Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-15
THE LATE GEO. W. VERNON.

moval OF an object uniting the loug
ago with the present Is usually cause
Of regret and sadness. In the almost
dreadful rush Of our present daily life
such an object at times compels us to
,pause, mentally retrace our steps and
review scenes and conditions which,
viewed from the present day stand
point, seem almost like the G olden Age.
Yet 1t is but the haze Of gathering
years that gives to the past its sense OF
comparative repose. When Mr.. Ver.
non first saw the light Of Gay, the
United States had got but few years
beyond the experimental stage of indie
psndence. His life began with the
practical setting in OF mighty tide of
national life. Tho nation was settling
down to the solution OF problems which
were destined to affect weightily its
own career. az well as to influence In a
great degree the world at large. Ii
was then that the great slavery strad.
die known as the Missouri Compromise, :.
was adopted. The nation finally took
q stand and righted itself 10 years
later, and our history shows that IN
national, as we'll as in private life, IL is
best not to temporize on matters of
principle, hut to gee to II that thty are
settled, and settled right. About this
time, too, the famous Monroe Doctrine
came into existence, and that the prip-
cip'e involved in this is still unsettled
is attested ny occasional snarlH which
reach US from over the sen. The az.
gressiveness attendant upon the de-
velopme mt of new country and the
advance OF civilization Brought with it
many great questions. but the nation
was blessed with men capable Of meet
ing and deciding them, ii not always
wisely according to the light which we
now nave, yet certainly according to
the needs OF their times The names of
such men as Webster and Clay will
never die.
But while Mr.. vernon's career COM
menoed with such an important stage
OF the nations political life, it also
began with the budding of its indus
trial life. We are now in full blossom
as an industrial and commercial People,
hut when We look back to those early
days we are forced to admit that then
ready were being laid the foundations
OF an Industrial greatness which has
become the admiration, the envy and
the peer of the rest OF the world. BY
way or illustration ] will mention a
few of our present day utilities. As
we gaze at the brilliant and beautiful
illlumination5 that make streets and
homes almost as bright as day, we are.
apt to forget that the lighting process
was ever different, SO quickly do We
adapt ourselves to improved conditions.
Yet it was not always so.- Streets we're
once dark and the edestrian required q
'link-toy to guide him on his way; fac
tories were lit with Candles, and not
till the early years Of Mr.. Nernon's life
did gas become a public commodity.
Likewise the street cars. Many per.
sons are still living who remember the
stage coach as means Of public con-
veyanco. The electric motor system of
our day laughs it to scorn. A few old
printers are doubtless still living who
remember when the muscle developing
hand press was the only means known
for printing a newspaper. The ma.
chine of today will turn out probably
more papers in an hour than hand
pressman could print In mouth. In
this connection | would call attention
TO the fact that Mr.. Vernon introduced
into bis office the first steam news
paper press used in Delaware. Mr.. Ver-
non witnessed, too, the birth OF the
magnetic telegraph.
l merely refer to these affairs, Joliii-
cal and industrial, to show that, whi,e
we are apt to gaze upon the past ms the
cemetery Of time. where all is asleep and
arrest that past embraced WITHIN Mr..
Vernon's career was filed with events
whose influence will reach to the end
of time. FROM childhood his life was
an eyentful one. Thrown upon his own
resources, he became self-made man.
Yet not one OF those self-nade men
who are forever reviewing past OBJ
scurity in order to magnify their sue.
cess Mr.. Vernon spoke very little Of
his past, except as 1t referred to mat
tiers concerning others. He was not
burdened with egotism. While his
calling brought him daily for more
than half a century into public life, he
was nevertheless thoroughly domestic \
man. loving home and family above all
else on earth. As he was q benefactor
at home, SO he was IN his office. A
host OF boys" pursuing varied walks
In life rise up to call his memory
blessed. Taking many of them from
humble homes, where the need of a
bread-winner was sorely felt. Nj. YER
non set them in the way OF earning a
livelihood for themselves and depend
emit ones. and of acquiring such knowI-
edge as would be useful through life,
Boys may become saints in due time,
with patience and proper training.
MIR. Vernon, as a rule, had to work
with raw material and there were times
when his patience was tried to almost
the breaking point-b il never broke!
l cannot recall an instance where one
of his "boys' was driven from his en-
ploy, though often justified in taking
such step. Nor can | recall an in.
stance where, among the number of
these boys | have met or associated
with in after years, an unkind word
was spoken Of our old employer. And,
strangely enough and | fear this ia a
strange recital, in view of the usual
unsympathetic relations between en-
p!oyers and their workmen-Mr. Yer
non Invariably, on occasion, inquired
about his boys" though many of
them had become gray haired and some
were grandfathers
Astfather, as employer, as citizen, as
q man in the best sense Of the term.
Mr.. Vernon occupied no second place
in the community in which he wrought
go long and SO we'll. If he did not X
shine with the flashy hrilliance OF a
meteor that shoots athwart the sky, his
name and memory none the less glow
with the quiet lustre OF fixed star.
Whatever his achievements in life. the
greatest OF all was the upbuildinp of
a good nane. God bless his memory
William Nader,
One of his ''Boys.'
Philadelphia, Pa, aug. 7, 1901.