The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-02-18

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came and remained a friend of the
cause. Time and again he wrote let
ters of commendation and watched
every phase Of the work, always be-
Ilieving in it's success, even when hope
was merely a gl;mmer. On reading
what was said of the Turkey Vulture,
he wrote: What an amazing thing is
human genius that can stir interest
in so foul bird"
Born an Up-Countryman, with all
an Up-Countrymfan's prejudices, he
outgrew them and became a lover OF
the coast country and never tired of
it's beauty and charm. To him it was
a fact assured that the coast would
come into it's own; and in one of our
last conversations he spoke of the
folly that had for so long believed in
the myth of the coasts unhealthful-
ness. His clear mind went straight
to the core of, the subject and he
.ealized what vast asset to human
ity these millions -:of fertile acres
would be. -.
He wrote me twice from the sani-
tarium in Atlanta and was hopeful Of
getting we'll. : -
His elevation to the Supreme Bench
was a superb tribute to his character
! and ability. During heated canvass
for a vacancy he withdrew his name,
and refused utterly to allow it to be
used, since he was quite unwilling to
be considered as seeking a position of
such grave import. This stand re-
bounded to his honor and made sure
his subsequent election, when he
could assume the position with un-
soiled ermine.
As Judge on the circuit and as an
associate justice of the Supreme
Court, others are more capable of
speaking. The lawyers may make poor
judges, not from any fault of their
own, but from lack Of the peculiar
qualities required by judge. From
all I have heard, however, he was an
ornament to the bench, and one of
the strong men of that body.
Of his loving personality, the
charm of his bright mind, of his keen
quick sympathy, it requires no legal
learning to appreciate. In the larger
sense man is more than he does, far
more than he has, for, in the last
analysis, it is reduced to what he is.
Judge Gage was the embodiment of
truth and honor. One felt that what
he gave forth was drawn from an
inexhaustible reservoir. Il lis force of
reserve was not easily measured.
AS an instance of his moral power,
Col. George Johnstone told me that
on one occasion there was reason to
believe a lynching imminent during
the sitting of court. Judge Gage pre-
sided, and fully took in the situa-
ton. His remarks to the audience
and his orders to the sheriff rang out
like the>order to fire, given by Ma
poleon on the streets of Paris. Every
man in that courtroom knew he
meant exactly what he said and that
action would follow the first sign of
outbreak. No outbreak came. "It was
the finest exhibition of moral power
I ever Witnessed" said Col. John
stone, because everybody expected
fatal issue. I did myself; and the
fact that it did not come was due
wholly to the moral mastery Of a
great SOUL"
With US but yesterday, George Will
liams Gage has "gained the vastly
halls of DEATH" To the line of illus
;r:ous men who lived but to serve the
commonwealth he has added a name
:qualto the best. Clean of speech,
chaste in thought and act, he stands
forth model for public men and an
inspiration for the hunlblest citizen.
When his son went to war, he
wrote that he felt like Abraham
whenhe offered up Isaac, and when
he was stricken sore by the loss of
daughter that had grown into his
..eart, he bowed himself at the altar,
prone in grief, but with faith undim-
med. His tribute to her, privately
printed for friends, is one of the