Show V r y i I 1 IN OF I 1 WILLIAM T I 1 the tae poet tennyson wrote break break break on thy cold gray stones oh sea and I 1 would that my tongue could utter the thoughts that arise in me so I 1 foci feel in trying to pay tribute today to one of my affectionately known as billie T ile he filled his niche and lived his life according to ills his own code ills his talents were many and he gave of them freely to entertain or enrich the lives of his associates As far back in my childhood as I 1 can remember there Is one character who stands out for the merriment that he brought on many occasions into our homes and into the dihe life of all who knew him never in ridicule but always in the spirit of clean fun did he point out the peculiarities of his neighbors oddities that are typical ot of mankind wherever we may go A keen and discerning student of human nature bill had the ability to show each individual the humor of hib hia own shortcomings and often made the burdens less heavy even for those who may have been the subject of the joke or mimicry he eased the load of all who knew him by causing them to laugh oft times in the midst of their great sorrows who among us can duplicate his powers to lift the spirits of people to the realms of joy and laughter which is the end of man it has 1 las been said that man Is that he might have joy and surely there are few who have lived among us who have been able to give man the joy that billie T did never did he lead anyone into evil ways whereas he was a leader in humor he was a follower in the ways of f wrong doing any misdeeds that he may have committed will surely be be charged to those who misled him on no occasion did he bring sorrow to anyone through desire or design un elfishly did he present his humble abilities to improve and enlighten ma fellows by bv causing them to forget their troubles the generations that are to come will miss the pleasant melodies that came from chis fiddle at childrens lances and adult parties likewise here will be a void in the small coups that met spontaneously at ate homes and were highly amused by the parade ol of comic characters |