The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-01-17
Death-Bed Utteranees OF Great Men
Force Of the Rnling Passions.

However Psychologists may question
the Importance of feeble utterances o
the dying, it is certain that mankind il
general find a deep significance in th,
last words of those who are vanishing
into the unknown life.
"He ravesp said the physician
when DIR. Adams, rector of the higl
school of Edinburgh, was passing away
but, as we catch the last words of the
raving, our own eyes are dimmed eft
grows dark, boys" stretching forth his
hand "you may 60" "All my pos
sessions for a moment of time I" moan
ed Queen Elizabeth. Wesley, calmer,
said as he died "The best of all is,
God is with us. :" And deaf Beethoven,
whose soul had ever been filled with
harmony, exclaimed. glsdly, at the last,
81 shall hear. = -.
" lis your mind at ease?" Goldsmith
was asked by his physicians. "No, it
is not, was the mournful reply, and he
spoke no more. How different the
parting words of DIR William Hunter
eff | had strength to hold a pen,
would write how easy and pleasant a
thing it is to die" Or the assurance of
President Edwards, as his dying grasp
loosened on hard forms of dogma
Trust in God, and you need not fear. Z"
Byron said wearily, "I must sleep,
now, and Goethe, turning to his wife,
called for "Light, more light p
DIR. johnson died in a tumult of I'M
easiness and dread. Cowper sank to
rest as peacefully as a child. "I am
taking a fearful leap in the dark" cried
Hobbies, the deist, and, "Now, Lord,
Lord, receive my soul ~ whispered
Herbert, on his last "sweet day.
Politeness was no longer ruling
passion, but a schism, when Chester
field, in dying, said, "Give Dayrolles a
chair ;" and surely something was for
given of Charles IL, when he babe
farewell To earth's pomp and wicked
ness, in " Don't let poor Nellie starve."
Haller's last words were. feeling his
own pulse, "The artery ceases to beat"
Petrarch died suddenly and silently in
his library, his hands upon a book, and
Sir Isaac Newton was winding his watch
when he was ushered into the life that
hath no end.
Talma, the great actor, exclaimed
pitlfully, as he went, "The worst of all
is, 1 can not see ;" and John Locke
go the depth of the riches
of the goodness and knowledge of
God p The dying admonition of the
learned Grotius to his race was, /" BE
serious" Scarron, the French wit,
said, family, to his weeping friends,
g All mes enfans, you cannot cry as
much for me as 1 have made you laugh |
in my time ;" and Lord ThurlOw, in |
reckless wonder, exclaimed, "Tm shot |
if L don't believe I'm diving -
When poor Robert Burns gasped, |
with his last breath, "Don't let the |
squad fire over me ~ he did |
not allude to his commentators and
'ritics, yet what significance the words |
should have for them And how little
Annie Boleyn thought, when, awaiting
he executioner, she clasped her fair
hrOat, that cit is but small, very
mail, would link her forever to the
leart of Christendom?
Yes, we cannot doubt that many of
he most eloquent sermons mankind
las ever listened to have fallen from
lying lips. Caesar grieved "And thou,
3rutus !" John Quincy Adams, "This
S the last of earth !" Mirabeaus fran
ic cry for "Music," after his life of
Iiscord; George Washington's I" 1t is
they not grow richer in mean
ng every day? And is it not still
'lessed to remember the last moments
f Melancthon, the friend of Luther?
Do you want anything?" asked his
owed one eagerly. "Nothing but
he answered gently, and went
milling on his way.