The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-02-19

Nj. Flagler has just entered on his
S0th year. His vision Is not az clear
as it once was and he is somewhat
deaf, particularly so In one ear, which
causes him some embarrassment. Ex
cept for these infrmities he Is SUI
fering from no physical ailments. Tall
and erect, he still presents a perfect
type of manhood. He prefers a
straight-back chair, and never occu
pies a rocker unless there is nothing
else to be had.
The above is one short paragraph
from an interesting sketch of Mr.
Henry NJ. FlagIer nv Editor Frank
Harris of the Ocala Banner, and who
recently enjoyed the rae privilege OF
trip with the subject of his sketch
to view the great work of the Florida
East Coast railway extension to Key
West.
To us this paragraph is the most
interesting, most significant one in
all this most entertaining story, much
of which has to do with Mr.. F1aglers
diet, his rest, his recreation, his re-
ligion and his politics
In his eightieth year, and his hand
still on the lever which directs what
has been f1ttingly described as one of
the greatest engineering feats of the
century!
The News doesn't know Mr.. Flagler
personally. It's knowledge of him has
been obtained through newspaper &C.
counts and through his activities in
behalf of our beloved Florida. But
had it been asked to name his age
this paper would have said he was 60
years young rather than 80 years old.
When a man by reason of strength
is approaching the four-score mark
there is due him the respect of his
fellows. When his life has been fill
ed with activities which sprung from
a desire to benefit mankind, to re-
spect there should be added profound
reverence.
In his eightieth year, and still a
commanding general in the worlds
work.
Whether or not Mr.. Flagler lives to
see the full benefits of his work, he
is doing brave thing and one that
marks him as the right kind. Too
many men Gle down under the
weight of years and look forward to
death with a lamb-like submission.
Mr.. Flagler has evidently refused to
die until his time comes. His inter
est in life abides because he keeps on
living and refuses to become living
corpse. He is brave, and his bravery
will more than anything else tend to
prolong his life until he has accom-
plished his life's work.
Let old men take example and cour-
age from Henry NJ. Flagler
They can't all build railroads across
the sea, but they can do the work
which Providence has assigned them.
There is nothing in life but what we
put into it. The secret of a happy
and brave old age is in the interest
men retain in their fellows and the
world they live in. Many a man is
dead at 40, and doesn't get ready to
be buried until he has existed years
after his demise to all practical and
useful purposes, while others, like Mr..
Flagler, keep on with their work, Sc
rene in the knowledge that the bene-
fits of their labor will be reaped, if
not by themselves, by those who are
in greater need and who will get the
greater good
All honor to Henry NJ. Flagler, the
man who. having made the waste
places of the east coast of Florida to
blossom as the rose and a fitting
place for the habitation of progress
sive thousands of industrious men
and women, is still at it with an even
more gigantic enterprise.-Palatka
News.