Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-04

disease. A day or two ago unfavorable
symptoms of heart weakness developed,
and the physician administered stimulants
to tide that organ over the crisis, but in
spite Of all that nursing and medical skill
could do the heart was unable to stand
the strain. and Mr.. Decide passed away
this morning.
Mr.. Decide was prominent in the financial
and social life of the city. He was extreme
~ popular with all with whom he me in
contact. and the disposition that. made him
popular with acquaintance made him loved
by his friends and social associates.
NJ Decide was native of Georgetown,
and was born April q. 1860. Early in life
he gave evidence of those qualities that
placed him in the front rank of the business
men Washington and made his advice
sought in financial matters. When quite
a young man he was made assistant secre-
tary of the Potomac Fire insurance Com
pany. was afterward s secretary. End at
the time of his death was its vice president.
President of Gas Light Company.
About two years ago Mr.. Decide was
elected to the presidency of the George
town Gas Light Company and under his
administration it's affairs have been most
successful. He also a director of the
American Security and Trust Company and
was connected with the business affairs of
other financial institutions of the city.
For a number Of years he was one Of the
vice presidents of the National Safe De-
poSit Company. but resigned several years
ago.
Mr.. Decide conducted a real estate and
insurance business at 1904 G street, and his
judgment in real estate matters was of
such exceptional character that he was
frequently called upon by the Commission
ers of the District and others to assess
realty in every section of the city.
No man in the District probably had
more friends than did Riley Deeble," an
old friend of the deceased said this morn
ing. st can be safely said that the death
of no citizen has caused more genuine re-
gret to the community"
Mr.. Decide was a consistent member of
the Protestant Episcopal Church He was
a vestryman at st. Margarets Church, at
Bancroft place and Connecticut avenue,
and was always foremost in church affairs.
OF {. kindly disposition, his aims to the
needy were given in an unostentious man.
ner, and many poor family will have
cause to regret his death.
Mr.. Decide was married about twenty
years ago to Miss Cora Beggs. a daughter
of James H. Beggs of Wilmington. DEL and
Mrs Decide and four chldren-three daugh-
tiers and one SOn-SurVive him.
Numerous messages of coincidence from
friends of Mr.. Decide in this city and else
where have been received by his family. In
consequence of the absence of the Rev. Dr.
Herbert Scott Smith, rector of ST. Marga-
ret's Church. from the city, the hour for the
funeral services has not yet been fixed,
but they viii occur Saturday afternoon
next in the chapel at Oak Hill The Inter-
ment will be in that cemetery.
Shock Of the News.
The hustle and stir which usually mark
the coming together of the members Of
the Washington stock exchange for the
daily meetings were lacking today. The
shock of the news of the unexpected death
of Mr.. Deeble which was known early in
the morning, was manifest and there was
no disposition for even the customary ex-
changes.
The formal announcement of the loss
which the exchange had suffered. as well
as the members personally was made by
President Hume. and it was followed by
motion that the exchange adjourn in re-
spect to the memory Of the deceased.
In seconding the motion, Mr.. E. Southland
Parker spoke of the affection. as we'll as
the respect, In which Mr.. Decide was held
not only by the members of the exchange,
but also by the community In which he
lived. Appropriate resolutions will be pre-
pared by committee to be appointed by
the president. Without transacting any
business the exchange adjourned.
Mr.. Decide was perhaps as we'll known in
financial and business circles as any other
one man. He was well thought of and
liked by every one, as the saying goes. al
though the latter does not mean that he
was a man of no positive traits of char
acter. In fact, exactly the reverse of that
was true of Mr.. Decide. He did have opin-
ions. and strong ones. and he did not hesi-
tate to proclaim them and back them up
to the extent Of his energetic and emphatic
nature.
But he had a large personality and a
strong physical body. He had a great
store of good nature and was pleasant and
agreeable in his intercourse with others
His greeting. hearty and genuine, was a
sort of tonic and paved the way for any
thing that he might have to present He
had a CHEEKY presence and pleasant word
and smile as he went along the street or
entered places of business.
Good Judgment and Clear Head.
Joined with these. qualities which con-
tributed to his personal popularity was
associated good judgment and a clear head
for business details.
In addition to his own business he was
called upon to serve both as an officer and
member of boards of directors Of q num-