Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-02-18
Mr.. HENRY N. FLAeLER.

"Afr. Flagler has just entered on his
SOth year. HE vision Is not as clear
as Il once was and he r. somewhat
deaf IN one eGr. which causes him
some embarrassment. Except for
these infrmlties he Is suffering from
no physical ailments. Tall and erect
he still presents a perfect type of
manhood. lie prefers a straight back
chair. and never occupies a rocker I'M
less there Is nothing else TO be had"
The above Is one short paragraph
from an interesting sketch OF Mr..
Henry NJ. Flegler by Editor Frank
Harris OF The Ocala Banner. and who
recently enjoyed the rare privilege Of
a trip with the subject Of his sketch
to view the great work OF the Florida
East Coast Railway extension to Key
" est.
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.. Flagler's
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 fttingly 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 IL been asked to name his age
this paper would have said he was so
years young rather than so years old
When a msn by reason Of strength
is approaching the four score mark
there Is due him the respect Of his
fellows. When his life has been filed
with activities which sprung from
desire TO benefit mankind, TO respect
there should be added profound rever-
ence.
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 a brave thing and one
that marks his as the right kind. Too
many men lie down" under the weight
Of years and look forward TO death
with a lamblike submission. Mr.. Flag
Ter has evidently refused to die until
his time comes. His interest In life
abides because he keeps on living and
refuses TO become a living corpse.
He is brave. and his bravery will more
than anything else tend to prolong his
life until he has accomplished his
life's work.
Let old men take example and cOur-
age from Henry NJ. Flagler.
They can't all build a railroad
across the sea, but they can do the
work which Providence has assigned
them. There is nothing In life but
what We put into Il. The secret Of a
happy and brave old age is in the
interest men retain in their fellows
and the world they live I'm. Many
man Is dead at 40 and doesn't get
ready 20 be buried until he has exist
ed years after his demise 20 all prac-
teal and useful purposes, while
others, like Mr.. Flagler. keep on with
their work, serene in the knowledge
that the benefits OF their labor will
be reaped, II 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 progressive
thousands OF industrious men and wo-
men. Is still at Il with an even more
gigantic nterprise.-Palatka News.