The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-10
AN APPRECIATION.

While the readers of this paper were
enjoying their Sunday quiet one week
ago little company stood on the wind
swept heights at the city cemetery 10 refl-
der the last office TO the dead. Those
participating IN the obsequies knew IN
measure the work Of Richard Meaher.
They had been associated for a year with
MIN and had learned TO appreciate the
quiet soul of a fellow worker. He had
been for nearly thirty years a newspa-
per man, and In every department OF the
profession had wrought creditably. Only
since his demise, however has the full
measure OF his lifes worth become known
10 them. He did not hedge himself WITH re-
ucence, nor was he tinged with the mis-
anthropic, but in a mind well stored with
the philosophy and poetry of the age he
followed his bent TO solitude with profit
and outside his working hours found salts
faction in his thoughts. But all his life
was altruistie and unselfish, and worthy
or more than the perfunctory notice OF his
fellows Born over 50 years ago in Maine,
MS nfeS course moved through all the
republic. At IA years of age he enlisted
IN an Indiana regiment and served TO the
END or the war but neither by word nor
by token did his associates here know of
this chapter in his career, and there was
not paid TO his dust that need of honor
BY his associates of the Grand Army
which would have been gladly, offered
had the facts been known. In his early
manhood he became reporter and from
the time of his Initiation his strong per-
sonality and mind We're evidenced in a
newspa per worker. Sometimes, in routine
work. again as the owner or manager of
important journals. he knew the thrill
which comes with success in the unselfish
thur, Texas, in the boom days.
he was proprietor of the daily
paper there. In Kansas City. as city
editor Of the Journal, he waged more
than one war with vice and broke down
iniquity with a forceful pen. And here
and there he toiied pntiringly always
men widely, but always heipfuily. He lived
the life which feels powerfully the in
fluence that tends 10 eurdle the milk OF
human kindness, but he kept sweet. He
poor, because his heart had many doors
that swung out and his hand was ever
open to the friends who made calls up
on him. And at the last In a pathetic
Azrael a solitary duel. Too brave 10
repine that In the glory Of middle life,
he must close the chapter, too full-souied
to cry with the need OF the meager life
for the company of those he knew, he
waited in duietness for the end, and
closed his eyes on a world to whose pow
erty he had ministered with a generous
hand and to whose best life he had given
with fidelity and courage his best
His nation owes him monument of
lasting love and appreciation IN FecOgni-
ton Of that lofty patriotism that sent
him in the first blush of youths begin
ming 10 offer all for union and human
ity on his countFy's altar. A thousand
lives blessed by bis benefactions and the
charities which impoverished him, leav-
ing him with little more than was needed
for his sepulchre, owe him a lasting mem
Dry. The cities and states whose life he
touched helpfully are forever indebted 10
him and his simple service. And though
he was only a newspaper worker the
world is richer for his having played his
part upon the stage, and while for him
the stored urn and animated bust he
denied, Ia the hearts of his brothers of
the press enshrined forever he will abide,
his very memory an incentive TO honesty,
fidelity. patriotism and charity. God rest
the soul of humble worker, who sought
and wrought the best for his brothers
on the earth Z. A. s.