The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-26
LAST WORDS
ARE SAID.
Mortal Remains of Judge C. g.
Foster at Rest.
Brief But Impressive Ceremony
at Residence.
FUNERAL GRAFTON.
Col. W. I'll. ROssington Speaks
Eloquently of His Friend.
Was an Enemy of Cruelty and
Oppression.

Ihe last tribute OF respect from the
living TO the dead was paid to the re-
mains OF Judge c. G. Foster by a large
cOncourse of friends assembled at his
late residence at Eleventh and Harri-
son streets Sunday afternoon at 3
o'clock The testimonials of esteem were
large, the most prominent of which
were the mountains of flowers which
concealed the large state casket which
rested in the south parIor. and were
banked around the walls in a prOfusion
which is seldom equalled in this city.
The brightness of the flowers was in
marked contrast with the scene which
they adorned. Although the members
OF Judge Fosters family had in a meas
ure anticipated his death owing to the
long suffering which he has experienced
Yet when the fatal moment came, they
were, as all people before them have
been unDreparad for the blow Mrs
Foster is almost Frustrated and the two
daughters bear the evidences of deep
affiiction.
The residence had been supplied with
chairs and the three rooms connected
with the parlor were occupied by the
large crowd of friends. The number of
lawyers in the throng was especially
noticeable. those who knew Judge Fos-
ter officially and personally. The older
citizens OF Topeka were also noticeable.
IN the hall entering from the front
Of the residence a framed photograph
Of Judge Foster rested on an easel COW
cred with flowers The portrait was
Hfe-like and as one looked from the
nail to the adjoining room which was
occupied by the casket the transition
from life to death was forcibIy impress
ed upon the mind
The funeral services were conducted
by Rev Abram Wyman, pastor of the
Unitarian church Of which Mrs. Foster
is a member. Mr.. Foster was not a
member of a church \ quartet COM
- ATr-- Il
demar Won Dahlen, Mr. Frank Park
hurst and Mr.. NJ D. Henderson sang
ABIDE With Ne" and Lead kindly
Light and Mr.. James Moore at the
special request of Mrs Foster sang
Friends" q beautiful composition by
Frederick y. Lohr
The funeral service was brief and in
stead of the usual Grafton BY the minis
ter. Col. w H ROSSingtOn read a paper
upon the life of Judge Foster This
was a mastery effort and was an elO-
quent tribute to the life of his deceased
friend Colonel ROSSIngtOn said in part:
a request to speak beside the coffin
Of a friend comes to one as a COM
mand; otherwise I would be restrained
by that sense Of fitness which ordains
silence in the presence of the dead 7
am oppressed too. by the feeling that
the remembrance of the living example
Of Judge Foster which is now most
wildly present IN the minds Of this
company, constitutes an eulogy so eIO-
Quent and sufficient as to render any
thing that might say vain and made
Quate- He was so genuine q man and
by the very law Of his being so sincere
and truthful; so free from all the forms
of petty vanity, that 1 would have a
sense OF wrOnging his memory if. in dis
cussing in a general way his busy and
useful life I spoke of him otherwise
than in measured and discriminating
terms.
If my long and intimate knowledge
Of him has enabled me to know the
m am rlc Oh IN a ms hat r-ea
keynOteS of his life and character were
a passion for justice and Righteousness
in the dealings of man with man and OF
society with the individual; and, an in
tense hatred of oppression and cruelty
in all the forms in which it might be
exhibited His nature was positive; he
was not a dreamer of dreams nor an
indulger in reverias wherein millennial
peace and plenty spread themselves
over the scene like a luminous golden
mist
He saw vividly; he felt keenly. Life
TO him was practical and its short
cOmings and defects were amenda bic
by earnest human effort His nature
had been moulded and annealed like
that of most young men of his time in
Kansas by adversely and struggle in
his youth In no common sense was he
a seIf-made man Deprived in his ear
lest youth of parental guidance and af-
lection. bereft Of all opportunities that
were not thought out and made by his
own judgment and sacrifice. he built
and fortified his character while he pre-
pared for the struggle of life in which
he meant to excel and do his whole
part It begot in him. as it does in
most youths. so circumstGnced, an in
tense self-cOnfidence and strong faith in
what he had with such effort achieved
and an unconquerable belief in what
mis- ht be achieved in the same way
1t was a hard apprenticeship which
he served and one that suff1ced TO bring
out and strengthen his latent powers
HOY hr-Tl a
gan farm but many if not most of his
contemporaries had their youthful tour
of such hard but healthful work HIS
professional studies were pursued in an
Old-fashioned law office in central New
York; a good school in which to &C
quire a wide and practical knowledge
Of the law But, nothing 50 tended to
mature and develop him and make him
what he was as his early professional
experience in the territory of Kansas
still Sgirated and disturbed by tire
free state struggle, hardly over past
and thrilling with the apprehension of
the great civil war which was but the
climax and catastrophe of the Kansas
movement
The young men who stepped into this
arena TO begin the struggle of life may
be said to have had in the common
sense OF the term, no youth The life
was so intense. so exigent. so engrOss-
ing as to speedily mature their powers
and to fix and establish their moral and
social convictions They could not live
for themselves OF for any particular
calling The real business of life was
TO build and establish the new state. TO
see TO il that it formed a part of the
one indissOluble nation In this envir-
onment and in the storm and stress of
these times were the soul and nature of
Cassius c. Foster evolved and formed"
Col. ROSsingtOn then referred to the
early settlement Of the state and the
efforts to bring Kansas into the union
in the midst of wars alarms and ex-
element. He then said: Into the life