'Lay him down gently at the iron door!""

As a lawyer, Mr. Crittenden ranks high. He is careful, honest, painstaking and laborious, and having undertaken a cause he devotes to it every power of his intense nature. As an advocate, few men possess more power with juries. His arguments and appeals touch every note upon the key-board of the human soul, while the intense earnestness of his own belief in the justice of his career, impresses itself upon every hearer. At the close of his gubernatorial term he removed to Kansas City, where he now resides, engaged in practicing law.

His messages and State papers, during his term as Governor, are accorded a high rank among productions of that class. A few brief paragraphs from his inaugural address, delivered to the General Assembly of Missouri, on January 10, 1881, are given as an illustration of his style in this kind of composition:

"Called by a majority of the people of Missouri, and to that majority a cordial acquiescence being given by an intelligent minority, to assume the duties of Chief Magistrate of the State, I am ready to devote my time and attention to the requirements of the office, and now promise you an earnest co-operation in all that may tend to promote the well-being and well-doing of this great Commonwealth. My predecessor having filled the office with such distinguished ability, and performed its duties with such singular success, leaves it a difficult place to оссиру. I may not bring to the performance of those duties as much ability as he displayed, during the four years he made honorable the office, yet I will strenuously endeavor to make his administration, in many things, a model worthy of the closest imitation.

"If the oceans and gulf, guarding like sleepless sentinels our borders, were by some magical power, changed in a moment into broad expanses of fire, thereby limiting our people to the productive capacities of our

soil and the inherent energy of their natures for their support and prosperity, no panic would be created on this continent by the separation, and no deprivations causing want or sorrow would follow.

"The educational interests of the State are fixed upon a firm foundation, and should be sacredly guarded and wisely fostered. Parsimony toward education is liberality toward crime. If prodigal at all in expenditure of the people's money, let it be in the interest of education. Crime as inevitably gives way before the march of education as the Indian, the buffalo and wolf do, before the tread of civilization. No State is great until its educational facilities are great, and at the door of the poor boy in the cabin, as well as within the reach of the spoiled child of fortune.

"There is no cheaper defense to a community or a commonwealth than education. It is a stronger and safer bulwark, more unfailing and vigilant than the most powerful armaments of wood, iron and steel, and it makes its recipients the boldest defenders of the rights, and the most uncompromising enemies of the wrong. * Let no efforts be considered too great, no patience too exhausting and no means too arduous, to extend it to all classes of society."

*

The above extracts will suffice to illustrate both the earnest patriotism of the man, and his felicitous power of expression. His diction is peculiarly happy and graceful, and his style marked by rare perspicuity. It will be observed that he never deals in recondite phrases or figures, but, if the expression be permissible, expresses himself with graceful bluntness, and always with force and precision.

To those who are honored by his friendship and acquaintance—and who is not-Governor Crittenden is a charming companion. Cheerful, courteous, and of a happy disposition, he dispenses sunshine and happiness

wherever he goes. Honest, brave, gentle, kind and true, he is an honor to his race-a model gentleman.

Governor Crittenden is still in the enjoyment of good health, though recently the victim of a stroke of apoplexy. His recovery is complete and many days of usefulness are yet before him. When the roll-call of the resurrection shall raise him from the shades of the valley, he will find, history has recorded of him, that he lived an honorable and useful life, untarnished and unstained, and that he kept the illustrious name of Crittenden unsullied, from the cradle to the grave.