The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-14

The first symptom of approaching death with
some is the strong that they are about
to die Ozanam, the mathematician, while in ap-
parent health rejected pupils from the feeling that
he on the eve of resting from his labors and he
expired soon after of an apopectic stroke Flecher,
the divine, had dream which shadowcd cut his
impending dissolution, and, believing il to be the
merciful warning of Heaven he sent for a sculptor
and ordered his tomb. sBegin your work forth
with he said at parting; "there is time TO lose
and. unless the artist had obeyed the admonition,
death would have proved the quicker workman Of
the two. Mozart wrote his Requiem under the con-
viction that the monument he was raising 10 his
genius would, by the power Of association, prove
universal monument TO his own remains. When
life was fitting fast he called for the scorc and,
ing over it, said, ''Dd not tell you truly that
for myselfI composed this death chant" Another
greatartist in different department convinced that
his hand about 10 lose its cunning, chose sub
jcct emblematical of the coming event HIS triends
inquired the nature of his ne design, and Hogarth
replied ''The end Of all things" "in that case"
reloined one of the number, 'there will be an end
of the painter" What was uttered in jest he an
swcrcd in earnest, with a solemn look and heavy
sigh "There wil,' he said, "and therefore the
sooner my work is done the better" He COM
menced next day, labored upon il with uhinter
hitting diligence, and when he had given il the
last touch seized his palette broke il in pieces, and
said, 81 have finished" The print was published
in March under the title OF "Finis," and in October
| ssthe curious eyes which saw the manners in the
face" were closed in dust. Our ancestors, who
were prone TO look into the air for causes which
were TO be found upon earth, ascribcd those intima
tions TO supernatural agency.
John Hunter has solved the mystery, if mystery
Il can be called in a single sentence 90 We some
times" he says, " feel within ourselves that we
| shall not live, for the living powers become weak,
and the nerves communicate the intelligence 70 the
| brain" His case has often been quoted among
! the marvels Of which ne afforded the rational
PLANTATION. He intimatcd ON leaving home that IL a
discussion which awaited him at the hospital took
an angry turn, il would prove his death. A col
him he lie Ins tf0Fd yerf-
fed the prophecy, and he expired almost imme
diately in an adjoining room. There was every
| thing 10 lament in the circumstance, but nothing
| at which 60 wonder, except that any individual
| could show such disrespect 10 the great genius,
| n single year Of whose existence was worth the
united lives Of his opponents. Hunter, in utter
ing the prediction, had only 70 take counsel Of his
own experience, without the Intervention Of invisi
bic spirits. He had long abored under disease Of
the heart and he felt the disorder had reached the
point at which any sharp agitation would bring on
the crisis. memorable instance Of the weakness
which accompanies the greatness Of man, when an
abusive appellstion could extinguish Of the
brightest lights that illumined science. No
disoovercr has eft more varied titles 10 fame, and
none has given more abundant evidence that he
would have added 10 the number the longer he
lived for his mind termed with original ideas and
fast as one crop was cleared away another sprang
up.
circumstances which at another time would en-
cite no attention are accepted for an omen when
health is falling. The order for the Requiem with
Mozart, the dream with Flcchier, turned the cur
rent Of their thoughts to the grave. The death Of
contemporary, which raises no fears In the young
and vigorous often re gardcd by the old and feeble
Summons 10 themselves. Foote, prior 10 his de-
parture for the continent, stood contemplating the
portrait Of brother actor and exclaimed, his eyes
full Of tears, Poor Westonv In the same de-
jected tone he added, after a pause, "Soon others
shall say, Poor Foote ,"-and, 10 the surprise OF
his friends, few days proved the Justice of the
representation. The expectation Of the event has
ii.
the destruction Of PROSTATE energies. Many an
idle belief in supcrstitious times lent stimulus TO
disease, and pushed into the grave those who hap
gSnsd 10 be trembling on its brink The S case Of
he asked Cavcndish the hour and was answered,
past eight. Eight Of the clock" replied Wolscy,
'rhat cannot be-cight Of the clock, eight Of the
clock--nay, nay, IL cannot be eight Of the clock,
for by eight Of the clock shall you lose your mas
ter" The day he Observation-Disclosures hour came
true. On the following morning, as the clock
struck eight, his troubled spirit passed from life.
Cavendsh and the bystanders thought he must
have had revelation Of the time Of his death, and,
from the way IN which the fact had taken posses-
sion OF his mind, we suspect that he relied upon
some astrological prediction which had the credit
Of a revelation in his esteem.
Persons in health have died from the expectation
Of dying. II was once common for those who per-
ished by violence TO summon their destroyers 10 ap
pear within a stated time before the tribunal OF
God and we have many perfectly attested in
stances in which, through the united influence Of
fear and remorsc, the perpetrators withered under
the curse and died. Pcstilence does not kill with
thcrapidity OF terror. The proAigatc abbess of a
convent, the Princess Gonzaga Of Cleves and Guise
and the prohigste Archbishop Of Rheims. took il
into their heads, for Jest 10 visit Of the nuns
| by night, and exhort her person who visi-
| bly, dying. While in the performance Of their
| hcartless scheme they whispered 10 each other.
% She is Just departing" She departed in earnest.
Her vigor instead of detecting the trick, sank be-
meath The alarm, and the prohnc pair discoveries,
IN the midst Of their sport, that they were making
merry with corpse condemned gentleman
was handed over TO some French physicians. who,
70 try the effects of imagination, told him that Il
| was Intended 10 despatch him by bleeding, tho ea-
siest method known 10 their art. Covering his face
with CLOTH they pinchcd him 10 counterfeit the
prick Of lancet, placed his feet in bath, as II &c
epcoura ge the stream, and sonvcrsed together ON