The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-06

ana success OF Oue i8 bHdfeu Dy tue commonaliv that exists among us. [ Tt is tritc saying, Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone. It is not so with our in- stitution. When one of us falls in life's battle. amid the shrieks of whis- ties and the hubbub of the worlds in- dustries, we have the heart and incli- nation to stop. pause awhile and to think. We are not SO preoccupied with our own little affairs that we cannot afford to weep at . brothers misfor- tune. We are not 50 selfish as to put ourselves above the calls of the soul.
 We are not 90 self-centered that we pass the widow in her weeds and the thus and ever win be. While we rec ognise that there Is q divinity that shapes our ends and we bow in sub mission to the Power that has seen fit to take such a one from among us, we stili feel the human kinship of sor- row.
 Touch of Nature.
 "'One touch of Nature makes the whole world kin Knowledge of the fact that we ourselves are liable to just such 1ecree. we feel 1t a humanly and brotheriy duty to pause moment, halt and consider. placing our hand on the shoulder of brother to console him In his lament. dry the tears of the widow and cause the orphan to feel that in the hour of darkness there is a ray of light. Though the night has come with thick gloom hanging over- head that there is morning that com eth and that though all Is darkness, the soft beams of eternal and human love battle thoir way through the gloom. Yes, amid the pail that has settled over the home thus afflicted, there arc men whose hearts beat vita theirs in their misfortune and whose sympathies go out to them in a full measure of lave.
 ''To the outsider, who knows little of our grcat institution. but who takes heed of waat Is going on dur ing this hour, may In truth ask who was the great and mighty man for whom this service of sorrow Is thus held. There are 1,I55 cities through cut the land who arc assembled in this hour to do reverence, our souls rise with the rest of those in reverence; there was no herald To proclaim that a great enc fae fallen. All is serene and quiet there is no loud wailing or iamentation or striking of breasts :. sembled here and elsewhere assembled. Neither q warrior nor a statesman, nor any such whom men are wont to honor after this fashion. Not one crowned with the laurel or who wears the pur- pie of distinction .s Not one who had surrounded himself with glory on the field of battle at the sacrifice of thous- ands of other lives precious to their dear ones.
 We come to honor men. ordinary men, who peacefully followed their daily avocations without show or os- tentation, who did their duty as IL was given them to see it. Men who, by the virtue of their lives, simple though they were, have added to the happi- ness to the totality of achievement throughout the land. The general Is nought without his army, Governments are not made up of the powerful. and the mighty. but rather of the millions of whom history tells nothing and res cords even less. Yet 1t Is to the strength of these little ones that na- tions owe their greatness and empires owe their glory. All honor to these simple souls who read their duty as dictated to them by God.
 Among the names of those who have. shuffled of this mortal coil with in the last year an1 goae to the bourne, from which no traveller re- turns we. too, have to record one name, that of W. r. vandiver. Need ! tell you of his life. yo1 wlo hsys manhood. in whose midst he labored known him fer all tLe years or his not only as q successful merchant, but as a successful citizen. There is a vast distinction between the two terms thus employed. There are suc- cessfuI merchants who ara not ktc- cessful citizens. Among tIIs clnss lit- icng those who live within lie narrow compass bounded on one side by self and the contiguous siies having the same boundaries.
 .The successful citizen Is he who forgets not his duty to the city in which he lives. to the community of which he forms a part and remembers at all times that there Is a vast obli- gation that he owes his country, and his fellow citizens. As such. the name of Brother W. F. vandiver stands high on tho roll of honor. foremost in all public undertakings. active in his re- liEioua duties. conscientious and scru- puious in the discharge of each and every one of these duties. His hand and his purse. his mental energy and his physical strength were used for others that others might be happy, that his city may become among the foremost in Alabama. His thought 1t was that the state Of Alabama take her place among the chief of the ag- ricultural states of the Union, and that such may be encouraged and that others may join him in the ac- complishment of this and the Alabama Agricultural State Falr was organlz- cd. Then only q temporary institu- ton, now a permanent organization. No duty as a citizen was shirked and all was entered upon in the broadest spirit of love of country. As such the name of Brother Vandiver will long be remembered by the citizens oi this city. It was my personal gooi fortune to know him and to witness some of his doings.
 Monument to Fidelity.
 There Is 8 church in Montgomery which is in truth monument to his religious conviction and to his fideli- ty, Education, too, found his ready and willing support. In a short time there will rise in this city a college which 1t is hoped will prove glory and benediction to the city and the state. To this institution he was one of the largest indivii iual contribu' tors.
 "oreat as are these doings and we would dwell on them at greater length but for tho hrevity of time. the intimate personal life of the man in terests us even as much. Many c home in our community can testify to the friendly visions in answer tc the call of distress, many a pain oi disease was stilled by the kindliness of his soul and many a pang of hung CT was relieved through his bounty Until he breathed his last. 1t was q iaily duty to visit some poor, and not to speak of such visit to even his children, so that none knew of 1t nn- til after his demise. when 1t was told