Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-05-11

LA Appreciation.


Sometimes when souls pass from the
land OF their earthly hsbitation to the
great hereafter, We feel that kind reserve
is better than any word that can be spoken
or written, better for both the living and
the dead. At other times We bring our
tributes, vocal or the more enduring
printed word, with deep sense Of the en-
tire congruity with the life that has been
lived, and lay them with tender reverence
upon the last resting place Of the departed.
Such tribute would the writer Of these
words bring to the memory OF her whose
name stands at the head Of these lines.
As maiden, wife and mother, Ida Hodg-
kins was known to the people OF our city,
and Of her 1t may truly be said: "None
knew her but to love her, none named
her but to praise"
To an abundant possession Of the ele-
mental virtues she added the fair flowers
OF intellectual attainment and social
grsces, informing all with broad charity
and . large tolerance. But to those who
have known her best, the last year Of her
life has significance Tar surprising that
Of her combined years previous.
Al the orc yields its refined gold only to
the toFturing nres beneath the crucible, 20
this lie yielded its richest fruit only TO
the torture Of pain, and the daily vision OF
the inevitable. For long and weary
months it was deemed necessary to CON-
cesi from her her true physical condition,
and NO one was ever served more faithfully
by friends in such . way than she. No
ono blundered, the most tactless became
tactful under the needful bond; beautiful
conspiracy Of silence was entered into and
observed to the last. And yet no one can
doubt that to the keen mind, rendered
more intuitive by suffering, the truth - TO
her condition came gradually but surely.
But BY no word did she mar the value OF
her loved ones service. By no word Of
murmuring or reproach did she add to the
pain Of hearts already overiuli.
With sublime cheerfulness, ~ith pa
thence almost infinite, she took up her
heavy load and walked erect. The Wanted
triumphs OF mental healing are small and
pitiful beside the strength OF will dis
played by this slight and dying woman.
The heroism Of the battle field that nerves
. man to deeds OF valor under the eyes OF
his comrades, to the inspiring music OF
thunderous guns, fades into almost insig-
nifcance beside the courage and heroism
OF this dauntless spirit, looking day by
day into the faces OF loved ones, assuming
day by day the common cares OF life,
mingling day BY day with the social life
of which she had so long been q favorite;
and knowing for weeks that each day
might be the last. Will became adamsnt,
nerves became steel, life in its daily vic
tory tainted death with its impotence.
And this high courage failed only when
the heart had ceased to beat But for this
last year Of Mrs. Hodgkins' earthly life,
all those who loved her may be thankful.
Her death was falling asleep. With
out struggle, and in perfect peace she
passed the boundary bet tween two worlds,
and those who watched scarce knew that
she had gone. The flowers that raised
their beautiful heads shove her on the
last day, distilling their fragrance at
every breath, were exquisite symbols Of .
life which had reared itself proudly in the
presence OF death, and had flung its rare
fragrance over every phase OF human life
in which it bloomed.