Semi-weekly herald., 1908-10-08
cFrom Wednesdays Daily.)

the hour of death.
(E'rom Wednesdays Daily)
The funeral of the late James l.
Russell took place this afternoon al
the family residence in North Du-
range. The attendance was unusually
large. The service was in charge of
the Masonic order which turned out
nearly 100 men, including the mem
bers of the commandery, while the
Elks had about the same number, with
large escorts from the Woodmen OF the
World, Odd Fellows, Red Men and
Grand Army, in all $50 to 400 men
being in line and two abreast ex-
| tended over a distance of three to
out of fraternal societies in long
time, If not the largest In the history
of the city, those coming from Sill
verton dividing themselves among the
various orders. The services were
in the large open space inside the
fence to the south of the house, the
casket resting under the shady trees
where the judge liked to rest and en-.
| joy the cool breezes on a hot sum
mer day. Chairs were arranged on the
lawn for the women. The service was
opened by singing by Mrs. Geo. West,
Miss Paul and Messrs. York and Won
Nordheim. followed by Scripture read
ing by the Rev. Mr.. Frazier, pastor of
the North Side Methodist church.
Then another hymn, followed by a
short sermon by Mr.. Frazier. AT the
close of his remarks MIR. Frazier call
ed upon Willis A, Reese to say a few
words concerning the deceased Mr..
Reese spoke as follows:
| AT the request of the family of our
deceased friend will try to speak a
few words on this, to many of us
more than ordinarily solemn occasioD
If fail, kind friends, do not blame
me for human flesh is weak and emo
tions strong.
| Probably nobody is better fitted to
talk on this occasion than / am on ac.
count of the intimate acquaintance
which existed between Judge Russell
and myself. Ever since / came to
Durango seventeen years ago we have
been friends and 1 know probably
more of his actual inside character
than any one outside of his immc-
diate family. Judge Russell was, how
ever, not a man hard to understand.
He was one of the most candid men l
ever knew. If he disliked a man he
never tried to hide that dislike and If
he was friend to that man every une
knew 1t. There was not an atom of
hypocrisy in his composition.
| He was an honest man. No dis
honest thought ever found a resting
place in his brain. No man had a
more intense contempt for dishonest
man than he had. While in the prac.
tice of his profession he often had
occasion to defend dishonest men from
the effects of their pernicious deeds,
no guilty man that he thus defended
failed to know that Judge Russell had
a supreme contempt for him. Yet he
was charitable man. Knowing him.
self to be imperfect he had I'm his
heart the utmost charity for the weak.
ness of others.
| He was Just man as every honest
man Is. His decisions while on the
bench, while criticised at the time
When given, as judicial decisions gen.
| orally are, yet have shown themselves
10 be nearly always on the right side
when time has cleared the mists and
prejudices that interfered with and
biased our judgment then.
He was not man who carried his
heart on his sleeve or who was given
to public display of his emotions:
yet beneath a seemingly brusque ex.
terror he carried one of the gentlest
and tenderest of hearts.
Like every positive man he had
some bitter enemies and many stanch
friends. A negative man has neither
friends nor enemies and his friend.
ship means nothing and is worthless
A positive mans friendship is above
price, stronger in adversely than in
prosperity, lasting as life itself. ten.
der as the love of mother and firm
and unyielding as the rock-ribbed
mountains.
He is dead. He has solved the
great mystery. To all of us death ia
more or less mystery. No matter
how strong our faith is, no matter how
nrmiy grounded our belief may be,
death to all Of us is a mystery. We
90 not know whether the grave is the