Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-11
HIS DEAR DEAD FRIEND.
Mayor of Atlanta Speaks at the
Funeral OF a Negro.

Funeral OF q Negro.
The funeral of Richard J. Henry. coIOred,
for so long a time porter and private serv-
ant Of his honor, Mayor Livingston Minis,
embodied In it's program an episode that Is
too notable and too altogether pleasing to
be omitted from a special comment, reports
the Atlanta lev
His fidelity, his courtesy, his intelligence
nnd his effective service had endeared him
only to his master and employers. but
TO all the numerous company Of white men
Of all degrees who came in contact with him.
Large sums Of money were entrusted daily
10 his care for transmission to the bank
and II is estimated that In this position he
had carried on his person millions Of dol
lars. At his funeral the respect and re-
gard Of the white friends of this admir-
able negro were everywhere in evidence.
They made a large representation In the
large audience.
The funeral, conducted by high officials
of Henry's own church and race. was most
Impressive and full OF high tribute to the
character and record OF the deceased. The
mayor of the city and his accomplished
wife occupied front seats in the church dur
ing the services and when the ministerial
ofioes had progressed to a certain point
the mayor Of the city, who was also the
employer Of the deceased, was called on to
speak.
without any special time for preparation
and mainly upon the impulse and suggestion
OF the moment Mayor Minis, who has long
been held one Of the most accomplished and
aristocTatic gentlemen Of the south, a cav
alier and Burbon Of the most pronounced
type arose and said:
Your call on me to speak on this occasion
was certainly unexpecttd-and yet while so
heartily commencing all that has been so
f~eelingly and eloquently said In reference
to my dear dead friend-my friend Of more
than a third Of q century l cannot refrain
from expressing the genuine grief and sor-
row that his death has oecasioned me. In
deed, q sorrow that ny entire family shares,
and l know, too. 1t will be felt by the
large number OF his friends and mine who
\ knew him so we'll in the connection he had
with the business In which l have been en-
gagged for so many years, and I might add
his many white friends in this city who
respected and admired him for the splsndii
qualities that he possessed, He was ever
doing charity and kindness to all sorts of
people. He was indeed a model husband
and father. a good citizen and a loyal and
devoted friend, and a Christian gentleman.
10 nut Iic gtlNN ~ NOANNHh III NltuSuL-
fulness were constant and grateful. In the
course Of nature he should have survived
me, and / always thought that II he did
there was no living man on whom I could
better rely for kindness and care for my
family.
"I can point to no one whose daily life
and character afford a better and more com
mendable example to all men to emulate
than this.
He well deserved all the comforts, bless
ings and promises OF the holy religion ne
professed and which the distinguished rev.
erend clergy has. on this solemn occasion.
so ably administered.
II care not. though. for crseds in that
unknown country from whose bourne nc
traveller rsturnS'-and TO which his pure
spirit tends-for l feel that the good man
who sleeps in all the awful majesty Of death
in yonder CONN carries with him accept
able credentials to all the happiness thai
pertains 10 mortals after death. His mem
Org will be treasured"