The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-22
NTNETREE FOIkES.
tFor The Nirsl.I-an.l

tFor The VirS'Tan)
In the death of Minetree E'uiSca we
are again reminded thai nj paths III
this life lead toward IN. cemetery.
Thther have gore littl" children. the
household idols; thither the pldVnates
of earlier years; thither the aged and
inirm, and now one ~ the fullness
and usefulness of life. Like shadow,
softly and sweetly thrown from pass
ing cloud, death fell upp him.
Taken in his prime IL the very
threshold of his usefulness by an all
wise Providence. perchancc, to u
grander. robler life more suited to his
great abilities and lofty ambitions, he
has left to those who knew him ast
an inspiration to greater and better
things and his. life and achievements
should stimulate the youth of Rich
mond to lofty endeayor and noble pur-
pose. To have known him is pre-
cous memory. to emulate him no.
bier ambition.
The great, multitude of adm!ring ana
sorrowing friends that gathered to pay
their last respect to their departe' /
friend. together with the abundant ana
handsome floral tributes, placed BY
loving hands upon his bier, was tho
most effective evidence of the high
esteem in which Minetree Folkes was
held.
During the decade or more in which
he so ably and acCeptably served rs
States attorney for the city of Ricn-
mond, and IN other positions of pub
lie trust. he would not permit fear II
political punishment nor hope of re-
ward to change his attitude on a MAJ
ter Of public concern, and in the fear
less discharge of his official duties il
was often at the cost of many secret
signs and tears for the unfortunate
and for fallen humanity
1t was not necessary to draw aside
the curtain and peer into the homo
of Minetree Folkes to judge of hls
domestic environment. for his accus-
toned genial smile and his childlih :
affection in the bosom of his family
is known to all of his most intimate
friends, and their hearts are deeply
I touched because of the empty chair al
the fireside ard the missing link II
the chain of the hitherto happy fam
lily circle.
We stand on the bank of HES
stream and watch the mystic bars
take from our shore its immortal pas
sengers on a voyage from which there
is no return, and we are lost in spec
ulation. The wisdom that takes ths
strong and leaves the weak; that takes
takes the pure and leaves the tile
that takes the young and leaves th'
old is beyond our ken. The passA a
gers have no choice. The why, this
wherefore they are taken comes onl!
at the end of the voyage. Those be
hind gaze upon a solemn myster!
which each must solve alone at th'
end of a like journey which each mus
sooner or later take.
Minetree Foikes was not only al
able lawyer but a man of fine busi
ness acumen. He believed in the PEG
Pile of his State and of his native cit!
and felt a deep interest in their wei
fare. With a strong and briliian
mind he also possessed warm heart
HE belongs to the ages" thus wisely
| said.
AS they wept by his form when thu
spirit had fed;
Then the ages grew richer with treas
ure untold,
/ AS the scroll of their pages before
him unfolled,
And he lives in their life, an immor'
tai sublime,
t While the tides of eternity roll upoT
/ time.
r. w MERCHANT.