The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-04
SAYS ROOSEVELT
IS GREATEST MAN
Mr.. John l.. Williams Believes
Contributing Editor is Filling
Part Well.
-----------
RETIRED BANKER TALKS
Grace Of Stiffness. He Thinks,
Does Not Apply TO Siren
uous One.
RETIRED BANKER TALKS

That Theodore Roosevelt is the
greatest man of this or any other age
recorded In secular history, IL the
opinion Of Mr.. John l.. Williams, re-
tired banker and capitalist of Rlch-
mond.
Mr.. williams was seated in the Of
flee OF the Southern Churchman
Thursday engaged in reading an ar
ticle on The Grace of Stiffness Writ
ten for that publication by himself
when the subject Of RoCsevelts great
ness was preached.
Don't you think Roosevelt might
learn "A lesson or two from your ar
ticle ?" he was asked.
Not AT ALL" was the quick reply
Roosevelt Is "a typical product OF TINS
age. the most intensified of all ages,
and he is filing his part like the
great man that he is q
OutciaSses Them All.
What name In secular history can
you find that compares with him and
the achievements linked with his
name? There was Alexander the
Great He died a drunkard. There
was Socrates, who ended his HE with
poison. Hannibal died in like fasn-
ion. Caesar fell a victim of assas-
sins and Cicero was murdered by a
band of thugs"
But Roosevelt is n>t dead yet
was suggested,
Yes" commented Mr.. Williams.
that is SO, but / believe he has a
| great sphere of usefulness ahead OF
| him. and | am confident his end VIII
| be a good one.
! What do you think the people are
/ going TO do with him o.
! The Lord only knows. and we
/ 70 Him ~
Takes Whack at Poe.
! ReVerting TO greatness and alleged
i greatness. Mr.. Williams who is a
| graduate of the University Of Nir-
| ginla and a loyal alumnus of that in
! stitution, expressed the belief that
/ ii would never prosper as II should
until it ceased exploiting the alleged
greatness of men like Thomas JEFF
/ ferson and Edgar Allan Poe.
Poe, he believed, left nothing bu'
evil examples behind him in his
/ works. and Jefferson was far from
being the great man and statesman
| he has been pictures.
| Names like Alexander Hamilton.
| John Marshall and others of that
| type appeal more strongly to Mr.. VIII
! liams, although Hamilton's monarch
| cal views are a bit ohjectional 10
| him.
This Is WONDERFUL Age.
Here Is a section of Mr. Williams
! article on The Grace of Stiffness:
/ Above all ages that have gone be-
fore us. ours is wonderful for life
enterprise activity, daring, coneentra-
| ton, nervous energy and restiessness
| so we are familiar with nervous eX
| haustion and breakdowns We arr
| yet TO learn, at heavy cost, the wis
dom that doth guide valor to act II
| safety. Lord Bacon quotes wis
saving: Wait a bit; that you ma,
make an end the sooner"
There Is merit in stiffness, Thu
| curative power of nature shows itsel
to those who know how to wait. TIL
| untimely and ambitious word or ac
may spoil things.
Stiffness Gift OF God.
Stiffness is a divine grace: a git
Of God. blessing of the Spirit--liv
thoughtful, intelligent. loving, gentle
But there are many consideration
that help lis to be still, One is, tina
our anxiety to be doing something
may not be altogether pious or hum
bic. We do not like to see peopl
getting ahead OF us. The achieve
ments and distinction of others MAX
us to feel painfully small and insig
nifcant and useless and We desir
! w give tiie SAiilttbhtS tiit "
our valuable service in setting tn
world 10 rights. And sometimes Il
our restlessness we even suggest eth
| bull in the china shop: and the pos
sIbiity that our room might be bet
ter than our company. The hear
| for any fate may not have though
OF the possibility OF doing more harm
than good.
Passion for Publicity.
Our age is not only enterprlsinl
and restless but on fire with an all
pervading passion for publicity an'
distinction. And the best treatmen
of our case is cultivation of intel
iigent, wide-awake. God-fearing still
ness: a delight In meditatIng In tn
law OF the Lord. and patiently wait
Ing upon Him Piety is best cult
waited in the stiffness of home and tn
private chamber"