The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-27
Newspaper Reporter Pays Rare
 Tribute to GoUernor Johnson

St. Paul. Sept. 2e.--(speciai.)- Spare me from the bitterness and the sharp passions of unguarded moments. May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the spirit.
 And although age and inirmity overtake me. and I come not within sight Of the castle of my dreams, teach me to be thankful for life. and for times olden memories that are good and sweet, and may the evenings twi light find me gentle and still"
 On 6 bitter gray afternoon in win- ter, when the shadows had heightened SO far as to shut much of the cheerless light of the day from the magnificent private apartments wherein John A. Johnson lent to the cares of his com monwealth the keen and shrewd per- ception of a well-stored mind and the energy and devotion which lifted him to greatness. took from an old wallet well-worn slip of paper and quoted to him these beautiful words. It was after several hours of trying and arduous labor. Tired and worn, the Governor lounged in his leather chair. He sat silent for many minutes. and we both gazed out upon the comfortlessness of the dy- ing day.
 T wish you would repeat those last lines again." he said at last,- and l comeN not within sight of the castle of my dreams Isn't 1t magnificent! The whole philosophy of a calm. untroubled, gentle and helpful life breathes out in these simple words. Read 1t again.
 Talk of Trials.
 I repeated the measured phrases and again the silence spread over us. Later we talked, not of greatness and the pomp and circumstances of marching events, but of the common hardships of life and the daily trials and tempta- tions of common men. As we left the hugh marble building that commands St. Paul from its remarkable vantage point. John Albert Johnson, plain American, summed up his measure of life in words which 1t will be impossi- ble to ever forget.
 'It is my conclusion" he said. that the bitterness of poverty, the terri ble drudgery those who rise from the button must experience. the bitter longings and the heart aches for the things we want with heart and soul, and always find just beyond us' com prise the test of fire to which far seeing Providence subjects those who are destined to succeed. And whether real success Is possible without this suffering I doubt. When people call me Governor and show respect IL pleases me, but my mind inevitably reyerts to the time when no one dig nified me, and I wonder why and what these things mean. So much In lire we none of us understand. But there's A purpose, and those of us who have inc desire to accomplish a work in the world can only remember that there is no honor not founded on worth. and no respect not founded on accomplishment. And above all, 10 help others to life. to hope, to see the greatness of the future and to strive for a share in the accomplishment or something which Is new and needed in this world. or which Is worthy because if contributes to broader under standing of life and its problems.
 Did Not E,nvy Rich.
 ITO have fought poverty is magni- flcent heritage. do not envy the rich. Their afiuence has cut them off from the greatest thing in the world to know how the average, common place, unsought and unhonored man lives, what he feels, what he thinks. There is but one end of life which Is worth and that is to conquer-to con- quer diversity. pain, envy regrets am bitions, and the obstacles which are put in our path to develop our fortl- tude. our courage and our brains"
 We paced along the street. John AL bert Johnson with his peculiar, swing ing stride. Finally, he turned to me with one of his rare, quizzical. delight ful smiles which so frequently illumin- ated his rather sad and serious fea- lures, and said: &
 Come on; 1 want to buy a cigar-a darn good one. It's one of the pleas antest things do. because I never put my money on the counter and get one of those full, rich, delicious Havanas without remembering the times when I would have been glad to smoke fine perfecto and give one to frtend-but had only a nickle or dime to bless myself with"
 This was the character of John AL bert Johnson. do not think 1t Is nee essary to say more. The worth of the man. his struggles and successes, his attitude toward his fellow men, and the attitude of his fellows toward him are sufficiently expressed in these quiet remarks after the brunt of the days labor was over.
 surprised by Speech.
 For several sessions I sat within a few feet of John Albert Johnson in the State Senate, he as a representative Of great and wealthy district and l In the humble capacity oi eWSpapeI | reporter. I heard one of his hrst and most brilliant platform addresses In his first campaign for the GoVerhor = shin and sat utterly astounded at the ready flow of wit, satire, sarcasm, logic and clear. pointed argument. Whence had this sudden gift of tongue comeT did not know, only that It was new But later, when I knew more of John Aibert Johnson, 1t was apparent that his magnificent gifts were not the over, night reward of @ benignant fairy but | the full fruition of many an hour In many a year gone by' when' oy the | din, light of a smoky lamp he was shsorhing Charles Dickens, Shakespeare and his Bible. ..-, ,ha w,ndow the monrnful-the some times terrible strains of chopin's Marcl tt,,nehrs as the cortege Is winding