Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-06-13
Dr.. Byron Robinson's Tribute to Dr. G. w.
Whitney.

VHiIHey.
No one can help regretting the
death Of an old time friend, especially
| IT that friendship is formed in early
professional life when events are more
| indelibly fixed in the mind.
Almost exactly score of years ago
| became acquainted with DR.. G. w.
Whitney suave polished gentleman,
of genial disposition and reSourceful
tact. DR.. Whitney was a remarkable
| physician, man of fine talent and
winning manners. He had the rareSt
power of inspiring supreme confidence
in patients. His patients saw II his
composed elegant bearing new hopes
of life and fresh expectations of
recovery when Dr. Whitney appeared
on the scene of disaster matters
changed, for he always bore cheerful,
hopeful smile, courage quickly stiff
fened the back bone of the weak and
redoubled the courage of the strong.
To bis patients he said few words
but kindly and we'll chosen. but from
his kindly tactful manners. from the
few well chosen words the patients
courage revived, the little spark of
life became fame. How quietly and
softly DR.. Whitney moved about the
room as if he were a kindly delicate
mission almost wOrdleSs but full of
quiet service. He was rich in tact
and talent and sometimes said wise
things. When the new, young doctor
arrived full of sound and fury he
would quietly remark, "a humble bee
is biggiSt when he is born" He was
a man of Shrewd remarks, keen but
kindly wit and with all held his
friends with hooks Of steel. He was
kind hearted to a fault, liberal in
views and the most unassuming of
men.
He was no friend to show and
pretenSe and was sarcastic in the
presence of conceit. He was a local
medical celebrity, a great physician
with the people and friends never to
be forgotten. His dignitied quiet
bearing, unaSSuming, graceful man
ncrS and life of delicate reserve
made him an attractive individual.
DR.. Whitney will live forever with
his friends. Few men can expect to
make such mark, with so little, the
gods Of nature favored him. He was
fond of fun and sports, his wit made
us laugh without the final sting and
his quiet life tanned unruly ambition.
He was not asman of flame and noise
but that of quite social citizen. It
is true he lacked the enthusiasm
which fired young mems ambition but
he was progressive adjusting himself
to the progress of the times. Dr.
Whitney was strong lover of natures
hills and valleys like all great souled
men. He was fond of trees and
flowers, green fields of rlpened waving
grain, the yellow straw stacks CLEAN
of gold and the Sumachs flame of red
He watched with pleasure the sleek
fat cattle as they wander over green
pastures. He loved the song of birds
and babbling brooks. He spoke of
natures stores, rich for coming time
and saw in growing science the useful
treasures of man. He was in love
with his profession for within it's fold
are men and nature. A generation
ago he was the noted pupil of cele-
brated physician. DR.. Whitney, the
physical body is gone, his faults lie
buried with him, his good deeds are
living after him, and to these good
deeds we erect a monument for all
coming time. For, to many his
memory is garden of flowers, a fruit
fu happy day, relief from pain and
suffering, dawning ray of hope or
some sad day that marked a date of
life.
In memory of the past score years
we shall frequently meet the doctor
on the street, at the sick bed, on the
road and in the Otfice-the same good.
pleasant DR.. Whitney with that ever
living smile that cheered the sad, that
SOftened pain and fear, that encOu-
| ragged the weak, that Sparkled into
flames of life that dying hopes We
will see him with sad and sympathetic
countenance receiving. the report of
blighted hope and again with gladden.
ing flush of pleasure receiving the
profound gratitude of the grateful.
Dr. Whitney was of the people, for
the people and with the people. He
was a link and part of the families he
attended. His word was law and
gospel, his remedies was the power
that almost raised the dead. Such an
enviable reputation come only to
great and worthy souls.
Grand Rapids and DR.. Whitney are
inSeparable. His generation can not
separate him from their birth. illness
and death. The sound of Dr.. Whit
neyS name and the sound of the
rushing Rapids will always be borne
on our ears together. Our memory
will never give him up and like
| Lincoln he is not dead. Men may
come and men may go but Dr. Whit
ney and old Grand Rapids, shall with
US, rush on forever. The recent pass
ing of such men as Whitney, Gardner
and Brundage great souled men those
| like will not soon be seen again,
almost make us lose the ambition
grasp on life and the palsied muscles
relax in efforts hold. However, no
doubt it would be we'll to harbor no
fear but be quietly satisfied that we
are of nature, well brought into
natures plan and we'll treated here,
serving purpose like the adjusting
figures on black board, and thence
returned to nature to be again we'll
served.
DR.. Whitney now that you are gone
We know in Grand Rapids that we
are lonesome without you. The
pang of regret comes SO late that we
could tell you. But the world is bet.
ter that you have lived in it. You
shall rest beneath our sweetest bank
of violets and over your body shall
wave the ever green trees of friend.
ships memory.