Year: 1875

BY an accident at the railroad crossing at
Concord, Mass, Frederic Hudson received
injuries on Wednesday of which he died
within few hours and thus by one of those
horrible misadventures that seem as barbar-
Gus as they have become familiar was stricken
down a man inestimably dear, not merely
within the circle of devoted family, but in
the ampler limits Of a daily fellowship of
many years, in which all who ever met him
became his friends, attracted by his sincere
and simple character and his warm heart.
1t never seemed strange that all who came
near Fred Hudson loved him; and it would
have seemed scarcely comprehensive that
there could be any other feeling toward him,
for he possessed in the highest possible
degree that most excellent of human
qualities, the magnetism of personality. He
affected favorably all who came near him,
persons Of the most diverse character and
conditions, and under the most widely varied
impulses And this was not a merely mega
tive circumstance 1t was not through the
absence from the man himself of positive
points and the most strongly marked pecu-
liarities. 1t was not that a relationship was
established between him and other men be-
cause his nature gave way and adapted itself
to theirs, for he was full of granite too Not
''the tenfold adamant' was firmer than he was
at the line Of duty or self-assertion, and with
him self-assertion was declaration Of the
instincts and impulses Of an upright nature
His success at this point Of life was a result
Of the happy balance Of his temper, COM
bined Of an open, amiable, accessible nature
and the finest tact ever possessed by human
creature. Perhaps its real source was deeper
than this. He was the incarnation of justice.
In the functions he discharged in this Office
in the many years Of his connection that
strict justice sometimes smiled and some
times frowned, and in the one case judgment
was sweetened. and in the other made en-
durable by the courtesy and kindliness of
its administration. No man ever heard from
him a rebuke at which his own conscience
had not previously hinted, and no sue
cess gained under his cognizance ever went
without the gentle glory Of his good word.
1t was this that kept the discipline firm
and clear-Jne common opinion That II was
based in that higher kind Of morality that
may be called the common law Of the soul.
In the spirit Of that discipline this man was
the starting point Of an esprit De corps which
led many HERALD men to perish, but never
permitted them to fail. Frederic Hud-
sons success as journalist was the le-
gitimate result Of his great intellectual
capacity; but it was assisted by the gentle
side of his nature 1t was combined Of tai
ent to deal with men and with facts Few
men could get 50 much out Of men in any
place, for he caught hold Of the loyalty Of
their natures; but few ever perceived 50 hap.
PLY what was any particular mans place. But
he possessed mind that would have enabled
him to triumph over the difficulties Of any
Of the usual spheres Of human activity. He
would have become distinguished in any line
Of intellectual endeavor 1t is perhaps not
his least honor-it is one that in this period
should be regarded with exceptionable pride
by all his friends-that he was incorruptibly
faithful.