Maury Comes Into His Own

THE tribute paid the memory of MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY yesterday was & glowing one; but it stands out in striking contrast against the honor and appreciation which was given expression exactly three weeks earlier to another great American scientist, THOMAS A. EDISON.

Yesterday’s tribute was in a sense local; that of October 21 was world wide. One was sadly belated, and does not entirely wipe away the stain of ingratitude; the other was not at all premature, but was appropriately voiced by grateful millions before the hearing was gone from the ear in which it made music.

We raise here no question of relative honor due MAURY and EDISON; we simply count both of them among the few immortals America has given science, and in this spirit regret the long delay that postponed, until yesterday, humanity’s acknowledgement, in a fitting way, of its debt to a great benefactor.

MAURY, during his lifetime, was acclaimed abroad for his contribution to scientific discovery and his promotion of ocean commerce, but at home he remained unsung, though he lived to be 67 years old. His wife survived him until 1901, yet died without seeing success in any attempt to perpetuate the memory of her husband. MAURy’s last daughter, MRS. JAMES R. WERTH, lived until 1928, still without witnessing the consummation of the Maury Association’s monument drive. So forgetful had been the nation, ‘so relentless the progress of his enemies in belittling his accomplishments, so unavailing the efforts of admirers who struggled to gain him his due honor!

One thing that made harder the course of the movement to obtain recognition for MAURY was a quality in the man that made him heroic: he was ever a modest gentleman. ‘ He never presumed to seek honor. He was content to miss it rather than to claim it. What was thrust upon him, he took quietly.

But now his native land has recognized its debt. Now MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY has been placed where he belongs on that avenue of immortal Southerners. And henceforward America will point to his monument with all the pride that Richmond feels in having him among her heroes.