Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-10-02

S. P. Foster In The Elmer Times.

We regret exceedingly to learn of the
death of George r. Scott, who passed
away at his home in New York, Sept.
9th, 1914, in the 18th year Of his age.
Il would be interesting to learn jnot
how many persons had enjoyed an
acquaintance with him, and how
many had admired him through his
writings in the Weekly Witness and
Sabbath Reading. We venture the
the number would be more than a mil
lion, perhaps millions.
The writer first met him about thirty
years ago, after following his writings
for several years. After that we es-
teemed him as a friend. He had the
hospitality of the writer's humble
home on different occasions, and for a
time q correspondence was kept up.
When the writer's name first appeared
in print as editor Of the Times In 1887, a
marked copy was sent MI. Scott, and
brought back immediate compliments.
He loved those who had started in
humble circumstances.
Deceased was of humble parentage.
and born IN England; at the age Of IL
years, with his family, he arrived In
America, practically %penniless. He
sold newspapers at old Fulton street
ferry, and, If memory serves us right,
he also BACKED boots to helpin the sup
port of the family. At an early age, he
was ~apprenticed to a printer, and,
although he had little education, the
composing room proved o college for
him. He was with the Brooklyn Star,
New York Tribune, and in 1872 hired
with the New York Weekly Witness
and, continued in that employ until he
died. He was q composition, then
foreman, and In this latter capacity
began I scribble items he believed to
be good enough to print. The late John
McDougall saw that he had a talented
man, and George r. Scott from that
time had a column to fill each week,
one Of the first to be read by subscribers.
He was an orator. His writings
resulted in many calls from churches
and tenn perance organizations, and he
spoke in many different states, to
crowded houses. The writer wrote him
about 1885; asking him to spare a night
for Cedarville. He wrote back, "I1l
come. Send money in advance for my
car fare. I never have enough OF hand
to buy a railroad ticket" And that
was characteristic Of the a Any
person in need could get the contents
of Scott's p%ocketbook unless the writer
errs.
He hated rum. He was deeply relig-
l0us. He was fond of music. The
writer took him into a Salvation Army
meeting some thirty years ago. The
big hall was crowded. Scott said 1t
was his first experiences among the
Salvationists. The tambourines and
music charmed him and when he was
sent to the stage he carried everybody
with his oratory. He was back once
more as a newsboy, and his language
smacked of the street; he would not
cease talking about that experience
after the meeting was over
1t happened at that time that theBAl-
walton Army was making a sweep of
South Jersey, and as the meetings were
held at the time that Scott was to speak
Ia the town, permission was asked of
the Army to allow the speech to be
delivered before them and other atten-
dants.
MI. Scott was a seemingly, robust
man, and left the Witness office eight
years ago, one afternoon, in apparently
perfect health, never to enter 1t again.
He was still able to pen his weekly let
ters, however.
This lovable man, talented and good,
reminds us hat the poor boy, the news
boy, the humble immigrant, the boot
black, should not be looked down upon.
There lie great possibilities below
frousIed hair, and in bodies clad in
taitered raiments. Like other men of
his make. up, it is fair to presume he
died poor. We are sure of that, If he
handled his W income. He was not
a ~fnancler and knew 1t. That was a
weakness, but his strong points over
balanced all.
The world is better because Scott, the
penniless immigrant, came to these
shores. He had been a Inadvertently
thirty years, but a family of loyal sons
and daughters were the comfort Of his
declining years.