Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-05-16

Salmon May q. Stranger still. Mr.. Otey
was appointed by the speaker of the
house as one Of the committee to at
tend the burial of Mr.. Cummings, but
was himself dead before Mr.. Cum
mings was inferred. For some time to
come, at any rate, congressman will
have no need Of such monitor as a
certain potentate appointed for himself
whose duty was to whisper In his ear
at frequent intervals, 80 king, thou art
mortal!" Mr.. Salmon and Major Otey
We're both useful and growing mem
bers; but, as they were comparatively
new members, only the usual honors
were paid to them
A Public Funeral For Amos CUMMINGS.
10 Amos ]. Cummings the house paid
the unusual tribute of public funeral
in the hall of the house of representa-
hves, and the rnre honor was well be-
slowed He was one of the most useful
and most popular men who ever sat in
that body.
None knew him but to love him;
None named him but to praise.
Wherefore? Because he loved every
body. He spoke evil of no one. With
his facile pen he made the fortunes of
many public men. He was most
felicitous writer, and he delighted to
write of their excellences, which he
mognffed as lover magnifes the
beauty Of his sweetheart Remember
me at my best" was the pathetic re-
xr,1{n
the mouth Of James Steerforth. Amos
Cummings always painted his friends
at their best, and he did it with mas
ter hand. He was thoroughly imbued
with the spirit Of St Paul's rhapsody
on charity In the thirteenth chapter Of 1
Corinthians, Though speak with the
tongue of men and Of angels and have
not charity, have become as sounding
brass and unkling cymbal." II there
was any virtue or grace OF ability in a
man, he sought It out lnd exploited it
to the utmost. A dullard he pitied; q
rascal he loathed; pretender he de-
tested. He was brave as lion, gentle
as woman, plain as On old shoe, hon
est as the day is long, tireless as the
force OF gravitation. He stood I'M
abashed at the presence of presidents
and princes: be was easily accessible
to the humble, the needy and distress
ed At his funeral were statesmen, sol
diers, lawyers, edftHs-an men of high
degree but the iDwiy were there in
thousands with tears in their eyes and
sor1ow In their hearts for their dead
friend. who never failed them at any
time or In any place. In the very best
sense be was 1.-THE friend Of the peo-
pte," and the people-the plain people,
as Lincoln called them-repaid that
friendship tn Scripture measure, heap
ed up, pressed down and running over.
The most convincing evidence Of his
popularity is that he was spoken Of
and addressed as Amos from the At
lantic to the Pacific and from the great
lakes to the gulf of Mexico. Only on
rare and state occasions was he spoken
to as "Mr. Cummings" or as Zion.
Amos J. Cummings" He was Amos
to his friends. and his friends consti-
tuted newspaper reading Amertca. a
worker all his days, he enjoyed This
world with the hearty zest m b boy,
and the world enjoyed him tt Is a
more delectable place for human habi-
taton because he lived in It. He was
catholic, in the very best sense, in both
politics and religion. a Republican
house voted him public funeral oil
though he was Democrat, and a
Catholic prelate participated in his flu
neral services although he was Prot
estant. Some men are created to be
| honored; some are created to be loved
few are created to be both loved and
honored, To that small but goodly
company Amos J. Cummings undoubt-
edly belonged. He did not confne his
/; love to the human family, but 1t en-
braced all animated nature to use
Oliver Goldsmith's phrase. He loved
the lower animals; he loved the birds;
he loved the flowers One of his keen.
est delights was to throw of the cares
| of craftsmanship. lay down his facile
pen and while away few hours with
his bosom crony, Hon. William R
Smith, superintendent of the Nationa
Botanical gardens, in luxuriating ami6
the flowers and shrubbery which Shen
stone would have admired and in dis
cussing "sweet Robbie Burns.' the
tenderest poet that ever sang. There
was no sincerer mourner at the bier Of
Amos Cummings than his most faith
full and intimate friend, Superintend
ent Smith.
What wonderful and varied career
this lovable man had! Son Of Pres
byterian preacher, he was the child o.
the manse. While q mere boy hi
served under Walker in Nicaragua
Congress voted him gold medal 70!
heroic conduct on the awful field o;
Fredericksburg. He boosted that h
had set type in every state in thu
Union. He became the editor Of {
great paper. he died one Of the mos
popular men In public hfe, mournet
by mighty nation. "He went ab9u
| doing good" and little children cried Il
the streets when they heard that b
was dead.
The consuming passion of this mani
soul was a noble love of country. Il
!, fought for her i'll his young manlQo
. and periled his own life that the reput
! lie might live. In his maturer year
he gave to her the full measure of hi
:. devotion as a legislator. He died, q
no doubt he wished to die, in her ser'
: ice with the harness on his back. Typ
n setter filibuster, soldier, editor, state
, MANN all his vocations and avoc;