Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-05
MEMORIAL OF OLD MORRIS
Statue of Him Perhaps on the st.
Andrews Links.
FAMOUS FOR HIS PLAY AND IDEAS
Golfer Buried with the HOnOrs Paid
to "A Prince-FatRl Fall Was
Not in Royal and AM
Client Club.

Although a glorious day and the turf
looked tempting, there was no golfing on
st. Andrews links the last Wednesday in
May, an unprecedented midweek happening
in Aud Scotia. The stiffness and quiet
on the course was in sympathy with the
funeral Of old Tom Morris, who had played
over and carefully tended to these links
for nearly forty years. The veteran pro-
fessional at his burial received the honors
Of a prince. In the town the places of bust
ness were all closed and over the town
hall and other public buildings the flags
were flying half mast high.
The coffin had been removed from his
house at the links to st. Mary's church in
the early morning, and placed, covered
with beautiful wreaths, in front of the
pulpit. There was a large congregation
present at the funeral service, which was
conducted by the Rev. p. M. Playfair and
the Rev. w. H.. Loatham. When the SER
vice was over a long procession was formed
outside. including a great many members
Of the Royal and Ancient st. Andrews and
other local golf clubs. The members Of
the Royal and Ancient were preceded by
Nicholas Robb. the club officer, and Hugh
Hamilton. the ~greenkeeper, carrying the
tlub ; SILVER tlubS anu DdllS uTdptu III CTtDet
and the st. Andrews club also had their
emblems thus; behind these came the
Parish Kirk Session, the local professional
golfers and caddies. and the general
public.
AS the procession wendell its way through
the streets it was witnessed by thousands
of persons. the footways being throngeG.
On arrival at the cemetery gate the coffin
was carried shoulder high down the old
cathedral aisle to the grave marked by
the monument In memory Of Young Tommy,
and after a short service the remains of
Old Tom we're laid to rest beside those OF
his famous son. The pallbearers were
w. Bruce Hunter (grandson), Jack and
George Morris ~(nephews), James Black.
Charles Hunter, Prestwick, William Ru-
sack, jr., (granddaughter's husband), the
Right Hon. the Earl of Stair, captain of
the Royal and Ancient club and c. S.
Grace, w. s.. A very large number of
wreaths were sent from all parts of the
country.
In this account OF the obsequies is re-
vealed more than the place of Tom Morris
in golf-it makes plain the attitude OF
Scots to their pastime as an essential part
Of existence. 1t is with them an institution
that is almost sacred, a recreation that is
more than a mere sport or game. and they
! are proud to honor those who have fol-
lowed golf as professionals with credit to
their country. Yet in length OF service and
In lovable personal traits Tom Morris
had a special claim on golfers OF the world
as we'll as of Scotland.
This latter attribute is illustrated by a
story told by John L. Low. the st. Andrews
amateur, in the Introduction to a recent
golfing text book. This is the tale: When
Tom went to stand for his portrait which
hangs in the Royal and Ancient club house
Sir George Reid, the artist, asked him tc
take up a position, club in hand, which
would suggest something of the game
Tom took up his pose which did not seen
TO the artist to have any reference to goli
as he understood It, and he accordingly
asked the old man Of the game what he
was supposed to be doing. All said Tom
I'm just waiting for the other man tc
begin The idea was very characteristic
of the modesty OF the old man, and also
OF the fact that Tom realized that golf is &
game played by two sides, the attitude Of
one Of which he exhibited as courteous ant
d~ignified toward the more active opponent
And so Tom was figured just as he stood
waiting until his turn should come to show
how deft he was at the many movements
OF the game.
Tom Morris. as all golfing American
knows. died from the elects of a fall OF
Sunday, May "a. It is supposed by many
that the accident occurred at the club
house OF the Royal and Ancient. but thii
Is a mistake. The British women's cham
piOnship ended the day before at st. An
drews and Morris had taken an interest II
the proceedings. on the Sunday afternoon
as was his wont, he spent a short time il
the new golf club. OF which he was al
honorary member. Apparently mistakin.
a door in the lobby, he fell down a celia
stair and was found lying unconscious a
the foot suffering from a severe conclusion
OF the brain.
The vera first time l haze mind O
myself I was told toddling ABBOTT at tn
short holes vi a putter under ma bit OK
ter" was a recollection OF Old Tom
who was born on June p. 1921, al St. An
drews. AS the memory OF his infantil
strokes reveal. golf had Morris as exponen
and prophet for fully eight years.
Morrts's career began before the estab
lishmeEt OF any OF TIE worlds annua
championships. The play clubs OF hi
early times were Of wood. with long thi
heads, and he saw the feather ball Civ
way TO tAs solid gutta pereha and tn