The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-08

the eloquent tribute by DR.. Smith, who
said among other things:
When the news swept over the city
that Col Kiefer is dead, the hearts Of
the living We're almost as nerVelesS as
the heart Of the dead. The campaign
was over. We saw then that our human
struggles are but the painted mimicry Of
war, and have no real meaning. The
passion vanished from the soul, hearts
were touched to sudden tenderness, the
visible persisted, realities were born there
was all the swift light of a revelation.
At such an hour how poor seem all the
prizes of this world, and its hottest am
billions are but the widest dreams, and
we shall be sane again when morning
breaks
But the death of our friend would
have been significant at any time. The
place he had filled in the life of the COM
istration of local affairs, in his capacity
as congressman, and in the councils Of
his party. he had lived a full life. IN
an the various posts of honor to which
he was called. he gave them the entire
measure of his capacity, his hands were
untainted, and his sense of obligation
was very high: Men differed from him
call in question his integrity In public
But his personality was more signifi-
and the close associate are stricken with
a sense of irreparable loss. He may be
described as a man with a talent for
friendship. Those who knew him best
loved and trusted him the most. His
catholicity of character is well revealed
In the largeness of his circle and the
various classes to which he had access
doubt If any man in the city could call
more people by name. Nor was this the
result of the necessities of politics 1T
was the genial comradeship of the man
ne was human, loVable and bound men to
him. Such a nature is never wholly bad
me capacity for friendship is the mother
of virtues.
He was German, and he had a right tn
be. Nurtured in the Rhineland, ne loved
the memories of his castled hills with the
purple haze resting on their vineclad
slopes. The deep shadows of the great
forests. the laughing fields, and the cot
tages filled with peace and power, called
to him. The splendid genius of Luther,
VINO gave his country freedom, of the
try rebirth, an intellect, and Of Schiller.
he with the golden Tyre, who had filed his
land with music, were realities to him
Yet none the less was he an American.
That German scion grated on the Saxon
root OF this country was loyal to the new
lano, and not only did he win his right to
all we have by offering his body to the
bullets of treason, even more, did he win
1t by an appreciation and love for ali thaf
Is most sacred IN the meaning of the flag
and noble in its aspirations for humanity
we VIII not mourn his going from US over
much, though never again shall we see in
TINS world the CLEAN of his kindly eve or
feel the warm greeting of his friendly
hand. he had passed the allotted years of
man, though no one would have guessed
1t to look upon his vigor or to note the
modernity of his spirit. He was a man of
the present time, and he lived in it, But
ne went down in the midst of the struggle
with the climax Of his full powers as vet
| unbroken. 1t was the kind of death 10
ole. There was no breaking or slow de-
cay One fight more, and he sprang into
the fray, then death touched him with his
lance, and our friend was gone. For q
death SO painless and so fortunate let nc
rather be thankful
Nor is he gone. nor will he ever 60 from
the memories and love of those who linger
here. The strength of the world is not
in the rich legacies of the dead. Each
life does its part and goes its way. but the
thought and faith and heroism that each
puts into into his task can never perish
from the world. The flag has new mean
Ing from every man who has shed his
blood in its defense.
Rain Is Unnoticed.
The heavy rain that fell during the
| religious ceremony did not prevent q
large number attending the last rites
| at Oakland cemetery. The burial serV-
Ice of the Sons Of Hermann was per
| formed under the directions of the ma
tional officers, this being supplemented
| by the G. A. R. ritualistic ceremonial
With benediction from DR. Smith. the
sounding of taps and the firing of the
soldiers salute by the Sons of Veterans
the body was lowered into the grave
and the first clods Of earth were thrown
on the coffin.
Col Kiefer died last Sunday after
nnnT1 at QhOl1f ot1 Oh