
During his first term of residence at
the national capital he studied law and
issued useful publication known as
the Civil Service Journal. He was sent
on three special missions to Germany
In 1871, after an interview with Gener-
al Grant, he was appointed to investi-
gate and report as to methods for the
better protection OF immigrants en-
route. His report was the basis of a
special message to congress, and practi-
cal action resulted. In 1878 he was
sent to the Fatherland to report to the
educational bureau relative to the kin
dergarten system of Germany. In 1891
he was again detailed to gather statis-
tics in the land of his birth in relation
to manual training, POLYTECHNIC and art
schools. During the administration of
Harrison he was a second time placed
at the head of a bureau in the treasury
department, position he resigned be-
fore the return of Cleveland to execu-
tive power. lie was postmaster at
Denison for nine years, and held other
local positions of trust. lie was always
conspicuous in the affairs of his town,
his county, his congressional district
and his state. The newspaper man
fully imbued with the Importance of
his work always considers office-holding
as merely incidental, and never to be
considered as the chief object or CON
Germ in life. Thus it was with Mr..
Meyers. lie was always an editor,
proud to be known as such. He wore
himself out in the editorial harness.
He died as he lived in full realization
OF the large opportunity and the serious
responsibility of the newspaper field.
Mr.. Meyers was man so we'll equip
ped in judgment, tact, industry and in
tegrity that it is fair to assume that he
would have succeeded in other lines of
activity. 1t requires no violent strain
upon the imagination to see as in a
vision j. Fred Meyers rising to emf
nence as lawyer and finally grazing
an exalted judicial station; or winning
his way along the paths leading to com
merclal greatness; or ''conquering and
to conquer in the domain of finance
Unquestionablyin either walk he would
have had less of heart burning and
more of personal comfort. lie would
have maintained his family in luxury
and left to them fortune. But this
man chose to be an editor, decision
that forced him from wealth or great
renown. He lived frugally all his days.
rendering unto Caesar the things that
were Caesars and unto God the things
that were Gods, and leaving to his
heirs a very modest estate. But we
offer to this family no sympathy on the
score OF their small inheritance. 1t is
within the knowledge of each that this
husband and father so we'll acted his
part in life as to leave to them imper-
ishable riches. He taught his children
to fear God, to despise the meanness of
avarice and to fifty prize the better
gifts of enlightened mankind. In his
career OF integrity, and honor, and help
fulness he gave them to see the beauty
OF virtue and unselfshness and the
meanness OF living simply to accumu-
late and to spend for personal gratifica
ton. The legacies enjoyed by the
family of j. Fred Meyers are enough to
arouse theenvy OF children of merchant
prince or Napoleon of finance. Prin-
clples are eternal Character never
dies. 1t is no more possible to bury
with the tired clay tie influence of a
helpful life than to entomb forever the
immortal soul. Money, and fame, and
line homes and physical loneliness are
u and disappointing, while a
life we'll spent is power for good even
III the 'eternal years of God.r
Our lamented brother would have
lived on to continue his work, but he
was ready to die. Even when the
tangs OF disease were closing on his
vitals he was fun OF life and trimming
with good nature. With his faithful
wife and loving daughter Mr.. Meyers
spent some time on the shore of Spirit
Lake last summer, released from care
V.,1