Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/144

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fellows, but to be awarded a place in the first rank; and not without his human limitations, of course. If any great fan J Is were common to him they have not been discovered by the writer; and any small ones have been merely mentioned. It is related of Peter the Great that when any one began unfolding the faults of another in his presence, he would interrupt to ask: "But has he not a bright side? Come, what have you noticed as excellent in him?" And we cannot but feel well toward the memory of a man who is universally conceded to have been brave, modest and generous to a fault, who passed through the days of a mountain career without giving away to its debauchery, who was faithful and attentive to his native wife during the twelve years of their married life, who respected religious things and was ever ready to aid the destitute and distressed, whose qualities of leadership were always recognized, whose regard for the truth was so exceptionally high, and whose jovial disposition is a common recollection of all who knew him. Said Senator Nesmith in the address already mentioned:

"Genial, kindhearted Newell! How many of you recollect his good qualities and how heartily have you laughed around the campfire at his favorite song, 'Love and Sassingers'! I can yet hear the lugubrious refrain describing how his dulcema was captured by the butcher's boy:

'And there sat faithless she, A-frying sassingers for he.'

"He has folded his robes about him and lain himself down to rest among the mountains he loved so well, and which so often have echoed the merry tones of his voice."