Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-02-14
THREW
AWAY
CHANCES
VIM. Smith Dies a
Victim of His
Own Folly
He Had Advantages and Might
Have Been a Useful
Citizen

In the death Of John William Smith,
whose passing away has been ehrOni-
eled in the press the past week, Ore
gon loses a man who possessed more
than average qualities, notwithstand.
ing that many of them were not of an
elevating character. Smith was of
English parantage of a good family,
and was given many advantages in his
youth which might have placed him in
the fore front among men Of his day.
He received a superb education in
England, France and Germany, and
aside from being rare linguist was
master in his day of the science of
navigation. He spoke several of the
modern languages and was familiar
with the classics, but as he often told
his friends, there was one language
and one people for whom he had no
torelatiOn, the Chinese. He followed
the sea many years, and there devel-
oped an Unsuitable desire for liquor
which was probably also quickened by
heredity, as his father and other mem
bers of the family had fallen under the
same curse in their day.
In the course of his voyages Smith
visited the leading seaports of all
countries, and was probably better
posted on the habits, customs and So
eial conditions of all the nations of
the world than any other man in this
section. When he visited foreign
city he made it his business as far as
his habits would permit to study the
political and religious institutions of
the country. For this his early edu-
cation fitted him exceptionally well,
and with the instincts of a student he
As a seaman and navigator he was al
ways considered among the ablest, and
had IL not been for his designations he
would no doubt have risen higher than
he did, as he never aspired to po.
sition above first mate.
During the 20 years that Smith
lived in Oregon he made few acquaint-
ances, but those who thoroughly knew
him held him in high esteem for what
he know and what he might have been,
for Notwithstanding the drawbacks of
his personal habits any discerning per
SON could easily discover beneath his
rough exterior the parts Of gentle
man who should have been a shining
light in society 1t is well known that
his faithful spouse in this city is a
colored woman. but Notwithstanding
the color of her skin those who know
her recognize that her life has been
devoted to the uplifting and comfort
ing of an unfortunate soul in n man
ner that might have been credit to
many who stand in higher social re-
lation to the world. She was loyal to
him to the uttermost, and notwith"
standing her ignorance in the sense
Of social and educational advantages
she seemed to possess hat her better
half, with all his advantages, could
not rise to. She was self-Supporting
and made sacrifices for him such as
he was probably incapable of; she
possessed self.control, had a balance
wheel, and could maintain herself
ereditably under all circumstances,
notwithstanding the shortcomings Of
nature and circumstances with which
she ives hampered. Every person must
take, of his hat TO such character,
as superior and above the artifcially-
bred SON Of civilization who is Of no
service 70 anyone, and least of all to
himself. She possessed the Unborn
dominion over self which the Creator
is supposed to give all alike, while her
more favored spouse had thrown his
privileges and responsibilities to the
dogs. And when they both come to
face the proposition "thou hast beeen
faithful over small things shall make
thee ruler over many" the average
prognostieator would eheerfully hazard
his chances with the poor old eolored
woman who has been faithful TO the