Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-10-30
Obituary-Ben Bass, Jr.
.oday he commands twenty servants at his

"TOddy he twenty servants at MS
Tomorrow commands none at all:
Today he is, grand, majestic all delight,
Today his house. though large. he thinks too
small.
Tomorrow commands no house at all.
To-Day he is dressed in gold and silver
bright,
Wrapped in a shroud before tomorrow
night
Again We are called upon to chroni-
cal that strange my sterious spell that
in one swift bour can change pulsing
health and strength and joy of living
into the somber silence of deaths
trappings and turn the merry laugh
into sobbings of woe. Death is no
respector of persons, Across the
threshold of the home of wealth and
luxury and into the howell of want the
! Grim Monster trails his relentless
shadow. The high and powerful and
the lowly and humble are touched
with a kinship in this democracy of
that implacable unseen power which
we call death. When he sends his
shaft with the swiftness of an arrow,
when a soul departs with no note of
warning and swiftly takes its flight
into the great Unknown, then our
stunned frail hearts stand appalled,
beside the poor clay that had been it's
tenement. and in silent wonderment
we question why the well-known eye
lids do not lift nor the lips part in
the familiar smile and the faithful
hands take up again their wonted
task. And in the suddenness of their
sorrow, We find no words to comfort
the beloved ones thus bereft
Thursday. October II. 1919, Ben
Bass Tor Bennis as he was Familiarity
called to distinguish him from the
older ones Of the same name) was
found dead. by Frank Smith, near the
residence of Frank Peak, Beetown. on
the road leading to the pasture land
Of Mr.. Smith. He had been working
for the latter for some months at
Roselawn. Both were going to the
woods for timber, Bennie starting an
hour before Mr.. Smith.
He had spoken pleasantly to and
held some conversation with
acquaintance whom he had met on
the way. Near nine o'clock in the
forenoon Mr.. Smith overlook Ben
MES team which he found stand
ing in the road. The lines had peen
dropped, the hand of the driver hang
ing limp, and the head had fallen
lightly against the wheel. There was
no box and the body was still sitting
on the running gear of the wagon.
Mr.. Smith, finding it still warm and
supple, put it in a reclining position
and did all he could to restore con
sciousness, hoping still for some sign
of life. All efforts were u~navailing.
He then ran to the residence of Mr..
Peak, from whence a doctor was
called and word was sent to threshing
crews who we're hulling clover in
adjoining fields. Mr.. Peak returned
Immediately with Mr.. Smith but
their united efforts failed to resus-
citate. DR.. Heraty, from Bluom-
ington, came as quickly as an auto
could get him to the scene. He was
accompanied by Editor Bishop. The
cause of death was pronounced heart
failure, and is supposed to have been
instantaneous. There were no visible
bruises or marring of the body.
Neither had there been any COM
plainipgs of illness except that Ben
had remarked a week or ten days
previously to our sun Guerdon, with
whom he was working. that be was
not feeling quite we'll lately. How
ever his tasks were performed with
his usual willingness and cheerful
ness. He was an excellent labOrer,
performing the work of his employer
as if it were his own, appeared always
in a happy mood, ready at any
moment to drop the task in hand and
help another when needed. During
the many weeks that be has been
about q home, at our table, at bis
daily work, everywhere. he has been
pleasant, agreeable, faithful and good
natured, ready to laugh when there
was merriment and showing kindly
sympathy when there was suffering or
sorrow. He showed always a willing
ness to oblige a neighbor or do a
kindly deed. Our acquaintance with
him dates only from the time of
his residence in our neighborhood.
And we are glad to chronicle and to
retain memories that are only
pleasant. We have had many helpers
in our home, but none more faithful,
none whom we could miss with greater
rerget than We are missing Ben, And
to the motherless children, now doub-
ly b~ereaved, all hearts go out in sym
pathy. His ~fatherly indulgence, the
keeping of them together in the we'll
provisioned and prettily furnished
home and their DEVOTION TO him makes