Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-09-25
CELEBRATED CHARACTERS WHO HAVE
JESTED WHEN DYING.

II is recorded of one who was going 10
execution, that he requested not to pass
certain street, lest tailor TO whom he was
indebted should arrest him on the way
Another said TO the eXecu;ioner, Just as be
was going to strike, EDo not touch my
neck, for | am so tcklsh that YOU will
make me burst with laughter. a fourth
asked for some drink, but seeing that the
hangman helped himself before he handed
the cup to him, flung the contens in his
face, and said, 81 will not sully my lips by
drinking after such a miscreant as thou
art" Petronius, who WGs master Of the
ceremonies, and inventor OF pleasures at the
Court Of Nero, when be saw that elegant
indulgence was giving place 10 coarse de-
bauchery, perceived at once, that his term
Of favor had arrived, and il was time TO
die. He resolved, therefore 10 anticipate
the tyrant, and disrobe death of his para
pheraalia Of terror. Accordingly, he en-
tered warm bath, and opened his veins,
composed verses, iesttd with his familiar
associates, and died of by inscnsible de-
grees. DemocrituS, the laughing philoso-
pher, disliking the inconvcnicnces and in
lirmltles Of old age, made up his mind TO
die on certain day, but 10 oblige his sis
ter, he postponed his departure until the
three feasts Of Ceres were over. He SUP
ported nature on pot OF honey TO the APP
pointed hour, and then expired by arrange
ment.
Pomponius Atticus, the intimate friend
of Cicero, had fortunately for himself pas
sed through lie without medding with
politics, and unyisted by sickness, Feeling
i'll for the first time in extreme old age, he
assembled his family and informed them
that he had made up his mind TO take leave
Of this world. He then abstained from all
food, maintained his habitual gaiety and
suffered nature TO snuff herself out by mer-
ry lnstalmcnts. Suetonius relates of Au-
gustus, that, throughout his last illness, he
retained his sei-command and ha5tually
tranquil temperament. Perceiying his end
approach, he called for a mirror, carefully
| adjusted his hair, and turning with a smile
TO his attendants, said, cam | not an ac-
complished actor 2" When Phocion was
going to execution, a thoughtleSs Athenian
committed the outrage OF splitting in hi.
face. de smiled, and said TO the magis,
trates Eho accompanied him, ''Tell that
fool 4 young man not to open his mouth
az 4 so disagreeably." The first Darius
! S of Pesia, when dying desired to hav,
Is intellectual epitaph engraved on hi
lmb; "Here lies King Darius, who wa,
tble to drink many bottles OF wine withou
Staggering"
4 jerome Cardan, a celebrated Italian
physician, cast his own nativity, aud ascer
tanned, by the conformation of his horo
scope, that his death would take place OF
a certain day. He was such devout be
never in asrology, that he determined I
! o'e at the appointed time, rather that hi
iavorlte science should be detected in a
error. He therefore starved himself grac
q ually, and calculated with such mathema
r zeal hcety, as TO hit the very day and hot
: loretold. All asrologers should set u
n Cardan as their high priest and central pi
VI lar. The learned Bayle was SO occupie
with his critical work, in opposition 10 /
5, Clercq, that he totally forgot and neglect,
= a slow fever, which was killing him t
e measured advances. He died while co
} Tccling The last sheets. Racan, in his Ii