The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1898-10-25
In Memory Of William GOOdpaster
Ramsey.

hdm0Ots
| Friday morning, when the message
reached here that Judge William
Ramsey had passed away the night
before at his home in Owingsville
with neuralgia attack Of the heart, q
shock deep and inexpressible was felt
| by his friends, with many OF whom
he had mingled ON our streets the
previous day, in the best OF spirits
and apparently in good health, con-
sidering the rather variable condition
of his health the past year.
The deceased was almost as well
known here and is as much mourned
as ii he were one OF us, for not only
do many of his relatives and family
connections reside here, but many OF
his early associations and friendships
were formed here when student in
the eighties, and ever since then he
has been frequent and welcome
visitor TO our town, whether as social
fSvorite or man of affairs. The
writer first remembers him as a
rather delicate, mild hammered, bright
minded boy of fourteen, at closer
knowledge evidencing those traits OF
character and that mental gift that
later on endesred him to so many
and advanced him 30 far. He soon
outgrew his constitutional weakness
with some care of himself, by athletic
culture and three years. sojourn in.
Colorado, then followed full course
in the sciences, philosophy and law
at the University OF Michigan and the
University of Virginia. There he
derived his ideas of civil liberty
from the purest fountains OF
Athens and of Rome, and fed
the youthful vigor of his studious
mind with the theoretic knowledge of
their wisest philosophers and states-
men, and drank his Democracy from
the spirit and home Of Jefferson.
This quickened by and coupled with
his fine moral instinct, laid deep with
in him the foundation of states
man. Then he returned to his
home and in the prime of health and
manly beauty, with literary distic-
ton, full OF ambition, and glowing
with patriotic hopes, he began the
practice Of law. While his career as a |
lawyer may be accounted success, 1t
was success far short of what ii
would have been had not the popular
demand for his oratory carried him
from his study to the stump,
AS he st pped into the forum in
1896, national elector at twenty
five, he struck the academic mind as
an Achilles, handsomest of all
Greeks, in the first flower and pube-
scency of his youth, aud as eloquent
as Cicero. The vigor of his thought
found expression in the eloquence of
his tongue. He was warm of heart
and stood for right and justice. The
good people OF Bath knew this full
well and so made him their Judge,
which Office he flied at his untimely |
taking of. Successful as politician,
he was not politician, but states
man a PATHFINDER rather than fol-
lower. Only last August in Congress
sionsl convention at CYnthiana, after
paying a beautiful tribute to his
friend and choice, Waller Sharp, his
voice rang out against imperialism.
she stood for freedom, not for con-
quest" How many men since then
have voiced the self same thingl
The many instances of his benevo-
ence, some never known till he was
aid to rest, the strictness with which
ne judged himself, the Lberality with
which he judged others, the charity
with which he alone came to the aid
Of one unfortunate young man, the
and love he had for almost
every kind of human existence, en-
feared him fast to all his people.
It was in his home 1 knew hlm best,
md I recall with much pleasure q
visit made few weeks since to this
most gracious host and open hearted
friend. We sat beneath the shade
rees in his yard one pretty Sabbath
lay and talked (or rather Will talked
while I listened) of life, and love and
ieath, of things both human and d.
zine, of the world, its men and their
affairs. Then 1t was that perceived
what large minded man he was,
md thu Ana hae;o xo.s., L