Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-09-28
THE DEATH-BED OF HORACE MANN.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM ONE OF HIS STUDENTS.
yellow SPRINGS, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1859.

YELLOW SPRINGS, ONO, Sept o, 1889.
Very soon after the death of Horace Mann, wrote
the enclosed article, with view to fasten more firm
ly the impressions received from him in his last mo-
ments and to leave paper some few incidents that
trcacherous memory might otherwise neglect to reg
ister The last CLEAN Of the golden sunset is beau
tiful. The last fond look of dying friend is
beautiful still, though not SO oft repeated. We
should cherish it in eternal memory. The last en-
dearing words of dying sage too often fall upon
the cold ear of humanity the misty moonbeans
fall upon the midnight sea, leaving no impressions,
no more lasting record than the dim shadows of
long gone dream This should not be so. Those
last words should he forever cherished. Horace
Mann died as great men should always 'ie-tran-
quill, satisfied happy and triumphant. A logical re-
suit of his lifetime actions, and happy confirna-
ton Of his wise and pious teachings.
supposed all along, until now, that more able
writer would send You article for the public;
but learning that no other article will be very
written send you mine 1t is but poor tribute
from an unpretcntlins student, g vcn as modest
memcnto of his high regard for so noble man.
But poor as it is, | can aid nothing more, save
prayer to the Eternal tine, at whose court he has
gone to dwell; tear for his departure and
kind wish for the wcll-beiny of those who knew
him:
LAST HOURS OF HORACE MANN
The second day of August 1859 was the last day
for Horace Manu. Until then there had been ray
of hope falling upon the faces of those around him
hope that the portentous symptoms might pass
away-that pain and suffering might cease-and the
strength of the PROSTATE sage again revive.
But who can fathom the mysterious shadows of
fate. Who penetrate the dark Wales of destiny?
Who can survey the ways of Providence, and then
return to inform of what lies beyond our view
The pale spectre of the Past had been some time
rolling his misty parchment of departed great ones,
and was Just then dipping his pen to record another
| name. Ere the sunset it registered. Few on
| that roll are more worthy OF esteem.
! 1t was morning. beautiful morning outside
| one of the flrcSt of the summer. The sun was
shining brightly. The air was pure and bracng.
There lay the object of all anxiety on broad bed
near the centre of a large room. 1t was a south
west corner roonl in the second story of his lately
chosen Ohio home From the bed where he lay he
could look throug the windows south and west and
see at glance the College and the faraway forest
| Opening his ewes moment he said "What a beau
tifu morning and how gracefully the trees are
bending yon1cr!" Alas. they will never bend for
| him again! The shutters partially closed,
| to prevent the entrance Of excessive light. There
| he lies tranquil the d.y-hiS past life pure as
| the morning air-his future bright the glancng
| SunbeamS!
Thcdoctor< lespondingy whispered to those gath
cred anx;onsy around him, The fears we enter
tanned last night arc confirmed this morning We
have done all We could do. He can live but few
/ hour; longer"
! Pale lips ouivc,ed and tears fell in response to
those despairing whispers \ SOD and sigh ming
led with the inquiry whether other remedy, and
! no hope of recovery remained None" was the
response, mon :" And how painfully emphatic
| the word then sounded rone!" No remedy! No
| hope! Dealt, is here even now and his icy touches
will soon still the feeble pulse Of him who lies
| quietly before us.
! "IIuw am |. Doctor. Do yon think shall re-
! cover soon: Are the symptoms lavorahle:' I'VE
thought last night replied the Doctor, that the
! disease mi qhi perhaps, take favorable turn and
! indeed we have all the time thought your recovery
! possible but" Mr.. Manns eye carefully watched
! the face of the Doctor while maxim, the foregoing
answer, and when he hvsa.ed he stcrnly said
but what' Don't hesitate. Go on. Doctor; say
what YOU were going to- :" will leave Mrs. Mann
| to say the rest" mo Hoctor say it yourself If
! am going to die. | would like to know it. have
: great many things to say and it will take some
time to say them He was then told tina, he could
! live but few hours mere, and whatever he had to
say must he said speedily. All then left the room
! but his wife and two younger sons, thc older one
| being abscnt,) with whom he converScd for ne1rly
i an hour. He was perfectly calm perfectly free
! from all excitement. He scarcely even alluded to
his own suffering; betrayed no symptoms OF fear
no mSgvinSs for the future, any solicitation for
the happiness of that future lie spoke not of him.
sclf-thought not Of himself His care for 9TH
ers-hS anxiety was for others. lie spoke confid-
insly, but firmly; and with that same sweet voice,
clear accent and mclodinuS cadence with which he
so often charmed and thrilled the scholar and the
multitude. After having given his parting advice
to his family and three four of his more mmcdi-
ate friends and attendants he sent for all the stu
dents who were remaining in town. lie spoke with
each one from three to five or six minutes. With
some few his interviews We're private, but to most
of them he spoke to be heard by several 9TH
! lie gave to each of them such advice As
seemed appropriate One pale. slender student Was
advised to be careful of his bcal,h-to battle,
to exercise, and to go more in lively company.
Another one who WAS wearing himself away by
too constant application, was advised tn study with
with less intensity and take more recreation An
other one, who was prone to lose some time loer
ing, was admonishcd that "aS time is one of the
most precious gifts bestowed upon mankind il
should always be induStriouSy used but never vast
ed" Another cautioned against allowing hts
apretitcs and passions to control him." 10 one he
said, Z" Hold your head closer Let me see, once
more before die, that mammoth brain-that brain
mil of electricity and fire. Oh if had possessed
head like that, | could have accomplished fa'
greater amount of good for the human race Thai
brain is capable OF doing an immense amount of gooC
an immense amount of evil. Consecrateit! Con
secrate p TO one poorStudcnt who had been work
ing his way through college, and had borrowed som'
money from him, he said, "hr<. Mann will return YOU
note to you. You need never pay it." 10 another
one he said, 81 have special advice to give t.
f you You know it already. You know what il
right, and have determined to do it. You hav
made glorious beginning Your future success Il
almost certain. good, solid, honest industrious
heroic young man. 'Pcrge atque cepsti.' 'Perg
atque cGpis'i! 'Perge atquc cepist!" This wa
, quoted each time with greater emphasis. After
wards he gave the translation three times and eac
time with additional force Go on as you have be
gun. Go on as you hare begun! Continue just a
+ you have begun! Now give me good stout shak
Of the hand-your strong hand! Good bye; goo
f bye" A student whom he had not seen for NOR
than year, was recognised and spoken to as if h
had been an everyday companion.
In this manner he spoke with thirty-five or fort.