The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-25
4

seen true patriarch Tall, white
haired, stout in body and mind he
roams among his neighbOrs, dispensing
sympathy and goodness through the
3elsure OF his day One might take him
TO be the genial Walt Whitman, of
Nhom he is the living counterpart, or
see in the clear eye, high forehead and
thick, honorable white hair marked
similarity to Bryant as he appeared in
his later years. Mans allotted term on
earth he has already seen and yet he
Is still strong in the councils of his peo-
pie and rich in the accumulated inter-
ests Of lifetime.
At the present time he is most inter
esting for the eccentricitfes which years
OF stalWart independence have devel-
eped, but these are lOvable pecuIiaritfes
anc only severed from remarkable ac-
u0ns by the compelling power Of time
and his increasing infirmities The
iouG, though pleasant voice. and strong.
often fiery, deCiamatOry manner. are
remnants of the days when his fellow
citizens were wholly swayed by the
magnlf1cence of his Orations. Charm
ingly simple in manner. he still renre-
sents with IL that old courtesy which
made every stranger his guest. When
moved by righteous Indignation there
crops out the daring and dOmineering
insistenCe of one who has always fol-
lowed the right and knows its power.
Even today, if there is any tonic
zens are in danger of going wrong he
becomes haranguing prophet in the
community. Every gate hears him f0-
he stops on his rounds in front of each
and, calling the inhabitant out, pours
forth such a volume of fact and vr71-
ment IS would remove all doubt of
what he, at least considers right All
OF this he invariably accompanies by a
magn1hcence Of gesture worthy of a
great orator
At such times his mind is wholly en-
crossed with these matters and I have
1t from his daughter that he NAV be
seen coming down his private lawn, and
even the public streets. shaking his
head, gesticulating. sometimes sweep
ing upward with his arms as if ad-
pressing his fellow citizens in assem-
blage.
He had pushed his big hat well back
upon his forehead" she said on one Oc-
cation, and, forgetful of the bitter
cold, had taken off his overcoat and
carried it on his arms. Occa sionaIIv he
would stop quite still, as if he were ad-
dressing a companion, and with sweep
ing gestures illustrate some idea or
other. Then. planting his big cane
forclbly with each step, as though to
compel acceptance. he came forward
and entered the house"
The same suggestion Of mental con-
centratiOn may be seen in everything
that he does, and have seen him lead
ing pet Jersey COW home for milking
with the same dignity of bearing and
Iorcetulness of manner with which he
addressed his fellow citizens at a Dllb-
lie meeting. He has no sense of differ
ence from or superiority over his fell
loWmen, and only the keenest sympathy
with all things human. Every man is
his brother every human being honest
When a purse is lost, fOrty-nIne out Of
every nfty men will return il without
thought OF reward, If you can believe
him.
In the little town where he has lived
so many years he knows every living
\creature from cattle upward and has
9n their interests at heart The sick.
he Door, the widows and the orphans
- his special care. Every Sunday aft
fernOon for years it has been hfs--Crs-
tom 10 go the rounds Of the INDECENT
frequently carrying basket Of his
good wife's dinner. This he would dis
tribute along with consolation and ad-
vice. Occasionally he would return
home of a winters day very much en-
crossed with discovery of some i'm
portant instance of distress.
"On these very occasions" said his
daughter. he would. as he nearly al
ways does. talk to himself on the way.
as # he were discussing politics. You
could never tell what he was coming
for.
Mother he would say I've found
d Y.
In most dramatic style after he had in
dictated something important by throw
ing MS ONSrCoat en- the bed and stand
ing his cane iE the corner. They have
moved in-o the old saloon. You know
how open that is There's a man and
several children The mother is dead.
They We're on their way to Kansas but
II got so cold they've stopped here until
the winter Is broken. They're without
food; almost no clothing. Can't we find
something for them?'
with his own labor he would help
mother seek out he odds and ends that
could be spared. and SO armed. would
return, arguing by the way. rs if an er-
rand OF mercy were the last thing he
contemplated.
Always Of @ roverent turn Of mind.
he took considerable interest in reIfg-
ious ninistratlon, though he steadily
and pers.stertIy refused. In his later
years, 70 go to church. One Of the most
touching anecdotes representative of
this was related to me by his daugh-
ter. who said:
''Afr. Kent. a poor man Of the town.
vas sick for months previous to his
death, and my father used to 90 often.
sometimes daily, to visit him He
would spend perhaps a few minutes
perhaps an hour with him. singing.
praying, and min-stering TO his spiritual
wants.
Upon ore occasion Mr.. Kent ex-
pressed a desire to hear a certain song
AIy father was not very familiar with
1t, but anxious 10 grant his request.
came home and asked me if 7 would Se-
friend of mine and so with him and
sing the song for him.
1--WE entered the sick room. he lead
ing Us by the hand. Mr.. Kent's face at
once br' ghteued. and father said TO him:
Mr.. Kent, 7 told You this morning
! couldn't sing the song you asked for.
but these girls know it, and have come
TO sing it for YOU
Then waving his hand gently. to-
ward Us. he said
Sing, children
I'VE did and when we had finished
he knelt and offered a prayer, not for
the poor mans recovery, but that he
might put his trust in the Lord and
meet death without fear. have never
been more deeply impressed nor felt
more confident in the nresencs. 81