A  GOOD  GUY

Quote of the Day  April 27,  2010

A TOWN'S TRIBUTE TO ITS FRIEND

The other day in Emporia [Kansas], the longest funeral procession that has formed in ten years followed the Rev. John Jones three long miles in the hot July sun out to Dry Creek Cemetery. Now, a funeral procession may mean little or much. When a rich and powerful man dies, the people play politics and attend his funeral for various reasons. But here was the body of a meek, gentle little old man - a man "without purse of scrip." It won't take twenty minutes to settle his estate in probate court. He was a preacher of the gospel - but preachers have been buried before this in Emporia without much show of sorrow.

The reason so many people lined up behind the hearse that held the kind old man's mortality was simple: they loved him. He devoted his life to helping people. In a very simple way, without money or worldly power, he gave of the gentleness of his heart to all around him .... When others gave money - which was of their store - he gave prayers and hard work and an inspiring courage. He helped. In his sphere he was a power. And so when he lay down to sleep hundreds of friends trudged out to bid him good-by with moist and with cramped throats to wish him sweet slumber."

William Allen White [1868-1944] - American newspaper editor and politician.