Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-12

therefore, the most perfectly natural of all
deaths, for there is no odisproportionate wear and
tear of one organ, but simply ceasing to live.
The weary wheels of life stand still, not from
disorganization, but simply from want Of any
further motive power
The causes of this class of sudden death are of
course various-sometimes quite mysterious
In the case of Secretary Marcy it was supposed
to be the heart; perhaps it is more commonly
the brain. These two, between them, are the
chief centres of the most suddenly fatal diseases
Perhaps the case Of nervous or simple apoplexy
is the most remarkable of all these. 1t gives
no mark of its approach, and 1t leaves absolute
ly no trace of disOrganization or disturbance in
any part of the physical framework Not a
muscle or nervous centre may retain the
slightest trace of the presence or the absence of
any agent noxious or necessary to life, other
wise than is usual. 1t is q simple failure of vi
tality, and the anatomist feels, ut the conclu-
sion Of his work, that could the mechanism of
nature only have been kept in motion during
returned to its duty, it would have found no
part Of the material framework in the slightest
degree injured or even panied. "a
These attacks usually occur in old age, when
the work Of life is done, and the great work of
rightly parting with earth alone remains Thus,
for instance, Mr. Marcy was in the list year of
his age. He had served his country in war
ScTFeQ a. secretary OF w ar, ana succeeded
Daniel Webster IS Secretary of State, and had
gracefully laid aside all these duties At such
a period, since death must come, thore are
many advantages in quiet departure like the
one alluded to-, =" Softly, suddenly and alone ["
was the earnest petition of one we'll known in
regard to his death. In such cases the pain of
parting is spared-that most terrible Of pains
to many q we'll constituted mind. Rousseau
wished to gaze on the setting sun for the last
time. And there must be something in con-
sciously looking at the earth, the sky, old
scenes and old friends for the last time, of
which we can never conceive fully but once in
life, and that once can give back no record
unless 1T be by that last anxious glance around
In regard to the more immediate causes of
these sudden deaths, the too severe excitements
or exertions of public life must greatly tend to
produce them. There is a wear and tear, not
only Of the intellectual systems, but of the
heart, with all its hopes, fears and anxieties,
upon which the cares of statesmanship must
tell daily. Nor is it commonly considered that
the reaction from such cares and duties may
often prove as injurious as the over pressure Of
them " I'd b.
1t has often been remarked how fatal the
Fourth Of July has been to our great men. 1t
is even now fresh in the memory of all, that
General Taylor could and did better Withstand
the camp life of Mexican campaign than
Fourth of July at the White House. There is
there must be to every patriot, a certain excite
ment about that day, that in nice cases of dis
ease brings the work Of years to q crisis, and
thus carries many u noble spirit to its long
home.-DOHar NercS. ....... ,...-. =