The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-02-22

VIM. P. a newspaper writer and farmer,
and a daughte:, Mrs. T. C. Clark of
Springfield. Massachusetts.
General Nickerson was most kindly and
genial in disposition and harhored no
spirit of hatred or revenge as result of
sharp legal or political clashes, and would
meet his opponents in most bitter war
of words. without leaving lasting sting.
When a change in political conditions
brought him in conflict with his old friend
and leader, E. K. Smart, in a desperate
grapple at the Democratic County Con-
vention In 1858, in which Smart went
down in defeat, Nlckerson extended his
hand, and said, you taught me. our divi-
sion is only for day. He was always
glad to lend his aid to worthy people, and
knew how to make it effective. Many
young men of Waldo county owed their
advancement in the Army of 81 to him,
and he always displayed wise judgment
in his choice. Notwithstanding his great
disadv antages educationally in his youth,
he had read himself into fine scholarship,
/ and was authority in average standard
literature and the poets. Shakespeare
was his text book and was the close COM
panion of his Army life. A group of men
distinguished in law, letters and Art and
brilliancy in their respective vocations,
were accustomed for many years tc lunch
together at Young's Hotel, Boston, and
enjoy an hour of flow of soul each day.
Among them were General William Cogs-
we'll, for many years a member of Con-
gress, B. P. Palmer of the Boston Globe,
Martin Milmore, the great sculptor, and a
dozen others, in the circle OF which Gen
eral Nickerson was the life and peer. So
wide had been his readings and so prolific
were his apt quotations, where wit, good
nature sparkled. and gems of repatee
abnunded. Nickerson was the last to
cross the divide. His devotion to friends
was most beautiful, and in political de-
feats he was such u good loser that his
associates were made to feel that they
were sure to win the next heat. He was the
personification of loyalty to his convic-
lions and defeat year after year did not
dim his ardor for his cause.
And now he is gone forever, that gal
liant OLD soldier, whose years were so
| prolonged that they spanned nearly a
century, from John Quincy Adams Ad-
ministralion to Wilson's second term,
and he had the dearest wish of his heart
gratifed in seeing a Democratic Presi-
; dent re elected. He remembered incl
dents of the last days of Jackson and
was active in the campaign of Tippi-
canoe and Tyler too. 1t is almost i'm
! possible to associate him with DEATH So
+, vigorous and dominant, SO optimistic and
hopeful OF still longer stay with his
young friends, to the last, that one could
! scarcely believe that he could ever be
destined to pay natures debt. And those
few living who had the joy of his friend
ship in his early years, who loved him
and sympathized with his views, VINO
shared his enthusiasm. and cheerfully re-
sponded to his hopeless party calls. can
now only find relief in tender memories
of superlative specimen of man.
"How shall sing as one should sing.
How chant thy praise in sweet refrains,
How touch the Tyre, whose every string
Responds with wild and wailing strains?
Each sentence is a stifled sigh.
Each effort il q mournfui cry;
can but weep that thou shoudst die
And sayl Great Heart. Good by. good-by."