Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-27
Walter 0. Stinson.


iiked to he tcld of him is not anythin.s :
concerning the patent facts ana mani
rest activities Of his useful career. huf
rather what relates to certain possibil
ties "t mind ana character which wera
h'N"r developed and To ambitions
when were never realized. III, made 4,
success of his life. He was 4 strong
man " no carried through Whatever H.
undcrtook- = brave man Who fought
oppoSlng circumstances in vouth until
liz came 10 conquer them in maturity
an enduring man VITO labored harl
and suffered much. Y"t. with all this.
ne was a man u no did not do what u.
would. but what he might: and wear
ihe way that opened to him b,~aus,.
the wa! he wished to follow WAS shut.
rms. III 4 measure" happens to every
one ot us. Il is very doubtful whether
there Is suca z thing as free choice. in
TINS world even for the most favored:
While the l.aSt favored ar. driven hv
the whip Of n"c"<Sity al th~ir lives. It
Is usual. fut Walter Stinson's ols,
was not usual. lie possessed powers
that would probably have made him
famous. ,oui'l h" have exercised them a
scious himself. TO those who knew
him only rs good business man ana
IN able public official it may seem
strange cnoush-but the fact is ma
ture meant him for Il soldier. Thi,
lhu"h h" i"lt himself: Yet now truly b..
was fitted for he profession Of arms
lie could hardly have been aware.
Nevertheless. when :. young lad can
study IN !"rstandinsly III, operations
Of 4 campaign. can work out compli-
Gated man"uvl"s. select positions ana
invent tactical movements, wnil" con
stantly revealing remarkable knuwl-
et2" II military minutiac. il surely
may he thought to indicate. Il strong
vocation. II" c"rri"d this So far a. to
create Tor himself IN ideal cuuntr,-
provided with an army. navy, rivii gov
eminent ana financial system. which
was 50 rnal To him that he could dr.ty,
detailed MAJ, .. il: and would tn.n
proceed - involve il in Wars carried -
from 'ia% to day with strict attention
to every requirement of strategy. II
vas merely Il boys pastim". hut !.
showed what the man was intended tu
DO H could not do il. however. for
out Of West Point. where he wouiI
otherwise have gone. H.. regretted this
for years.
l:ut hr retained the peculiar Ill, lIltN
deerrihcd-tli power OF ,ntens, pl;tr-
ticai realization Of an ideal conception.
tS a SChoOlhoy II. could never pa
tiently receive 4 problem which was
unlikely in It's conditions. or any kini
Of statement involving Inconsistencies
or improbahilties His old teachers
we'll remember tlrc sturdy protests he
used To make against the absurd trans
actions of farmers and merchants ~
Set forth III examples or arithmetic.
Nor would hc ever allow 'wnai tn
book says to pass nnChatlrngcd. when
as frequently "harced. II" book SAIL
wrong. and H. could trumphantly prove
il from, tn. current newspapers.
He grew III and remained like this
a lover Of the real fact Il hatcr 81
sham and inacsrIrdcN. Tie had an in
born analytical tendency which madc
him tear away rlctences Of every soru
TO ct at tn" core Of the matter; ana
nothing bit the truth could content
him. \ nati'c humor was his ally IN
he found ridiculous was almost always
something which betrayed aficctdti"n
~ inSinCcrity.
Whatever he kneV- he had convinced
himself Of not passit ely accepted. Ihr
effect of this self-education was evident
10 everybody to whom he talked WITH
him one never dragged through thoS''
sea sons Of drcarv inanity which are +"
common IN hannah intercourse. He a.
waNs had sonnet hing to tell you--son"
bit Of Information hc had just learned
some bright anccdote ne had JUS
heard som, acute observation he hau
INST made or some argument for or
against whatever question might h'
occupying public attention. l'e walked
you M. gave you new ideas ana sent
vou away with 4 feeling of stimulation.
III. vas r.m3rlSablc in such activity
and rayetv of mind i: only because h'
v.as able 10 command them Few pfr-
sons have. ever been surrounded b\
daath and sorrow almost from thc Y