Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-28


ments. May I not forget that poverty
although age. and infrmity overtake
the castle of my dreams, teach me
olden memories that are good and swe
| me gentle still"
On bitter gray afternoon in winter
when the shadows had heightened so
far as to shut much Of the cherries
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 we'll stored mind and the
energy and devotion which lifted him
to greatness, I took from an old wallet
a we'll worn slip Of paper and quoted
to him these beautiful words. 1t was
after several hourse Of trying and ard
uous labor. Tired and worn, tho gov
ernor lounged in his leather chair. He
sat silent for many minutes and we
both gazed out upon the comfortless-
ness OF the dying day.
II wish you would repeat those last
| lines again." he said at last and /
come not within sight of the castle
J Of my dreams. Isn't it magnificent?
The whole philosophy of calm. un-
! troubled, gentle and helpful life
breathes out in those simple words.
Read 1T again"
again the silence spread over us. Later
we talked, not of greatness and the
pomp and circumstances of marching
I events, but of the common hardships
Of life and the daily trials and tempta-
! tons of common men. AS we left the
| huge marble building that commands
Saint Paul from it's remarkable want
age point John Albert Johnson, plain
American, summed up his measure of
life in words which it will be imposs-
IDLE to ever forget.
| 1T is my conclusion" he said, "that
the bitterness of poverty, the terrible
drudgery those who rise from the bot
tom must experience, the bitter long
ings and the heart aches for things
we want with heart and soul, and al
ways find just beyond US, comprise the
test to which a far seeing Providence
subjects those who are destined to
succeed. And whether real success is
possible without this suffering l doubt
When people call me governor and
show respect, it pleases me, but my
mind inevitably reverts to the time
when no one dignif1ed me, and
wonder why and what these things
mean. So much in life we none of us
understand But there's purpose, anc
those of us who have the desire to &C.
complish work in the world can only
remember that there is no honor moi
founded on worth, and no respect moi
founded on accomplishment. And
above all, to help others to life, &c
hope. to see the greatness of the fu-
ture and to strive for share in the
accomplishment of something which IL
new and needed in this world, or which
is worthy because it constitutes to q
broader understanding of lie and its
problems.
ITO have fought poverty is a magni-
icent heritage. / do not envy the
rich. Their affiuence has cut them of
from the greatest thing in this world
to know how the average, common.
place. unsought and unhonored mar
| lives. what he feels, what he think
There is but one end of life which Il
Il worth and that is to conquer to con
quer adversely, pain, envy, regrets
ambitions. and the obstacles which ar,
put in our path to develop our forti
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 M
with one of his rare quizzical, delight
full smiles which so frequently illumin
ated his rather sad and serious fea
lures, and said:
Come on. / want to buy a cigar
darn good one. It's one of the pleas
ATTEST things I do because l never pu
my money on the counter and get on
of those full, rich, delicious Havana
!, without remembering the times when
. would have been glad to smoke fin
. perfecto and give one to friend-bu
had only a nickle or dime to bles
, myself with"
! This was the character of JON
Albert Johnson. / do not think it i
necessary to say more The worth Q
the man, his struggles and successes
his attitude toward his fellow men, an
the attitude of his fellows toward hir
are sufficiently expressed in thes
quiet remarks after the brunt of tn
days labor was over
For several sessions I sat within
} few feet Of John Albert Johnson in tn
, state senate, he as representative q
, great and wealthy district and l i
the humble capacity of newspaper re
porter l heard one of his first an