River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-29
AN APPRECIATION
"Speak Me Fair in Death"

of River Falls would have been grleV-
ed, shocked. He was then in his
earliest maturity, a young man OF
unusual social charm, of rare, very
rare, mental gifts, the pride and pet
of the community; but the facination
of youth, it's friendships, its chum-
ships. it's loveships, like 'the fashion
Of this world, passeth away" and
finally ''in the sere and yellow leaf,
we find ourselves standing like the
lone tree in autumn on the cold,
northern hillside of life, soon to sink.
so far as earth is concerned, in OBJ
livion's shoreless and sunless sea.
purpose now frankly and fairly
to give my own Impressions, the fruit
of forty-fiYe years of intimate acquaint-
ance, and, to me, precious personal
friendship, as to what manner of man
ne was.
His quickness of requirement OF
knowledge, sometimes seeming almost
intuitive, his quickness of perception
acter, were remarkable, unparalleled
so far as my own personal observation
extends.
He once told me, and it was the
only time he ever in my presen ce
spoke appreciatingly of himself, that
at the age of thirteen he was pre-
pared to enter college in the classical
courses two years in advance, such
preparation having been made in G
atner nelter-skelter way between the
schools at Mann Valley, River Falls
and Prescott. | think his calling we'll
chosen; he would have eXcelled as
physician but the work would
have bored him. AS counselor in his
office he was at his best, quick, con
else, clear and self reliant, he al
ways made the happiest impression
upon his client Men of great affairs
sought and unquestioningly relied up
on his advice; and | here and no"
estify, and speak advisedly as hav
ing for years been his professional.
partner, that in my judgment he never
charged a dollar more than justice
and generosity warranted, never en-
couraged litigation against his clients
interest, never cherished for an in
slant the thought of finesse or foul
play in the conduct of case. He
loved justice and hated iniquity.
In court he never measured up 20
his possibilities; naturally ne would
have been a crushing cross-eXaminer
in addressing the jury he was neither
strong nor weak, he had naturally n
special excellence as an orator, be
ore the court he did we'll but scant
preparation and spirit prevented
prominence. But he would have
shone with special spIendor upon the
,euun. / can never be reconciled tC
he public and his own personal loss
in an unkind fate here. He would
ave hOnored the bench of an appel
late court, but in speaking of him as
a jurist | have in mind the work Of
the trial judge. On the circuit he
would have been illustriOus, easily, i'll
my opinion unrivalled among all
men I have ever known. QuicRness
to grasp the case, quickness to catch
the bearing of facts proposed to be
proved, prOmptness in applying the
law, clearness and conciseness of state
ment when making rulings, clearness,
conciseness and consistency in charg
ing the jury, dignity without self
complacency, firmness without obsti-
macy, courage, independence, and ever
lasting honesty these are the priceless
qualities that make a perfect Judge,
and Wellington had them all. How
often have | coveted some of these
things
In so speaking of my friend it may
seem that I have exhausted compll-
ments, and unqualified eulogy is OF
fensive. | am innocent of conscious
exaggeration. l too much respect the
memory of the dead to indulge in ex-
aggeration of his excellencies, the
one thing most repellant to his can
did nature; and now in his stead
''humbly confess that in large meas
ure he wrapped his talent in a nao
kin and hid it in the earth. Through
out the circuit in which he practicet
| he was recognized as an unusually
| bright lawyer and the soul of pro
Ifessional honor, but he should have beer
known, and with the greatest favor
throughout the entire Northwest, anC
his influence felt for the elevation O
the profession; a man of exceptiona
social gifts he admitted but few t
the charm of intimacy, he shoult
have so made many happy; he wa
interested in public affairs, but neve
active, the public should have haC
the benefit of his leadership. Wha
was the matter? Wellington Van
natta was too easily bored, was owe
sensitive, too modest, unambitious
lacking in continuity of purpose, an
barely escaped Discrimination to men
tai labor. His imperfections, how
ever, were mainly negative.
What doth God require but tina
we should deal justly, love mercy an
walk humbly."
c. SMITH.