The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-29
DIED IN SUNNY ITALY
FORMER L. s. CONSUL GENERAL
WALLACE :. JONES
PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY.
NATIVE SAVANNAHIAN ENDED AN
ILLUsTRIOUs CAREER.


of Democratic Party-Was Consul
to MesSina Under CIeveland's
First Administration and Later
Consul General at ROme-Has
Large Landed Interests in Georgia
and FIorida-FOr Several Years He
Had Resided in Italy and France.
BESIDES His Sister, His Only Sur
vfving Relatives are Savannah
fans-Tribute of Lifelong
Friend.
An Associated Press dispatch an
nounces tine sudden death from heart
disease of Wallace S. Jones, former U.
S. Consul General at Rome, on the
9th inst. The following sketch of his
career is furnished by Mr.. ]. R. Saus-
sy, himself a warm personal friend of
Mr.. Jones':
Wallace Savage Jones was a native
of Savannah, born Nov. 4, 1874. He was
a son of George Noble Jones. and a
descendant of Col. Noble Jones, whose
name and services were intimately and
hoporably associated with the Colony
of Georgia from it's earliest inception
under Gen. Oglethorpe.
Mr.. Wallace Jones spent many years
of his youth in Paris, his mother hav-
ing resided in that city for the benefit
of her health for a number of years.
The Princess Murat owned an estate
in Florida adjacent TO Ell Destino. the
plantation of Mr. George Noble Jones,
and the neighborly association origi-
mating there ripened into friendship
between Mrs. Jones and the Princess
in Paris. and during the Civil War in
the United States Mrs. Jones and her
family, through the influence of the
Princess, had the entire at the Court of
st. Cloud, while many aspirants for
imperial recognition from the Northern
states We're unable to obtain presen-
tation to the court.
Graduate of st. Cyr.
Mr.. Jones was a cadet at the Gov
eminent Military School at st. Cyr,
and graduated with the first homer in
proficiency as a graduate of this mill
tary institute, to enter the French
army as an officer of rank, but he
chose rather to return to the United
States and cast his lot with his ma
tive state and devote his energies to
it's resuscitation.
Mr.. Jones entered the office of the
Hon. Thomas E. Lloyd, as a student
of law, and was admitted to the Savan-
nah bar. He did not however. enter
into the active practice of his pro-
fession, the large landed interest of
his fathers estate requiring his at
tention, and for a time he resided on
their plantation in Jefferson county in
the state of Georgia. He afterwards
moved to FL Destino. their plantation
in Jefferson county, near Monticello,
in the state of Florida.
He became prominent in the coun-
ellis of the Democratic party in Flori-
da, without however aspiring to any
office in the local politics of the state;
but upon the election of Grover Cleve-
land to the Presidency he was ap-
pointed Consul to Messina, which Of
flee he held during President Cleve-
lands first term.
Consul General at Rome.
On the election of President Harri-
son Republican was appointed to this
consulship. and Mr.. Jones returned to
his plantation in Florida. Upon the
reelection of President Cleveland he
was promoted to a most important po-
sition in the foreign service.
He had impressed the Department of
State with his fitness for diplomatic
service by the valuable and. instructive
reports made while consul at Messina,
and his efficient performance of his
duties at Messina was recognized and
rewarded by his advancement to the
position of Consul General at Rome,
where he remained in office until the
close of President Clevelands second
term, when the exigencies of party
politics again deprived the United
States of his capable and intelligent
services, and Mr.. Jones returned to
private life.
BY his education and training his
familiarity with the French, German
and Italian languages, and knowledge
and experience in the social customs
and usages of Continental Europe Mr..
Jones was admirably equipped for con-
sular or diplomatic service, and was an
efficient and honorable representative
of the United States in Europe. and
would doubtless have been prominent
in this branch of the service, if the in
exorable demands of party politics had
not enforced his retirement and filed
ms place with persons more popular
with the party in power
His Private Life.
In private life Mr.. Jones displaved
those high traits of character conso-
nant with the noble lineage whence he
sprang. He was the very soul of honor.
polished, courteous, affable and re-
fined. Firm in his own convictions. he
was charitable and tolerant towards
those with whom he differed. He pos
sessed that charm of personality which
won the friendship and respect of all
who came within the sphere of his ac-
quaintance
How aptly fitting to his memory are
the words of the Bard of Avon
His life was gentle, and the elements
SO mixed in him, that Nature might
stand up
And say to all the world, This was a
man."
For several years before his death
Mr.. Jones' had resided in Rome with
his sister, Miss Sarah Wallace Jones.
His health had become impaired. and
during the past summer he visited
London and consulted the distinguished
specialist, Sir William Broadbent. who
sent him TO Wales, where ii was hoped
the environments would relieve the
malady which had affected his heart
He obtained temporary relief and went
TO Paris, where he spent some time
entertaining his nephew. Mr.. George
Noble Jones, who had visited him Nv
special invitation.
Ills malady doubtless renewed its at
tack after his return 10 Rome ,n =
more acute and violent form, and sud
denly snapped the silver cord.
His Surviving Relatives.
M kNaffaaa =