The Washington times., 1902-12-07
DEATH OF THOMAS B. REED
Continued from second PaeeJ

course, he was always paid. In the last
few years ne seldom expressed his opin-
ions at length regarding the state Of
current political anirs. but of,sntimes
gave TO his old political associates views
which had weight with them I'm deter
mining party policies.
Mr.. Reed is survived by widow aud
one daughter. Miss Kittie Reed. TO
whom he was most devoutly attached
Many stories have been told Cf
Thomas B. Reed, but there is one which
has never been given wide publicity
Mr. Reed when he entered college in
tended 20 become a minister. He Vas
anxious TO obtain an education, and
some OF the good people Of his native
city. appreciating his talents and wish
ing to encourage him. subscribed TO
fund to send him to college. His par
ents were poor and could not afford 10
contribute the money on their Own ac-
count These good friends thought Mr..
Reed would make an ideal preacher.
and raised money for him TO undertake
a course OF study. the only stipulation
asked was that he should enter the min
istry.
His own ambition ran somewhat in
that direction, and he consented TO the
arrangement.
He entered Bowdoin College, N 1856.
and graduated IN 1860. But meantime
his views about religion had undergone
a somewhat radical change He had felt
IL coming on. but could not be sure. At
the last he had 10 give up the pulpit
Any other course would have been q lie.
And Reed was never the man either 20
tell or to live a lie. He made up his
mind 10 study law instead OF theology.
Shocked His Benefactors.
But what was ne to do about that OBJ
legation to the good people who had paid
for his education? They had sent a young
man TO college for no other purpose than
to make a preacher out OF him. II seem
ed base inEratitude for him 20 make this
education basis for success in the prac-
tice Of the law. II could not be denied
that 10 looked very much that way. But
no honest man could do anything else.
Reed made n clean breast o. il. His
who are living still have never gotten
over the shock
Reed studied law the best way he
could, worked hard and paid back every
cent OF the money that had been sub
sCribed for him. The feet that he was
under this obligation prevented him from
going into the army in the civil war. as
his patriotic impulses prompted him 10
do though he was able TO serve for
while as an assistant paymaster in the
navy toward the end OF the war Now
and then a political opponent has jeered
-, his war record" Possibly these
opponents have not beer aware that all
that time he was dischaTging an obliga-
ticn OF honor. and one that rested with
n peculiar weight on a sensitive con
science
Three EK-Speakers.
The death Of Mr. Reed leaves but three
ex-Speakers Of the House stiu living
Galusha A. Grow. VINO was welding the
gavel forty years ago; J. Warren Kcifer,
who presided in IsS1-3. and John G. Car
Isle who served from 1889 to 1889 in
elusive II is also noteworthy in this
connection that by reason OF the re-
tirement Of Speaker Henderson, and ex-
Speaker Grow that the next Congress
will be the first in many years in which
no man sits who was ever Speaker Of
the House In the House Of Representa-
tive Of the Fifty-hrst Congress- the first
over which Mr.. Reed presided. there
were two eN-Speakers, General Banks
and Mr.. Carlisle every man who has
since been Speaker, and the next Speak
er. Mr.. Cannon. II was the most re-
markable House since the civil war