The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-12
RIRR's EuLOGY ON
MS FRIEND FITCH
x.okuk journalist cfleyed at Pass
=. Of George Fitch, Writes His
praise o. His Humor.
let Friend.
MS WAS SWEET SOUL
". was Benevolent Unitarian Ac
eordlns to Or. Barr and His
Rank in Literature Is That
Of philosopher.
rBy G. Walter Barrl

Grabbing q morning paper at the
corner news stand, / hurried along
Nc campus walk. glancing at the big
t,,ne to absorb something of the af-
sairs Of the world before my belated
srr;val at the office. A turn Of the
s,aet and a headline stood out big
~ar and blacker than any headline
ever did before, the affairs of the
world became utterly inconsequen-
mi. when took note again. had
vhirled completely around and was
Ionkinp blankly at the sky, complete
II stunned George Fitch had gone
away. and his last letter, only two
weeks old, was full of plans of the
future and for delightful chats be-
tween us two.
NV second thoughts were OF his re-
markable little daughters-of Darl-
ins. Simons, Edna r'erber, Nagel,
hickman, the Beta boys of Knox and
. thousand others who would be
stunned for a moment by similar
headlines to those in the paper l
held in my hand.
George Fitch was that kind OF a
man. To know him well and have
his friendship was to love him. There
are men who command plenty of adj
miration, great respect and warm re-
gard: there are men who, in addition
10 these qualities, SO live their lives
as 10 compel real affection from 9th
er men. George Fitch was preemi-
uently man to inspire affection
rom other men of this great complex
world. 1t is interesting to read ow
George AIDE and John T. McCutcheon
IN San Francisco, hurried to the
Fitch home as soon as they heard the
news. 1t is informing to me to read
the attemptsand failures-of Darl-
Ing and Beckman to express their ap-
p.rciation Of George Fitch in print;
there are many of us who would
like to write about him. but it 10 inn
possible to write adequately, and /
lor one, had relinquished the idea In
despair until just now there came a
command could not refuse.
A Benevolent Unitarian.
Fitch as q man, was remarkable
combination Of Denevolence and utili-
tarianism. He loved his fellowmen
very much; every day of his life he
tried to be Of benefit to his fellow
men. and he achieved this desire In q
practical way. He had all the benSv-
olence Of missionary, and all the
utilitarianfsm OF a successful politi-
clan. The combination was q good
one. It is true that he had accom-
plished election to the Illinois legis-
lature, but never considered him
success as q politician, and do not be-
lave that he really tried to be one.
AS a christian he stands unique In
my half century of observation. None
Of his syndicate writings. even those
Vest Pocket Essays, which run daily.
was ever published on Sunday. II he
had visitor, he would fill Saturday
and Monday go full OF strenuous and
delightful entertainment that hts
hospitality would be limitless-but
on Sunday, his guests sat quietly in
the house with his family, and a
friend or two at dinner, and later q
symposium under the arbor IN the
side yard, were the maximum Of his
activities. He kept all the ten COM
mandments to an amazing extent.