The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-04-04
BOB TAYLOR.
" Ye that have tears to shed,
Prepare to shed them now"

Bob Taylor is dead. When the sad
news was flashed over the wires last
Sunday morning a reyerential stiffness
like that which follows the dying
echoes of plaintiff music hung over
Tennessee like a pail. The great heart
of the Volunteer State was never before
so deeply touched; the laughing waters
of the beautiful Watauga broke into
teardrops as they leaped over their
pebbled bed indicative of the tears
that sprang from thousands of eyes
unused to weeping. The sun from
cloudless sky kissed the mountain
peaks that have stood like sentinels
guarding the home of his youth, and
all nature smiled its sweetest as heaven
was garnering the choicest product of
this earth.
Bob Taylor was man without a
counterpart, without parallel, with
out peer. In all this world he stood
alone, in bold relief against a mass of
brilliantly endowed humanity.
He was born with song in his
heart, a smile on his lips, tear in his
eve, and cultivating these endowments
in early life he had sung, laughed and
wept his way into the hearts Of his
fellowmen until a nation was pleased
to call him the " Apostle of Sunshine.
What more could mortal desire; to
man, what more could be given?
He began a political career in 1878
when he defeated the scholarly Petit
bone for congress in this congressional
district, after the most picturesque
campaign East Tennessee had ever
known. On March Is, 1884, he launch
ed The Comet, having as his associates
Robert Burrow, his law partner, and
N.C. Love. In June follo wing he was
made presidential elector for the state
at-large. In those days lie had more
enthusiasm than money and would |
have declined the honor for lack of
funds to provide for "Sally and the
babies while he was campaigning,
but his friends here would not permit
him to think of doing so and made
ample provision for his maintenance.
In that campaign he made an enviable
reputation, was more than match for
the Hon. Sam w. Hawkins, the repub-
iican elector, and honored his friends
for the faith they had in him. Grover
Cleveland was elected president and in
1885 called Bob from The Comet tripod
TO be pension agent at Knoxville. Then
followed his election as governor in
1886, defeating his brother ALI in the
memorable campaign of the "War of
the Roses" The story of his political
career appears elsewhere in this issue.
Whether Bob Taylor was great I
man depends upon your idea of great
ness. He was not statesman, accord
ing to the common acceptation of the
term, but he had hold upon the peo-
pie of his state and nation that no
statesman could hope for. He never
had an enemy on earth. If you differ
ed with him on any matter it was all
forgotten the moment you met.
The world has never produced an
other with such lovable traits of charac- {
ter and in all probability we will never s
see his like again. Love, honor and
sympathy were his shield; charity, gen.
erosity and mercy his watchword. He
gave as generously as he received, and
in his wake followed sunshine and !
happiness. +
His heart was the fountain of love,
from which sympathy, sunshine and
song effervesced continuously, and lip
ping through his twinkling eyes and
puckered mouth permeated the world
like sound waves compass space. The
eyes are closed, the voice is hushed
and the great heart has ceased to beat,
but his memory will ever remain fresh O
in the hearts and minds of the people
he SO faithfully served and who loved
him as no man has ever before been
loved. Truly, this is honor enough,
and it seems entirely fitting that the J
remains should be consigned to mother
earth upon the anniversary of the ).
burial of Christ Farewell, Bob, and Il
may the peace that passeth under a
standing, be your; foreyermore. {,
eyes look your last, b
Arms take your last embrace a. a.