The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-23

one of his most eloquent addresses in
which he paid tribute to his friend as
grand; the best of his time He was
brother by blood fifth every good book;
he companioned them as familiar
friends; they went with him on his
profound delight. In his cozy study.
his shelves yielded him ungrudeinglv,
their choicest treasures; the walls of
the narrow room vanished, the low
ceiling widened to a blue dome bril-
liant with sun orstudded with stars,
oVerspreadlng an alluring world. He
crossed wide oceans. plunged into the
depths of jungle and forest and rode
caravans He pursued the track of
the trade winds wherever they might
blow, medndered with the worlds gulf
streams, followed the brambly and
obscure paths, travelled the world s
broad highways. circuited its dark
ened bays, climbed its beetling cliffs.
knocked at the gates of far cities en-
tered chancellary and cottage passed
ne threshold of howell and palace. set
himself down to the entertainment of
kings. broke bread with the common
peoples of all lands, and mingled with
MS salt, their griefs. their shames,
| their joys; he strolled the great gal
| leries. wandered through busy marts
and historic capitals traversed the
centuries to stride with the crusaders.
witnessed from his own selected want
age ground the worlds conflicts. then
back down the lone aoa~ he sat upon
the banks of famed Ilissus, talked
with its philosophers and Joined the
immortal Horace in the recitation of
English vernacular. AS the hour
grew small, as the fire burned low
awakened from his books mayhap. bv
the call of child or the unwonted
creak OF blind. the ceiling of his
room descended to his view. the walls
again uprose. he closed the book of
himself and then sought the slumber
of his bed. He had listened TO the
tongue that told the tale of mankind
He gave in rounded measure of that
which he had received in the courts
in their ante-chambers. at the nation
al clubs he freouented. with his feet
beneath the ma hoeany of illustrious
houses. in the lobby of senate and
house. in some clustered SPOT or
breezy veranda, with the modesty of
a child. and always with the unbend-
gentleman. he gave of his great store
to the lasting happiness and edifcatfon
of listeners scattered over a continent
and reaching nigh half the civilized
world. He elevated the standards of
speech; slang. vulgarity and platitudes
their feet"
Judge Frank Doster,' in his address,
tribute
"I knew w. H. Rossington for, more
than thirty years. I'm bringing nv
tribute to be laid with yours unon his
grave l wish to make it in large part.
as L feel sure he would like to have
done, q tribute to the profession Of
which he was so beloved and brilliant
member 1 wish to render honor to
that sentiment of tolerance and spirit
OF hberality which obtain among law
yers as they do not to an equal degree
Of
class. Many years ago an attorney
friend of mine said to me- that what
more than anything else held him
among the fraternity was the liberal
ity and largeness of heart of the
brethren of the bar. He said that un-
less it be the profession Of arms no
other class could claim leniency of
Judgment and chivalry of conduct as
distinctive characteristic of it's
members 1 never before had thought
about it, but have thought much about
it since He was right. The glory of
the lawyer is his charita bleness of
view, his tolerance of spirit his Glenn
ency of sentence. No lawyer cares
what you believe in, nor but little what
you say, nor very much what your
conduct may be. Be you in religion
Christian, Jew or Pagan; in rank or
fortune of high or low degree; in poll
tics one thing or the opposite, it is all
the same to him. He draws no dis
tinctions of creed or caste, but holds
judgment, as equal before the law.
col. Rossington was tolerant in
opinion, considerate in Judgment, tenn
perate in speech. sparing of reproof
and allowed always that he, himself,
might be in the wrong. I count these
the chief virtues not only of the law
yer but of any man.
N. H LOOMS: II speak of our de-
parted brother with great Difference.
When 1 began the practice of law he
was at the zenith of his powers and
stood at the very head of the bar. His
attachments fascinated my magma
ton and led me a willing captive in
his train of friends and admirers. l
have never outgrown the spell he cast
about me in those early days of my
professional career and in my
Imagination he still towers above me
in intellect and attainm ents, a perfect
giant, whose size and strength and
power one cannot hope to equal
His retentfve memory, his pro-
found learning. his unerring logic.
his clearness of expression as we'll as
his great command of the English
language We're to me constant
source of surprise and wonder. He