Evening star., 1902-07-31

was lawyer Of repute, a lecturer to uni
versity, director Of public education, the
trustee of hospital, a public servant high
in the Offices of state. He was all these
things before he became Commissioner of
the District Of Columbia. But it is as Com
missioner Ross that he will always be re-
membered. For out of the twenty-four
years since 1878, when it was permanently
decided to place the government of the Dis
trict in the hands Of three Commissioners
appointed by the President, twelve Of those
years have seen Commissioner Ross in Of
flee. Under this new government the Dis
trict has doubled it's population and its
wealth, and Washington has become the
most beautiful capital Of the world. More
over, 1t Is especially due to his interest,
eloQuence and energy that Congress has
granted the appropriation for the new Dis
trict building soon to be erected on Pennsyl-
Vania avenue. The acquisition of these
great gifts of men, money and beauty is
largely owing to this man, who lies SO still
and quietly before US.
Integrity and Honesty.
He displayed in these twelve years of his
Commissionership an integrity and un-
swerving honesty all men bear witness to-
There was not money enough in the city of
Washington to tempt him to dishonorable
thing. He bore himself with a kindness
beautiful to behold, and threw into the
meanest ana most common duties Of his
office the courtesy of gentle heart. Thus
he won the love Of rich and poor and black
and white. Thus he made small things
great; thus he kept his friendships durable
from the daily dust OF life. He made his
office mirror for his bravery; he had the
patient, tactful courage of his convictions
for he knew what he believed. And finally
Commissioner Ross displayed in those long
and crowded years the chief virtue of a
selfish patriotism. He dedicated his pow
ers not to ambition, but to service, loving
his country not for what she gave to him,
but for what he might give to her. HIS
at the end record as full and varied as it
Is honorable. Therefore we say 1t is an
hour Of triumph. for he died with his har-
ness on and his face to the front.
Inspiration Of the Hour.
But not alone is this an hour of grief and
triumph, 1t is an hour of inspiration. The
greatest gift Of a great mans life Is the
legacy he bequeathes to his lesser brethren.
For he lived and died q man whom men
honored and women trusted and children
loved, and he has left to US the incentive Of
high example. When our minds recur to
his dignified and gracious presence we can
not but bear in remembrance that his gem
tie manners were the fruit OF q gentle life
we meet here not primarily to mourn
around vanished form, but to be lifted up
as we gaze upon finished work. We are
not here to sound the death march over
this earthly clay, but to peal the march
triumphant of a soul gone home to God.
Seeing man compassed about" said one
of old, by SO great cloud OF witnesses.
let us run with patience the race that is
set before u.s." For he. Joined to that God
| In whom he believed and that Christ whom
he had confessed with heart and lips, has
become, with them. our witness, and we
must see to It that with honorable lives and
devoted public effort we run with patience
the race upon which he keeps his steadfa ST
eyes. He haa LEFT hia children tha insniro