The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1908-07-18
The Death Of Joel Chandler
Harris.

A mist comes over the paper as
one writes the words. Tie was q
kinsman OF us all north, south,
east. west an inmate OF our homes.
II was lot in a figure or Nv ac.
cident that he had come everywhere
to be called Uncle Remus." AS
Mrs. l.. H.. Harris Justly argues,
he was not a mere humorist; he
was rather n profound philosophcr
OF the human soul. And withal a
gentle and loving philosopher.
He did not kill his specimens in
order TO examine them. The
shrewd glance with which he pcn,-
trated to the Utmost soul OF man
to the bov soul, which ever hides
behind even the wrinklcd masks
and under the gray polls did not
cut; 1t rather soothed, Tor his was
a friendly eve.
He died short OF his threrscore
years, weary before his time. His
sympathies with tie innocent dumb
things OF earth kept his heart athob
with pain. He banded words and
smiles with the children every.
where, il is true, and they willing.
" admitted him into their mystic
circle. But though hc PLAYED the
game and Joined IN the rollicking
laugh, there were tears AT The back
OF his eyes. For he was very wise.
He was as innocent as the other
children, hut he knew more than
they a great deal more. SO hav.
lng seer much and loved much.
having carried long the weight OF
unshed tears and smiled oft when
pain clutched at his heart, he >aid
At last, III the soft eventide, Il am
very tired" and fell asleep.
Res, we'll, Dear Heart. Did YOU
indeed wish to know what is on
the other side1" Well, One who
knew better than any other has
told us that 1t is the place the king.
dom OF little children. SO o will
not tail OF a welcome there. The
dream that you dreamed has come
true: Il seem to see before me
the smiling faces OF thousands OF
children, some young and fresh,
some wearing the friendly marks
OF age and not one %unirlendly iacc
among them. And out OF the con.
fusion, and while | am trying hard
to speak the right word, ! seem TO
hear a voice lifted above the rest
saying: You have made some OF
Us happy.
\ good many years ago, when
irving TO bring up his own impress.
lonable children amid the depres.
sIons and the distractions OF lite
IN a foreign land, the writer OF
these lines, along with those child.
rem, became acquainted through
his books with the choice spirit
who has Just departed. Others
will write OF him more at length,
with more OF intimate personal
knowledge, but none with a sin.
cere sorrow or a more genuine at.
lection than that which dictates
this bret tribute, The good which
Joel Chandler Harris has done IN
interpreting and humamlL,Gg the
mind OF the negro, IN soitenlng the
asperltlcs born OF racial antagon.
lsms and OF the vicious social Of.
der which the South inherited from
a cruder age, and IN bringing I'M.
alloyed delight into the hearts OF
millions OF little children, answers
to no human method OF calculation.
1t cannot, indeed, properly he
spoken OF IN the past tense, Tor 1t
is not less each day hut more, bear.
ing and destined long to bear It's
compound interest OF blessing,
while with drifting time, year up.
on year, stretches in wider and yet
wider circles the gracious influence
OF this good man. Nashville Ad.
vocatc.