Milford chronicle., 1924-09-05

~ clean. Yet in his stern opposition t.
the drltt, he mingled tolerance in ius
tnaI Quantity which contributed to rea
power TO be used in opposition, and TO
ta,'I- tli@. purpose alone He organized sys
teIlatlcally rescue squads for weaker
poys at college who We're wavering be.
iOre strong but evil leadership. Against
tlle boy who sought to lead astray the
weaker he set his face like steel
Like every born leader, he had his
many warm friends, but if Rufus Fear
ing ever had bitter enemy, have yet
10 near of him. His kindness, sincerity
ana good humor disarmed hatred. /
never saw him angry. In twenty years
! reproaches.
He was absolutely natural in any en-
! Vlfonment, great or humble. He was ex-
tremely ambitious. He was extremely
proud. Upon occasion, years ago, when
mistakenly reprOached him, he pa
tlently explained my error and then
one; and secured board and lodging else
apology from me.
characteristics of Thoroughbred
Il have noticed that one of the char
acteristics of the thoroughbred is the
ISl usai 70 accept or recognize a handi-
cap. which he always regards as self
confession of inferiority. The man who
accepts handicap is beaten before the
race commences
In any matter to which Rufus Fear
ing set himself seriously he saw no
possible measure of his full abilities or
efforts except in the leading contestant.
lie recognized no victory i'm a second or
third prize. 1t was not altogether mod
esty which kept him so silent about his
achleVements but because a high aver
age of proficiency which left the field
SO Tar behind only brought him into |
closer self comparison with the few
winners. The natural leader in life |
while he keeps his head keeps his eyes |
oply on the runners in front and not |
on the multitude behind. That is why |
the truly great are so often humble
His mother and I never knew, until |
we read it in the Year Book, of Rufus
athletic success at Lawrenceville, or
that he was Captain of the fencing
team at Princeton, or that he had this
or that distinction. He never talked
about his achievements in any line of
work, study or recreation, for the rea-
son that he himself never regarded
them as important or worth while. But
with almost reckless intrepidity he
tact with any exceptional individual he
could find. In the fact that contact
means comparison, he saw only the op-
Oortunity for taking his own full meas
Irement, even though it might prove
Disappointing or bitter defeat.
But under these continuing and Of
en- disappointing contests, moral phys |
cal and mental, there worked out. un-
Ter the ineXorable laws of human ma
ure, a splendid and complete young
christian gentleman. And the lesson Of
his complete life is that this can be |
lone by a young man without being a I
rig. without his failing to be a good I
ellow,' without his bending to debasing I
/
Mans Real Career in His Character" u
my boy lived long enough to win a
ut Whatever the years would have I
dded would be only material. In a v
lan's character is his real career. d
"He died suddenly in the midst of b
appiness. He died with his ideals un- \
,wered. He died with all the noble a
lusions of a high minded youth, un- h
isturbed and undispelled. He died W
ithout having lost ambition, with his a
yes fixed on the high mountains of OF
fe where, beyond any question, had he la
we'd, he would have climbed. %
but, dear young friends Of my boy, b
, had already climbed the high and B
,ugh ways which lead up the steep mi
ountains of character. He stood there m
mly at the top, mistake not 1t was he
easy victory. Material achievement Cl
ay be both, but no moral victory is H
er easy or ever accidental. an
But yesterday strong and joyous in O.
e full might and swing of buoyant o.
nth, surrounded by his loving friends,
e sun of his happiness high in the ia
Y, Rufus Fearing was mercifully an
ared the sight of Grim Death, whose of
seen hand was even then upon his Sh
oulder But had tnls haPpy poy Pc
rned and seen him beckoning him G.
-ay from the dear ones-from his te1
me-from his parents and his sister S5
rom the great battlefield of life, with lin
fine victories to be won, you know, an
d I know, that without complaint, SN
ar-eyed. unafraid. in simple, unques- An
ming faith, with the hope and trust
his Lord, my dear son would quietly sit
We followed into the darkness of the ine
lQOW. II TOlu New IOIh LlAiACS. rOa