Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-02-06
PROF. WILLEY's TRIBGTE.
Wheeling News Praises II Very Highly
Eulogy Of Gel. McEldow
ney.

ney.
Last week the Wetzel Democrat,
which enjoyed state wide prominence
for many years through the wit and
wisdom of its editor, the late lamen.
ted Col. Robert McEldowney, print
ed special Robert McEldowney ed
ition in which were printed tributes
to his lie and character says the
Wheeling News. The contributors
were all well known men who had
enjoyed Col. MeEldowney's friend
ship and they were all eloquent in
praise of the man who was SO long
regarded as the ornament of the
newspaper calling in West Virginia,
though he was q lawyer by profes
sion. Perhaps the best of the sym
postum of tributes was paid by Prof
William p. Wiley, of Morgantown,
who wrote as follows;
Col. Robert McEldowney was one
of the rarest men that was ever born
to West Virginia. He was rare and
unique, not only as to the special
trait of his character, but as to the
many sided features which made up
the man. He was rare in his ply
sique in any company, if it had been
the only peculiar feature. 1t is rarely
one of such sturdy build, such square
shoulders, such symmetrical proper
tions, such towering height, and
such full and taultless development
of every part is found figuring IN
the quiet walks of the profession.
He was rare man, also, in point
Of mental recourees. He turned his
hand as readily to the law as to the
pen. He carried along through life
two difficult and exacting proies
sions, and succeeded in both Ills
services were sought for as a lawyer.
acd he was the peer of those who
made it their sole business. He was
more widely read as the editor of a
local weekly paper than any other
man in the state in that business.
He was a rare man as hnmorist.
We might be warranted in saying
that this was the most marked fea-
ture of his character. 1t was spon
taneous. There was no machine
like process about it He had keen
sense OF the ridiculous. He had a
pathetic vain in his mental processes
and the two qualities made his ut
terances at times the highest order
OF humor. 1t made him one OF the
most caustic writer's in the state,
and it made him always interesting
and delightful.
He was rare man Of probity of
life and character. Although of a
social nature. and capacity for en-
ioying the pleasures, of the world,
no one among his best acquaintance
can perhaps poin.. to an act of Col.
McElslow ney's life that disparages
his character as a man and gentle
man. The last days of his life, and
the last emanations from his pen,
written under circumstances that
would have taken the heart out OF
the average man, were the most elo-
quent and cheerful he ever penned.
Few men who have not occupied
high positions in public life, but
have moved in the private walks of
the professions, have won for them
selves stronger hold on the atten
ton, the friendship, the interest and
the affection of the people of this
state than did Col Robert McEl-
downey. We are all sorry he has
gone.
Col. McEldowney had a wide ae-
quaintance over this section. 1t was
here he was best known and all who
know him can subscribe to the grace
full tribute of Prof. Wiley. 1t is
true portrait of fine character.