The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-21
HENRY NJ. FLAGLER.


Death, which renders all men
equal, has laid it's hand upon one
who in life lowered above his fel-
lows. In the solemn twilight attend
ant upon the phenomenon that re-
duces earth's mightiest, as we'll as
the veriest beggar.. to elemental dust,
It seems there is possible clarity Of
vision enabling US to pass Judgment
With greater justice and correctness
than amid the distractions and or
scurations of animate activity. Shorn
OF the glamour that attends great
wealth, and relieved of the shadow Of
envy that great wealth begets, we
may now view the real man, and
pass upon his record with impartial
justice.
If the works of Henry M. Flagler
should pass into nothingness with
his physical being, the inspiration az
forded American youth by his career
would alone suffice to make his life
che Of superlative usefulness. 1t was
q far cry from the boy working in .
country store at S. per month to the
millionaire protector of enterprises
OF worldwide import, but his in
custry and perseverance bridged the
seemingly impossible chasm, and
crowned with success a vaulting but
accurately guaged ambition. =.
Measured by the Importance to hui
mainly of his achievements, he may
Justly be regarded as a great man.
And in his nature the evil was 80
far outweighed by the virtues that
1t would be unfair to designate him
as other than good man. II no
took advantage of the conditions
which made 1t possible for him to
accumulate great wealth, 1t should
be borne in mind that he employed
that wealth to far greater advantage
tn his fellow men than have our
much Wanted philanthropists. When
men asked for bread he did not prof
fer them a book; but his great en-
terprises opened the way for thous.
ands to secure support while main
tanning their self-respect. He used
his riches we'll and wisely: and there
would be little conflict between cap.
ltal and labor II all capitalists should
adopt his policies and methods.
His influence upon the develop
Ment of Florida will never be fully
recognized except by the thoughtful
few. 1t Is not only In the immediate
section where his activities took
shape that this influence was opera
tive. That section, indeed. owes
to him its transformation from q
barren. desolate waste to a fair and
fruitful country; but the effect Of
the enterprises inaugurated there
was to turn the eyes Of the nation
upon State which before had been
but slightly regarded. and the i'm
petus to immigration thus given has
affected every portion of Florida, and
will be felt In cumulative effect per-
petually.
He drank of the cup Of success Its
sweetest draught-the Joy of accom-
pfshment. 1t was given to him to
finish the great undertaking which
had SO long been his dream; to look
upon his completed work and to pro-
nounce II good. Life has no greater
compensation to offer than this.
He paid. too. the penalty of sue
cess: the envy of lesser minds; the
hatred OF little souls; the ingratitude
Of those whose feet he had set into
the way OF fortune. But through 1t
all he pursued his even-tempered
way; unassuming. modest and kind
IL. his course marked by many acts
OF unostentatious benevolence. He
has passed now beyond the reach Of
praise and blame. History will do
Justice to his memory.