Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-25
Splendid Tribute
From Intimate Friend

From Intimate Friend
THE Lewiston Journal, Monday, has
~ splendid tribute to Melvin S. Hol-
Nay from the pen of it's brilliant
editor, Arthur G. Staples, who was his
classmate at college and intimate
friend for many years.
1t is written from out the heart in
sincerity and affection unmistakable.
and the first thought expressed is in
these words: Now and then there
is retiring man. who has more in
fuence on life about him than many
who are more nearly at the front" for
so he regarded this friend.
The writer recalls the day in 1873,
when he first met Mr.. Holway. II
was in one of those un-checkered
spaces of the pines of Bowdoin in the
early autumn. He was only II as
youthful and not at all athletic, so We
drifted together and wandered that
day about the college campus ana
down by the river to watch the falls
confidential and talked about things
we liked to read and about what we
wanted to do. We were always drift
ing together for long days and walks.
We were in the same fraternity. We
roomed together many's the night
we studied together by the same eve
ming lamp. We edited the Orient to-
gether! We wrote to each other in
vacation time. And then and there
began lifelong friendship. I hope
that he may know the depth of the
grief at this moment of his old boy
friend.
Melvin Smith Holway was one of
the most interesting persons to one
- - I,
amazing intuitive, sense of culture,
unaffected: unsought by him hut born
of him. His father was Oscar Hol-
way, a very able merchant and founder
of a great business, the Oscar Hot
way Co. of Auburn. a director for
many years in the National Shoe and
Leather Bank of Auburn a true Chris
tan gentleman. His mother was
Olive A. Fowler. into whose house we
used To go as boys from college, and
that gentleneSs and courtlineSs that
her son possessed.
He came to college from the Au-
gusta schools and soon demonstrated
could not say that he was brilliant;
but he had that capacity of thorough
ness, and the purpose to achieve the
leadership in scholarship of the class.
He deliberately set himself out to ex-
eel The class graduated at least one
or two distinguished men, such ar
Prof. William A. Moody. professor of
mathematics at Bowdoin and such
eminent physicians as the lamented
DR.. w. o. Plimpton of New York. the
orthopedic authority in his day and
such publicists as EXMayor and Po-
lice Commissioner Edwin u. Curtis of
Boston. Yet of all the number, Hol-
way was graduated with the highes,
honorS-the leader in scholarship of
the class of 1882.
1T would be difficult to eulogize the
The plain truth is sufficient. There
tie. patient, sacrificial, generous,
thoughtful. learned, full of laughter
and of joy. Never obtruding; yet
plain enough when it came to any is
sue OF right or wrong, was his relig.
whom Paul spoke, 'steadfast, immov-
Lord. He had absolutely not H1 one one
snowy attainment.
He was not forceful or agrees
good story teller. He talked but little
except In the company of a few. But
he had bedrock character. / never
knew any such absolutely time-defy:
ing, deep-laid, bedrock foundations of
manhood in a man of my age and as
ISOLATION as he had.
He was never a stole. IIe was
somewhat Of an epicurean. He loved
SO sensibly, 50 reservedly, that his So
ciety was an education. He knew how
to get the best out of books. He knew
now to write wonderfully and should
thority on literature rather than law
yer. He had the qualifications for such
work as that of William Lyon Phelps.
He died working for others. He is
sald IN augusta literally to have worn
hlmseiI out in certain work for pub
ilc causes, especially the China Relief.
This was like him. He never quit on
anything. He did not quit studying
for leadership in colleges. He never
gave up in anything; never whined at
hard-luck or caviled at Fate
most interesting thing about Mr..
HolWay was his viewpoint of life. He
used TO preach as a boy this. Let's
say it over and over. He and ! used
to walk in the woods and talk things
over had financial troubles or
rather L had no finances at all to
he always made up his budget of
trouble TO ease mine away by COM
parlson and then we would make the
best of 1t! And such a best of it.
fonth: Under the clear blue: Youth
the fragrant pines Youth. With the
blue above by day and the stars beck
oning, by night. God bless us! So I
Woulo not quite trust myself to say
all that l feel about my old friend
He was Christian, tho we did not
appreciate it; for he did not mention
It. The kingdom of God was in him
He loved his neighbor as himself. He
mad a low, sweet voice, never raised
l believe in anger at all, any time or
place, in his life. He had the keenest
sense of ridiculous. that I have ever
known Intimately. He would rollic<
and laugh and roll on the ground at
fun. Some of my readers NAV find II
dlfncuit TO believe this. But l know
he was most gifted writer. 1t is
shame that he did not follow it. He
was a reader of all literature. He
knew all books and could talk them
he was a wise counsellor. His law
was the law, not of the trickster and
the side-stepper: but the honest-to-
Coo law. that is justice.
II have been personal in this writ
ing; because l wished to be. l want
to lay my wreath on the grave of the
best of men. His hometown news
paper contained tributes from Others
who nave known Mr.. Holway 1 saw
a brother attorney of Mr.. Holway's
SUNDAY at the seashore hurrying
home as tho it were his own brother.
L TOO, nave lost one-a brother of the
sunny days, brother of the old Fra
ternity; brother OF the hedge-rows.
or friendly roads. of adventures in
ontentment-When earth was Young