605 



[Rothrock. 



very far in advance. It is only requisite here to specify his re- 

 lations to the park, to the timber, colonization and abolition 

 questions in illustration of the above statement. 



IV. Because he held to the plan of work which he had laid 

 out for himself with undeviating steadiness through a long, 

 active life. 



These may be called modest qualifications with which to win 

 the universal esteem in which Mr. Price was held. True, yet it 

 appears they were sufficient. He was not a great genius, nor a 

 man of destiny, but he was something better than either — an 

 honest worker. His intuitions never did dut}' instead of his con- 

 victions, for the latter maintained their supremacy throughout, 

 and were only trusted when fully weighed. This explains why 

 during so long a life Mr. Price was seldom obliged to reverse an 

 opinion once formed. 



His virtues wer<j of the Spartan kind. The style of literature 

 may change from century to century. The science of to-day 

 may be rejected as insufficient in the next score of years. Habits 

 of thought, dress, social usage, all these are ephemeral; but sim- 

 ple, perennial honesty can never become antiquated. The more 

 corrupt a nation may become, the more will it be needed, and 

 the longer will it be respected. A life moulded by conscience 

 and warmed by love can never be other than a benefaction to 

 those living under its influence. It is not claimed that the 

 subject of this sketch was perfect. What mortal can be? Nor 

 was he without enemies. High integrity and moral convictions 

 must always clash with less noble elements. But with all this, 

 no better advice can be given to those who follow than to be as 

 much like him as possible. Eli Kirk Price may well be taken as 

 an ideal worthy of imitation. 



