Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-12-30
The Market.
Georgetown, Dec. SO.-Wheat 7Sas5
IN MEMORIAM.

Died at his residence in Washington city,
on December 9th 1908, WILLIAM Ill.
FOWLE, native of Alexandria and citizen
of Virginia.
As his schoolfellow, his comrade in the
stormy days ofthe civil war and as his lifelong
friend, desire to offer a humble tribute to
the memory of that typical Confederate sol
der and Virginia gentleman, Capt Fowle.
He came of proud race; his ancestors
were men whose names ever stood high in the
Old Dominion. At the very threshold Of
manhood, when enraptured with the world,
he dropped all the allurements and charms
that wealth could give, and volunteered IN
defence of his native State. After the war he
lived in his native city and in Stanton lie
was by instinct and nature born soldier and
all civil employments were distastetul to him.
Like a stormy petrol, he loved the tempest,
the drums beat, the bugle's blare; the thun-
der of the guns was the sweetest music to his
ear. That he should lH'e crushed all the
ambitions of his hear. fought the battle
of life on other lines il 4 to his credit lie
was a determined Pr -, and for his un-
swerying and efficien e'rvice to his party
was appointed by Pr lent Cleveland TO be
Collector of Internal & enue at Lynchburg,
succeeding Gen. Fitz. 70. Upon the change
of administration. he tG.ned over the ONCE TO
his successor, and SO ably had he managed tine
richest district in the South, that he received
the high compliment of a personal congratu-
latory letter from the Secretary Of the Treas
ury. He was in the Paymaster Generals
Office in Washington when he incurred the
fatal disease that struck him down.
have seen Captain Fowle in every phase
Of life, and ever beheld u man. saw him at
Blaskburn's Ford in advance of his company,
cheering his men to victory | saw him at
Seven Pines in those looming bastlons pulsing
with fire in that maddening, hurly-burly OF
conflict. dress his men in line rs coolly as if
on parade, and | saw him fall headlong, as |
thought, never to rise again. | saw him IN
front of Petersburg, Tith sword in hand lead
ing the advance, and again saw him reel and
fall.
| recall him in the camp, the field, the
march ever bold ready, and firm. lneyer
heard a word Of vain repining from his
lips, nor did ever hear him utter base.
ignoble, or vulgar thought lofty pride was
the keynote of his character. He followed
Polonious's advice;
1.-THE friends thou hast and their adoption
tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of
steel"
A mans life is so chequered with success
and mistakes--of intention and performance
of purpose and will, that only when the
.entient form has grown cold and lies
crowned in the majesty of death, can We sum
M the total and find whether the evil has
overtopped the good. Judge no mans life"
says Seneca, until it is done"
If treating with knightly courtesy all man
kind if being loyal, ardent son of his ma
tive State if being the staunchest OF COM
rades, the faithfulest of friends, the fondest Of
parents, the truest of true husbands il
being the manifest among manly men
IF standing four square to all the winds
that blow"
Means a perfect fullflment Of ones destiny,
then William II. FOwle has not lived in
vain.
He died as he lived, without malice and
without fear. Let his epitaph be: Those
who knew him best, loved him best.
A. II.