Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-18
IN MEMoRIUM.
Try / G EutchiSOn.

T.
Every voice is silent in the awful
presence of death except the voice
of sorrow and eulogy. The short
comings of mortal life are forgot.
ten, the nobility of character alone
is recalled; criticism is disarmed:
there must be no censure; we in
stinctively concede, as we antici-
pate this sad immunity to the grave
We may, In the spirit of love, be-
lieve it is an unconscious prefigur-
alton of the better life beyond.
While gratefully offer my tri-
butte to the memory Of this deceas-
ed friend, A. w. Lee, it is proper
that I conflne myself to the begin
ming of my acquaintance with him
from day in Chicago in 1890 when
I directed his attention to Ottumwa.
Being In Chicago Tor day or two
IN the very early part of that year
was accidentally intr9duced to
our friend, who was then working
much of the advertising depart
ment Of the old Chicago Times. In
q moment 1t was perceptible to my
mind that this man, then about
thtTty-two years old, was the pei
sonfflcation Of energy and skill In
his business. At that time, also,
oar esteemed fellow citizen, Major
hamilton. was proprietor of the Of
tHmMa Courier and contemplated
selling the property. 1t was my
privilege 10 present this to Mr.. Lee.
This, he has frequently said to me,
led to his home and business life
in Ottumwa.
Naturally to me, interest In his
welfare, appreciation Of his SUCCESS,
respect for his clean and pure life,
the pubic spirit he manifested for
our city and It's moral and physi-
cal advancement, have been most
gratifying.
WE sincerely differed at one
time some ten years ago to such
an extent that there seemed almost
to be partial and a temporary
abatement Of friendship. 1t was
happily quite temporary. This is
mentioned only to illustrate what
afterwards established in my mind
a splendid trait in his character.
Mr.. Lee came to me and said:
ri recall how happened to come
to Ottumwa We have had a diff
ference in public matter. be-
lieve we were both honest in what
has been done. We must be
friends" 1t need not be said we
were ever after the truest of
friends.
He as an editor, largely respon-
sibie for public discussion through
the columns of his paper, was just.
There was nothing in his nature
that embittered him toward man
simply because there was a differ
ence in their political or partisan
beliefs. He possessed that magnan-
unity of character in this respect
which is a shibboleth in the charac-
ter of every true man.
He possessed true conception
how to bring out young men. He
was their sympathetic friend. This
is evident in the building up Of the
superior newspaper syndicate which
was rapidly growing into whole
some influence in our western coun-
try under his chief guidance He
has brought out and into his work
young men Of ability and character
who will maintain it.
1t would be more than a happy
opportunity to further mention the
nobility Of character of A. w. Lea.
What more need now be said that
his work is ended than that ne
was a good citizen, a clean man
and Christian gentleman. In all
the relations Of life, he was true
gentleman, kind, social, and pleas
ant. He has left behind him a
good name, better than accumul-
ated wealth. and q record of which
his family and the citizens of Of
tumwa will ever be proud.