IN MEMORIAM.

The earnest men are so few in the world that their very earnestness becomes at once the badge of their nobility.-Dwight.

JOHN BROWN DILLON was born near Wellsburg, Brooke county, in what is now West Virginia, and not far from Steubenville, Ohio. When he was an infant his father removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where the son had the limited opportunities of instruction which the rural schools, during the winter terms, afforded, and where he acquired a scant knowledge of reading, writing and arithmetic. At the tender age of nine years he lost his father, when he was thrust upon his own resources and returned to his native county, where he soon became an apprentice to a printer at Charleston. Having acquired some knowledge of the "art preservative" he directed his footsteps toward Cincinnati, his outfit and fortune consisting of his compositor's rule and a resolute purpose to use it.

It was during the period of his apprenticeship there that he had fostered his affection for the Muses, and developed that passion for poetry, which blossomed so early in sweet and beautiful creations.

In 1826 he conceived the poem entitled, "The Burial of the Beautiful," which was produced in the Cincinnati Gazette, and which made him conspicuous as a writer of verse among the young men of that city who paid court to Parnassus. During the year following he was an occasional contributor to Flint's Western Review, and in 1829 he wrote "The Orphan's Lament," which appeared in The Western Souvenir. His poetic adventures continued, and in 1831 he combined with Willian D. Gallagher, subsequently an editor and author of versatile and graphic power, for the composition of a New Year's lay for the carrier-boy of the Cincinnati Mirror. In that poem the stanzas on "The Funeral of the Year" were included, beginning:

"Come to the funeral of the year!

Not with spirits worn by sadness—"

From Cincinnati Mr. Dillon removed to Logansport, Indiana, where, between editorial work and diversions at the "case," he prosecuted the studies in which he had been previously engaged, in pursuance of which he made application, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing law. But the vapid and interminable questions of dry fact, the subtle analyzations and calloused technicalities of the

legal science, were not so congenial to his fancy as paths of literature and oth fields of thought and investigation. Hoary border legends, traditional story, b more especially local history, deeply absorbed his mind, the sequel culminating a determination, on his part, to prepare a history of Indiana, to the capitol which state he removed in 1842. A small volume of "Historical Notes" was pu lished in 1843, which, however, met with but a limited sale.

In 1859 was produced "A History of Indiana," embracing a history of t discovery, settlement, and civil and military affairs of the great Northwestern t ritory, together with a clearly defined presentation of the progress of public affa in Indiana, from 1816 to 1856.

This work, comprising six hundred and thirty-six pages, was issued in 18 by Messrs. Bingham and Doughty, of Indianapolis, and is a most valuable acqui tion to the historic literature of the nation. It is exhaustive in its detail, conci and dense in its statement, refreshing in its luxuriance of fact and eviden methodical in its grouping of salient events, written in the author's characteris style of plain but vigorous English, indicating deep-striking, assiduous researd and supported by remarkable proofs of incontestable authentication.

He was librarian of the state of Indiana, from 1845 to 1850, in which positi he manifested commendable zeal. In 1851 he was appointed, by Judge Charles Test, then secretary, assistant secretary of state, in which capacity he served for fo years. Upon the organization of the state board of agriculture, in the same ye he was chosen its first secretary, in which relation he rendered valuable and eff tive service for five years.

He was secretary of the Indiana historical society at the time of his death, an as much as any man in the state of his adoption, was distinguished for his fideli to the memory of the pioneers, and a noble desire to preserve the fading record their lives and times. Many, indeed, were his noble utterances concerning the struggles and sorrows, both in his chaste and sinewy prose, and the richer e broideries of song.

In 1861 he was made custodian of the library of the department of the inter at Washington, D. C., where with unremittent industry he applied himself un 1870, at the termination of which time he resigned his position to accept the cler ship of the committee of the house on military affairs, of which Hon. John Cobu was president. After the expiration of this period of service he returned to India apolis, where the remainder of his life was spent, and where the sun of his pr longed, busy and useful life sank calmly and composedly into its dark and fin eclipse.

"As speeds the arrow to its goal,

So sped his soul through voids of space
To God."

That the life of John B. Dillon was an interesting and suggestive one, can be gainsaid; that, in some of its aspects, its best efforts may have been commo place, may be true; but that it was a life soundly devoted to duty, largely endow with inclinations and faculties to do good, full of the vegetating vigor of man

purpose, and characterized by the most courageous and conscientious convictions of right, his friends, who best knew him, freely and cordially testify.

There were no whirls, eddies or cascades in the current of his years; it had rather a quiet, steady, earnest and placid flow. He chose the noiseless ways and paths of the world to the din, and dust, and smoke and clamor that induce unrest, and make its toils and burdens hard and heavy. His proverbial modesty forbade his coveting the glare of preferment, or conspicuous situations; yet, when promoted to places of honor, his trustworthiness was exemplary and grand. He was unacquainted with the arts of personal advancement, and lacked emphatically in selfassertion.

He was a student all his life-from his first experiments in living until its toiling close. He accepted labor as the motive, duty and destiny of man, and never was he known to timidly shrink from its mandate or injunction. And may it not truthfully be said of him, that he forged and beat out his life by the blows of his arm? Labor to him, therefore, became a joy and pleasure.

Whether as compositor in the printing office, or as student untangling the Penelopean web of the law, or as devotee at the shrine of truth, or in the sphere of a public official, the same uniform, unwavering adhesion to duty, and vigilant and scrupulous recognition of obligation, invariably were present. He was a deeply earnest man, and polite by nature and by culture—a modest patrician gentleman. His extreme simplicity and confiding disposition were everywhere apparent. He had faith in man-in his highest destinies-cherished a hope for his ultimate and universal elevation, looking forward to the better to-morrows-to the

"Day ever rising-never risen!

Time ever coming-never come!"

He admired all that was sweet in innocence, unsullied in virtue, and was a lover of all that is beautiful in the world. To him a beautiful church was a sermon in stone-its spire, a finger pointing to the Throne.

In his historical inquiries he aimed to be thorough and exhaustive, assuming nothing, and taking nothing for granted. The record, the lower strata, and the bottom facts had to be explored, and neither time nor toil were permitted to interpose to prevent this consummation. Any subject under his consideration received his undivided attention and discriminating thought. With him, what was worth doing was worth the best employment of his powers in that direction.

This scrupulous regard for facts was nowhere exhibited more forcibly than in his historical labors and composition. He put his honesty into every line he wrote, and, in this respect, resembled the mason with whom Hugh Miller served his apprenticeship, who "put his conscience into every stone that he laid." His history of Indiana clearly affirms this assertion, and if slab, shaft, or granite do not commemorate his name, this work will remain his monument, surviving brass and outliving marble.

He was a man of intellect and of wide and varied attainments, a gleaner like Ruth, after sheaves of truth. His interpretation of constitutional questions bore

great gravity, and on problems of political science his opinions commanded than respectful attention. His attachment and fondness for books, with which h joyed the most remarkable familiarity, had expanded into a passion. He ha passed the curriculum of the university, nor won the diploma of the college. was self-made, nature not having especially caressed or favored him. Wh possessed he gathered by "the process of accretion, which builds the ant particle by particle, thought by thought, fact by fact."

If there was one mastering, dominant, conquering instinct or impulse c nature, it was to do right. "His eye was single. He had chosen the good law." Nor did he desire to simply live in this atmosphere, but he aimed ar bored to diffuse it. His temperament was positive, and, like his morality, it abated. The problem under consideration must be right or wrong, just or u and between these, there was, with him, no border land. He cared little probabilities; the end was the truth, and from this he would not fluctuate, nor less than logical or rational motives, make excursions from it. His anchorages made in safe harbors.

A more sensitive man was seldom met. His feelings lay near the surface were liable to be punctured by the merest bodkin. Hence, he was exceedingly ful to not wound or hurt the sensibilities of others. Few unkind words ever es from his lips. The soils of his heart were rich and warm, and subject to an flow of the affections. His friendships were ardent and unfaltering, and his was set to their music as the stars are to the melodies of heaven.

He was no strict constructionist in matters of benevolence, and his contribu were only limited by his ability to give. He, perhaps, agreed with Granville

"The liberal are secure alone,

For what we frankly give forever is our own."

His integrity and honesty stole into the hearts and affections of all who him. Were it possible for all men to achieve riches, it might have been p that he would have preferred virtue. He had no anxiety for the accumula wealth; money was the means, not the end, and although, in this respect, h dition was largely the result of the policy of his life, he never murmuredrepined. His life forcibly and felicitously illustrated the conception of th who wrote,

"Good resolutions stereotyped in deeds,

Pure hearts whose throbs are felt in what we say-
Souls shining with the light that comes from God,
And lives unselfish and unstained of vice,

Should be our aim, and not the praise of men."

Though not a member of the church he was a constant attendant; was gent reader of the Bible, professing the utmost faith in its precepts, and che an abiding trust in the principles of our most holy religion. For some wholly within his own keeping, he did not choose the covenant of marriag

was well known that he entertained a profound regard for the gentler sex, having confidence in their mission to elevate and Christianize man, and believing that,

"There's many a beam from the fountain of day,

That, to reach us unclouded, must pass on its way
Through the soul of a woman."

It has been suggested, but all is conjectural, that in his earlier life some haunting disappointment may have befallen him, and that the lines here introduced are evidence in that direction. It is sufficient to our purpose to introduce the poem, as an index to a delicate and exquisite fancy :

THE BURIAL OF THE BEAUTIFUL.

Where shall the dead, and the beautiful sleep?

In the vale where the willow and cyprus weep;
Where the wind of the west breathes its softest sigh;
Where the silvery stream is flowing nigh,
And the pure, clear drops of its rising sprays
Glitter like gems in the bright moon's rays-
Where the sun's warm smile may never dispel
Night's tears o'er the form we loved so well-
In the vale where the sparkling waters flow;
Where the fairest, earliest violets grow;
Where the sky and the earth are softly fair,
Bury her there-bury her there!

Where shall the dead, and the beautiful sleep?
Where wild flowers bloom in the valley deep;
Where the sweet robes of spring may softly rest
In purity over the sleeper's breast;
Where is heard the voice of the sinless dove,

Breathing notes of deep and undying love;
Where no column proud in the sun may glow,
To mock the heart that is resting below;
Where pure hearts are sleeping, forever blest;

Where wandering Peris love to rest;

Where the sky and the earth are softly fair,
Bury her there-bury her there

Other of his published poems are richly sweet and beautiful, while some, of true merit, remain unpublished.

After a brief and apparently painless sickness, on January 21, 1879, John Brown Dillon, patriot, poet, historian, author, and co-laborer with good men and women in worthy, noble and Christian enterprises, closed his eyes in that sleep which ends this transient, mortal life.

It was not the writer's privilege to know, or have seen him, only in copied features and in words and thoughts. Yet, from what we have been permitted to