Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-05-17
Continued from last week }


contained a glowing account Of Ryder's
life and achievements. 1t was an open
secret that 1t was from the gifted pen
OF Kenyon. This notable enterprise
was one Of the wonders Of the day
Everybody wanted a Herald as SOU
yenlr Of the occasion. and nearly 800
copies were sold
All that morning the country people
In unheard Of numbers hocked into
town. As Clarence remarked TO Spide
It was just like circus day. The
noon train from Buckhorn Junction
arrived crowded to the doors, as did
the / o'clock train from Harrison.
Antioch had never known anything
like II.
The funeral was at O'Clock from the
little white frame Methodist church
but long before the appointed hour II
was crowded to the verge of suffoca
ton, and the anxious, waiting throng
overhowed into the yard and street
with never hope OF wedging into the
building, much less securing seats.
A delegation Of the strikers. the
Young Mems Kenyon club, OF which
Ryder was member, and represent
ative body OF citizens escorted the re-
mains to the church. These were the
people he had jeered at, whose simple
Joys he had ridlculed and whose griefs
he had made light OF, but they would
gladly have forgiven him his sarcasms
even had they known of them. He had
become hero and n martyr.
Chris Berry and Cap Roberts were
In charge of the arrangements. On the
night OF the murder the former had
beaten his rival to the Herald office by
exactly three minutes and had never
left Ryder until he lay in the most cost
iy casket In his shop.
II was admitted afterward by
thoughtful men who were accustomed
to weigh their opinions carefully that
Mr.. Williamson. the minister had new
or delivered so moving an address or
one that contained so obvious moral.
The drift Of his remarks was that the
death OF their brilliant and distinguish
cd fellow townsmnn should serve as q
warning to all that there was no time
like the present In which TO prepare
for the life everlasting. He assured his
audience that each hour OF existence
should be devoted to conservation and
silent testimony; otherwise, what did II
avail? II was not enough that Ryder
had thrown the weight OF his personal
influence and exceptional talents on
the side OF sound morality and civic
usefulness. And as he scared on from
point TO point his hearers scared with
him. and when he rounded in on each
well tried climax they rounded In with
him. lie never failed them once. They
always knew what he was going to say
before II was said and were ready for
the thrill when the thrill was due. 1t
might have seemed that Mr.. William
son was paid salary merely TO make
an uncertain hereafter yet more un-
comfortable and uncertain, but Antioch
took its religion hot. with shiver and
a threat OF blue flame.
When Mr.. Williamson sat down Mr.
Kenyon rose, As a layman he could
be entirely eulogistic, He was sure OF
the faith which through life had been
the guiding star OF the departed. He
had seen IL instunced 10y numerous acts
OF emlnently Christian benevolencc,
and ON those rare occasions when no
had spoken OF his hopes and fears he
had In spite OF his shrinking modesty.
shown that his standards OF Christian
duty We're both lofty aud consistent.
Here the Hon. Jch R.rrows, who had
been doing peacefully. Uwoke with
start and gazcd wit wide. bulging
eyes at the speaker lie followed Mr..
Kenyon, and, though he tried hard he
couldn't recall any expression OF Ry-
der's. at the Red Star bar or elsewhere,
which Indicated that there was any
spiritual uplift 10 his nature which he
fed at secret altars So he pictured the
friend and citizen. and the dead Jared
we'll at his hands, perhaps better than
he was conscious of. for he said no
more than he believed.
Then came the prayer aud hymn, to
be succeeded by Il heavy. solemn pause,
and Mr. Williamson stepped TO the
front OF the platform.
AN those who care to view the re
mains aud | presume there are many
here who viii wish to look upon the
face ~ our dead friend before IL is
conveyed 60 It's hnal resting place
will please form In line at the rear OF
the edltce and advance quietly up the
right aisle, passing across the church
as quickly as possible and thence down
the left aisle and on out through the
door. This will prevent confusion and
make IL much plsasanter for ah."
There was q rustic of skirts and the
awkward shutlng Of many feet as the
congregation formed in line: then Il
nled slowly up the aisle 10 where Chris
Berry stood, weayened and dry. with
a yulture look on his face and vul-
turc touch 70 his hands that now and
again picked al the nowers which were
banked about the coffin.
The EmoryS partly out OF regard for
public sentiment had attended tae ~
neral for as Tho Doctor gatA thav war,