Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-05-11
Alfred Beard Kittredge

Alfred Beard Kittredge
1t is already late to say that the
death of A. B. Kittredge will be
lamented by hosts of friends. His
weeks of illness and the long days
when his life held by slender thread
were rich in expression of tender solicit
tude and high regard. He slept his
life away. and that was mercifui to
him and those who loved him. At the
last, one deep breath. and the cord
that bound him to this mortal life was
severed. He died as he had lived-the
silent m IN, the accomplishing man,
the man in every conscious hour
thoughtful of his friends Among his
last words of recognition were those
extended to numberof his Sioux Falls
intimates who had gone to his bedside.
Boys, he said, Pm awful glad you
came; it was good of you.
Mr.. Kittredge was great man, and
he was great in what men call little
things. He was a welcome guest, and
he was delightful as a host. Among
those with whom he associated ana
with whom he was in relation he was
never burden, but always help. He
never bothered people with his per-
sonal troubles, with the small per-
plexities of his life, its cares, respon-
sibilities and disappointments. His
reputation as a silent man grew out of
his remarkable contanment, the
strength of his character, the reciti-
tude of his purposes and the unceasing
courage of his life. He was in no
sense brazen he was in every sense
modest. He had no desire to talk of
himself, of what he knew, of what he
was doing, nor yet of his achievements
entering into the comment and praise
of men. Yet he had rare gift in
influencing the course of men about
him, for he knew men both in their
weakness and their strength. But for
him personally to stoop to conquer was
the hardest task of his life.
AS the time his campaign for reelec-
ton to the senate of the United States
came on he was engaged inhis greatest
work. He was chairman of the COM
mittee on interoceanic canals, and the
research, legal ability and clearness of
presentation characterizing his master
full report on the title of the United
States to the Panama canal zone
brushed aside all opposing contention
and made final and complete settle
ment of that case. He was disposed
to rest his campaign on the merits of
his service, recognized on all sides in
Washington to be highly creditable to
him and to his state. Probably the
hardest undertaking of his life was to
appear on the stump of South Dakota
in what amounted to petition to be
retained in the public service. What
he did was to debate important public
questions. He was not what is called
popular orator. In discussion he
went deep. He had neither taste nor
requirement that qualified him for
fever and the knack of tearing things
to tatters. He was unsuted to domi-
nent politics of the time.
Following his retirement to private
life he was the same contained man.
If there was expression of bitterness he
was not the author of it, In associ-
alton with his partisans he was the
same dear old Kilt He bound ms
friends to him because he was true,
because he Wanted not himself,
because he was never parted from the
excellence of his disposition, because in
all his good works, the small generosi-
| ties and kindnesses that count so much
in helpfulness, his left hand was kept
stranger to what his right hand was
doing.
Those who did not know him, who
never shared in the comfort and
security of the inner chambers of his
being, believing what is here set down.
can well believe that he was sincere
man, master of himself, and free of
all ostentation.
To take leave of Kittredge is strain
upon the better side of his friends.
His geniality, his encouragement, his
strength and courage will be greatly
missed in the city of his home and in
the state of his adoption.
All that is mortal of him will be laid
away in the state of his birth. Sioux
City, Iowa, Journal
East Jeffrey, N. H., May 8-Amid
| ocopao of HE oorIv un,,th the ftrnora3