Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-08-06
TAUGHT A LESSON YET UNLEARNED.

THE following editorial written by
Editor Morgan, of the Otero Co, Adver-
tiser. at Alamogordo, n. Mex, so COM
pletely and beautifully expresses the
sentiment of sorrow, and portrays the
lesson to be learned from the struggle
against overwhelming odds in a brave
battle for life of our old friend and
pioneer townsman, VIM. O'Reilly. that
we can not do better than reproduce it.
1t not only is the expression of senti-
ment of the writer, but also of the
deceased's many early day friends among
the older settlers Of this county, who
loved him for his true traits of perfect
manhood and the bravery shown in the
long endured struggle with disease: ED
"The passing of WilliamO'Reilly fora
number of years a resident of this por-
ton of the southwest, whatever it may
be to his friends, will not be of special
moment to the great wide world, as he
was only one of thousands who are daily
passing into the great beyond. Yet
there is a lesson in his life and death,
that would to God humanity would
learn, for it would be OF eternal benefit
to all races. Possessed of an extra
ordinary mind he was at a comparatively
early age enfeebled by a weak body. AS
thousands of others be contracted the
germs of the great white plague and
came to the southwest to fight his battle
more than a dozen years ago. 1t is the
waging of this battle for health which
we desire to relate in the hope that it
will be of benefit to others. For several
years after coming here he was buoyed
up with hope and was apparently the
winner. In a hard trip over the plains
from La Luz to Ell Paso before there
was a town known as A~lamogordo or any
railroad he was exposed to some incle-
ment weather and tool a relapse and
never fully recovered the lost ground.
His physical condition eight years ago
would have proved fatal to the average
man within one or two years, yet with
the excellent care he took of himself he
has prolonged his life until the present
time. With health gone it would seem
that the joys of life were few but O'Reilly
fought manfully ON, ever cheerful him
self and ready to cheer Others with his
keen wit, though at times his strength
was scarcely that of an infant. His
greatest aid was a cheerful disposition
and dominance of mind over body; will
power over physical weakness. Months
before death relieved him he would have
welcomed, but fain would court death.
because he conscientiously believed it
was his duty to cherish life until called
by his Creator. Only Saturday while
riding home, he remarked to a friend
that he did not believe that it would be
a sin to wish that he was in Heaven in
stead of suffering here on earth. Fully
aware Of his own physical condition and
of the progress of the disease he made a
systematic and intelligent study of the
progress of the disease and doubtless
had his o~bservances been chronicled
fully they would be of value to the
medical profession. Knowing the
character Of Tuberculosis he was always
careful of others. A local medical friend
who was in touch with Judge. O'Reilly
for a number of years remarked to. the
writer that if all consumptives we're as
careful OF themselves as Judge O'Reilly
half Of themSnow i'll would get we'll and
ifsall we're as cautious of danger to
others'as he is the great plague would
soon be stamped from the human race.