Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-06

flowers of memory that had preceded his
grafton.
"Of all the brilliant and learned lawyeSo
who have come to US from other places,
Mr. Mcfarland said. none has identihed
themselves with our highest motives ana
better interests with more zeal and car.
neStness than Justice Stafford.
Justice Stafford's Address.
LAS you are well aware. II is quite
against my personal inclination that am
taking more than a silent part in these
observances-not that I am not always
glad To pay my tribute to public bene-
factor. but that l feel incompetent, from
lack OF personal acquaintance. to speak
of him he deserves said Justice stat
ford. Yet I cannot well refuse, because
l feel that an invitation Of this character.
coming from the source IL does, should ne
to any true citizen equivalent Ia com
mand.
Fortunately. there are many here who
knew him we'll and what | have to say
has been verified before. And what q
character ii is that has been drawn for
us in the last few weeks by those who
knew him from young manhood TO old
age.
Strength of High Courage.
ITO begin with, a farmers boy. too frail
to follow the pillow. but with rich gift
OF expression and love of letters Joined
to a keen zest for honor: broad sense of
humor playing over austere principles as
the sunlight plays over the mountain
sides: then in the full strength Of high
courage Critical of imperfections. yet al
ways quicker TO see good than evil: in
personal anmosities, always reserving the
defined faculty of hate for giant wrongs
and expressions Modest, unassumIng.
ready to lend an ear to any complain.
however Ready a
honest cause, however Heasible. Bold, Yet
conservative: shrewd. broad-minded aud
farSighted in civic affairs: stanch in time
Of trials; steady against assault; never
stepping unjustly into the acts of men.
yet influencing their thought and conduct
in thousand unobtrusive ways. An
equal molder of opinion and door of deeds.
and yet dreamer of dreams, with a faith
and pride in Washington that amounted Ia
a passion; full of plans to reclaim her
waste places and preserve her scenes o.
national beauty for the generations that
are to come. philanthropy that knew
no color. class or creed and. browning all.
a personal charm that opened hostile
doors like magic and turned enemies into
friends.
Such is the picture so fine and nobly
arranged. that if it were not vouched for
by those whose word is above question
and know whereof they speak. we might
hesitate to accept it as true. Yet we do
accept Ii, and ], a son of that New
England country that sent him FORTH,
point to him with special pride a Shin
ing example of what this spirited stock
has done for American ideals in every
quarter OF the land.
A Satisfying Life.
What a complete and wholly satisfy
ing life it was. Walking from Phila-
delphia to Washington, except for an Of
fered ride which, he laughingly said.
turned out to be harder than walking. be-
ginning with less than two dollars i'm his
pocket, in a strange city. throwing him
self at once into the life of the place.
following with eager eyes of youth the
questions that led up to and brought
the war. Watching the statesmen of the
period, listening to Webster, Calhoun and
Clay, and watching and participating In
the struggles. the defeats and victories of
that great conflict out of which a new
national government was to have its BIRTH
and when peace was restored. taking his
seat in that editorial chair which he
made sort OF throne. maintaining
there during forty years the best tradi-
tons of that older journalism which had
Vose and Greedy for It's exemplars.
He gave himself constantly to the good
| self more sacred in the love and veneer
alton of his fellows; surely that was
| life worth living. and memory that is a
priceless heritage to leave his sons.
ITO me there is something peculiarly
| impressive and inspiring In scene like
this. city calling her sons and daugh-
| tiers together to review the life and recount
| the services of one of the truest and
blest of her citizens. To weigh the pure