The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-28
MONUMENT FOR MIR. BITTINGER

The loving and grateful remembrance
in which the living hold the dead
teaches US the lesson of cherishing the
shining virtues that lead men on and
up. The concrete or tangible expression
of this remembrance is found in At
lanta through the monument erected to
that sweet prophet of peace. Henry w.
Grady, who was one of the beloved
editors of our country The statues of
the great editor Horace Greedy, and the
great publicist, Peter Cooper, call to
the mind of the visitor to New York
that even in that busy mart of trade,
no neglect can be afforded as to the
pointed recognition of those who pro-
NOTED the welfare of the people OF
that great center. Indeed monuments
tell something and do that silently and
powerfully in the minds of those that
behold them that pen has never yet
found language to describe, which in
so small a way show the appreciation
of the living for the dead. help the
good deeds of men to live on and teach
right on for the good of humanity. In
view of these facts L propose monu-
ment to be placed at some appropriate
place, the selection of the monument
and the place of erection to be in the
l
that purpose, this in the name of the
beloved late editor of the Evening Star
Charles L. Bittinger, who was all sun
Eshine and love and who idoliZed Flo
rida and her people from the first day
the took up his pen to picture their re-
sources and virtues and to become one
of them in heart and soul and body
Like the editor of the Banner, Mr.. Bit
itinger was a promoter of progress anC
the sweeter understanding of man tt
man that peace might abound. To-
gether day by day this colleague witt
you has brought forth the best to ad
vance our commonwealth. He has wri
a lesson in our hearts that l believe
should be given expression. L believe
the citizens of Ocala and our count.
and the editors of the state and other
who valued the man will join in thi
matter by contributing literally to thi
cause I believe the subscription will
be large and forthcoming when calle'
for.
l. Had the death angel called the edito
of the Banner first, / am sure that {
} L. Bittinger would have heartily en-
dorsed the plan of erecting a monu
ment that would be expressive of tn
} love and appreciation in which yo
are neId Dy all Glasses however, u
not mean to make any argument 70
know that you were like Damon an
Pythias in your great work, and tha
. you feel with all, most deeply his los
as was so charmingIy and pathetical
ly told in the great tribute to hi
$ memory in your valued columns. A
he was buried beneath the summe
sunshine of Florida and was hidde
/ from the people he loved I felt wit
: many others that the great loss, il
4 Illustrated by the wilderness of flow
; ers and tear bedimmed eyes, was tOl
. by the poet, Thomas Moore.
/. Let fate do her worst there are relic
= of joy,
: Bright dreams of the past which sh
cannot destroy,
), Which came in the nighttime of sol
. row and care
And bringing back the features tha
Joy used to wear
D Long. long be my heart with sue
I Like the vase in Which roses hav
once been distilled,
f You may break, you may shatter tn
vase if you will
" But the scent of the roses will elm
to it still.
If the suggestion of erecting tn
monument meets with your favor an
the generous public, that you bot
lserved with two clean sp1endidly pro
| gresSive papers, | have some Otht
suggestions to make as to what | COZ
slider the best method to accompls
the desired end. Yet / am like other
ready to join in forces that have an
available plan, to show that We al
appreciative of our departed frier
who was a man of great worth.
Res spectfully, J. T. Lancaster.