Milford chronicle., 1935-08-23
BY Roy L. Tawes. Minister,
Barratt's Chapel, Delaware

The nation has not lost its heart! I!
It is still capable Of deep reverence
and appreciation. All America
mourns the unexpected passing OF
viii Rogers, and there is mighty
meaning in the common grief. For
VIII Rogers was as greatly Ameri-
can as Abraham Lincoln. He stood
for that greatness Of living which IS
ever evident in the worth of char
acter and an expressed kinship 10
humanity. His presence Is truly a
treasured page in our history. lie
was one of US. knew US, loved Us,
and Il seemed that we all knew him.
Will Rogers could say Il never met
q man l didn't like" and no one
dared 10 doubt his word. The sim
cerity Of that ever to be remember
ed statement was attested in his
walk among men, and his walk COW
cred the vast distance between the
highest in fame and the lowest IN
obscurity. From the finest buildings
of this age to the most humble
shack back in the country woods
the company of Will Rogers was
known. From personal contacts ana
rubbing elbows with the names IN
the news to the familiar voice over
a cheap radio set or on the screen Oh
an afternoon matinee, or the widely
read paragraph in the daily, life
awaited the love and laughter OF
viii Rogers. Il will be life with
something missing now that he is
gone. and we shall find ourselves
wishing for him many times when
the way we go is dark and calls out
for the smile of a genuine friend.
When Wiley Posts plane crashed
fifteen miles south Of Point Barrow
Alaska, 1.-THE top of the world the
frozen north was due to get our al
tention away from the summer.
When the news sped on the swift
wings of the air to bring US the SAD
and shocking message, we were far
removed from the thought OF our De-
loved humorist and philosopher ly-
ing a crushed body near the broken
wing of a trusted ship that had gone
down in icy waters. We were not
prepared to hear what we heard, Dut
after hearing it we felt the serious
ness of tragedy that touched US IN
personal way. More and more we
came to know that death had claim
ed one belonging to our homes. we
are still wondering how we are go
ing to get along without him. VIII
Rogers, Of the country, homespun'
lover Of nature, falling in love with
people everywhere!
This man laughed at us, but we
could take 1t. Underneath that
laughter was a lifted arm Of help
strong enough to help us see our |
true and better selves. strong
enough to knock down every sham'
but tender enough to embrace mo-
ther or touch the head Of a child.
There was a common sense in MS
fun, an application Of truth in his
stories, an insight of experience ~
what he said. Dirt was not on his
person when Will Rogers "tickled
our ribs" Dust did not choke US
" hen he spoke. His wit was the
of every day; Of a life
that had kept self-respect in Gods
open Of the sky and flowers and with
good lives upon which sunshine and
beauty had fallen. We laughed with
him as he ehuckled out the truth.
Mrs. Browning reused England to
the hurt Of poverty with her cry:
DO you hear the children crying. o
ny brother?" Will Rogers helped
America in troublous times and
days with his laughter.
DO you hear the people laughing, 0
ny brOther? Who knows but that
he sorrow which has now come in