Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-28
last Words Of Great Men.
BY MARX TWAIN.

WAS Ouc6tcfuOius bOfu OuCbC9t-
field had labored all his life to build up
the most shining reputation for affabil-
ity and elegance of speech and manners
the world had ever seen. And could you
suppose he failed to appreciate the eff
cheney of characteristic last words" in
the matter of seiziDg the successfully
driven nail Of such reputation and
cinching it forever? Not he. He had pre-
pared himself He'kept his eye on the
clock and his finger on his pulse. He
awaited his chance. And at last, when he
knew his time was come, he pretended to
think a new visitor had entered, and 80,
with the rattle in his throat, emphasized
for dramatic effect, he said to the servant,
"Spin around, John, and get the gentle
man chair" And then he died, amid
thunders Of applause.
Next we have Bepjsmin Franklin ;
Franklin, the author of poor Richard 8
quaint sayings; Franklin, the immortal
axiom builder, who used to set up nights
reducing the rankest old threa6bare plat
itudes to crisp and snappy maxims that
had nice, vanished, original look in
their new regimestals; who said "Virtue
is its own reward; !" who said Procrss-
tination is the thief of time;" who said
"Time and tide wait for no man." and
Necessity is the mother of invention )"
good old Franklin, the Josh Billings OF
the eighteenth century-though sooth to
say, the latter transcends him in pro-
verbal originality as much as he falls
short of him in correctness of orthogra-
ply. What sort of tactics did Franklin
pursue? He pordered over his last
words for as much as two weeks, and
then when the time came he said, None
but the brave deserve the fair" and died
happy. He could not have said a
sweeter thing if he had lived till he was
an idiot.
Byron made poor business of it, and
could not Think of anything to say at the
last moment but "Augusta-sister-Lady
Byron-tell Harriet Beecher Stowe" ETC..
but Shakespeare was ready, and said,
England expects every man to do his
duty" and went off with splendid ecldt
And there are other instances of saga
cieus preparation for felicitous closing
remark. For instance:
Joan of Arc said, Tramp, tramp,
tramp, the boys are marching"
Alexander the Great said, "Another
of those Santa Cruz punches, if you
please" -.
Empress Josephine said, mot for 10, !"
and could get no further.
Cleopatra said, "The Old Guard dies,
but never surrenders."
Sir Walter Raleigh says, "Executioner,
can l take your whetstone moment,
please ?"
John Smith said, "Alss, l am the last
of my race i
Queen Elizabeth said, "Oh, would
give my kingdom for one moment more.
have forgotten my last words"
And Red Jacket, the Doblest Indian
brave that ever welded tomahawk in de-
fense of friendless and prosecuted race,
expired with these touching words upon
his lips" Wawkawsnwsnpanoosac, win
nebagowsllswallasagsmoresaskatchewan
There was not dry eye in the wigwsm.
Let not this lesson be lost upon our
public men. Let them take healthy
moment for preparation, and coHtrive
some last words that will be neat and to
the point. Let Louis Napoleon say:
am content 10 lOlloH my uucie
still | do not desire to improve on his
last words. Put me down for Tete d ar
NEE. >"
And Garrett Davis: "Let me recite
the unabridged dictionary"
And 81. G.: 81 desire, now, to say a
few words on political economy"
And Mr.. Bergh: "Only take part of
me at a time, if the load will be fatiguing
to the hearse horses"
And Andrew johnson; ~ have been
an alderman, member of Congress, Gov
ernor, Senator, Pres, adieu, you
know the know the rest"
And Seward. Alaska"
And Grant: 20
All Of which is respectfully submitted
with the most honorable intentions.