The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-29

With the casting up of the accounts
of the Just passing year, there comes
some realizing sense of all that the
world has lost as month has followed
month. Some" appreciation only,
however, for only time itself can bal
ance the ledger here emphasizing
values, there pointing out that we have
oyerjudged, and in every field Of mans
endeavors offering daily new workers
to take the places of those who now
have crossed over to the silent beyond.
Yet, beyond all question, to-day's
loss is very great. Three hundred
and twenty-five of those who have
stood foremos. in their varied callings
have laid by their labors since jan
uary last came in. On New Years Day
itself passed Canada's splendid states
man, Sir William Rowland. and on the
second death called John Cotton
Brooks, Massachusetts famous divine.
Persia's Shah Muzaffar. before another
week had passed, was borne to his
royal tomb. while Russias red year was
opened with the transformations of Cen
erals Won Launitz and Pavlotf
The last of 1907s months told much
the same tragic story, with the news
OF the deaths Of Morris +. Tyler and
Henry o. Havemeyer, premiers In the
world OF finance; OF the venerable VIII
liam Thomas Davis, known the country
over as orator and historian, of the
peaceful close to the long career of the
veteran actor Stoddart. and above all.
of the end of the honored and kingly
life of Sweden's Oscar
"As When a Giant Dies"
What loss has come to the wide
earth's abIest efforts through the de-
parture from its fields OF such slanl
dozen as are these:
Giosue Charlottesville only great
national poet in any European nation.
The state supported him; the whole OF
the Italian people revered him. ltal-
ian politics owed more of their new
stability to him than is generally real
lied. The old maxim, You can make
the laws il YOU Will: let me make the
songs still held good of Carducci.'
Edward Greig-"His music is the most
purely national in the world in con-
nection with artistry. 1t was his one
great object to found Norwe gian
school of music that should reflect the
characteristics of his countrymeu and
be honored by the world at large. and
Ii may unhesitatingly be affirmed that
he succeeded There Is nothing more
distinctive in nature than the wild
and rugged scenery of the fjords; there
is nothing more apart In art than the
melodies ana harmonies Of GreiS
music"
August St. Gaudens-.'The one Amer
lean sculptor who stood alone. More
closely akin to the French than the
Italian renaissance, influenced by the
realism of thirty years ago, before
Rodin had broken with convention, he
had the power of summing career
pr a character in terms of thought
rather than of portraiture. With sheer
charm his work was lowered beyond
that Of any man in our day who has
touched clay to high purpose"
Constantine Pobiedonotseff-"A Mod
ern Torquemada' surely. but strong
man and a sincere one" With hin
passed the soul of Russia's old regime
There are reactonaries left, but no
body who, like this ex-Procurator Of
the Holy Synod. combines fanatca
devotion toNoAtgrown ideals with higl
character and complete personal disin
terestedness."
Thomas Bailey Aldrich-Tt is hare
to think of any name In our annals
that at once suggests a quality o
poetic pleasure SO fine, so constant ant
so individual as was his. His eXquislt
facility and perfect finish of work
manship suggest his literary relation
ship to Mr.. Dobson, but the E;nglisl
Boy or Marjorie Daw.' one of TIL
best books about boys ever writer
and love story which is deservedl
an American classic"
Marcelline Berthelot-"He was tn
most famous of Frances modern me
of science, He combined in remark
able manner the union of high intel
lectual power with administrative tai
ent of first order. Hence he served hi
country in the conduct of her nationf
affairs, and distinguished himself fo
all posteri,y in his chemical labora
tory
Richard Mansfield-"With all h
great histronic achievements. he wi
longest be remembered for his havin
made the highest intellectual appei
to his audience by producing onl
great plays. To the trivial he new,
stopped"
John Tyler Morgan-"Here was
Senator of four terms, of whom nobot
ever even suggested that his action
a measure before Congress was d
tated by anything else than the puI
lie bearings of that measure. He +
fected the classic learning the FAM
iarity with constitutional Fundamental
and the intense, self-conscious Anne
icanism of the early days. He di
poor because he cared more for respe
than money"
Sir Benjamin Baker--"The Invent
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