The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-23

HIS KINDNESS no THE PooR-HIs LEGACY
ToHrs soN--HIs RELIGIOUS vIEWs-AL1B-
ERAL THINKER-THE EhBALalNG of TIE
BopY-THE PROCESS DEsCRrBED-H oW
MR.. KERR MISSED A FORTUNE-RoMANch
or EARLY LIFE-SECRET MARRIAGE.
A correspondent Of the New York Sun
saws: For long time MIR. Kerr haa Deeh
satisfied that his end was near. 10 lIlenus
who sought to cheer him by processing 70
see in his looks change for the petteT, he
simply replied, "No, / am not better, a.n
worse. I am not getting we'll" so import
ant was truth held to be by MIN tna' nc
never allowed himself to indulge IN tne eA-
acgerated batteries and adulations SO cUni,
mon to most people. He had peen o ~ato.
an austere man. Nothing can oe iI iln,a
from the truth. His affections were Always
strong and permanent. HIS symPa.naes
were ready and powerful. In his law prac-
tice he made it a rule to remit Inc charges
for services rendered needy persons, anu
many n widow to-day blesses his name
for his kindness, and thousands Oh dollars III
fees remain on his books. One Of his last
iniunctions to his son was that those books
must be closed to the world. This sympathy
for the possible suffering OF others was strik-
inrly shown while he was Speaker OF the
House last winter. He could never ma IL
in his heart to turn away applicants !or ap-
continents, but invariably eNerted hlmseli,
So far rs he could in honor, to further thelr
causes. When the legislation bill came
from the Committee on Appropriations no
one more deeply sympathized with the I'M
fortunate clerks than Mr.. Kerr. The reduc-
tion of the salaries Of his own clerk and
secretary were source OF poignant Srlel 10
him. -,
A few days before his death Mr.. Kerr
had a conversation with his son, IN the
course OF which he said: 81 have nothing
to leave you, my son, eXceptmy good name.
Guard it and your mothers honor, ana 1--we
as T have lived" He leaves very little OF
This worlds goods-not enough to supply
his family. witha living. In the same con-
yersation he further said: "Pay all my
debts, IL nv estate will warrant it, without
leaving your mother penniiess; otherwise,
nav what you can, and then 60 to my cred
itors and tell them the truth, and pledge
your honor to wipe out the Indebtedness"
In religious matters Mr.. Kerr was
liberal thinker. He might be said to have
been II nationalist, accepting nothing which
did not bear the impress OF probability.
without admitting the divinity OF Jesus
Christ, he was an advocate OF His code OF
morals. TO be honest and true and just was
in his belief to be q good Christian. Early
this afternoon lie was visited by the Kew.
Mr.. Harris, president OF the Female Semi
nary at Staunton, who, with view TO
sounding him as to his religious views,
asked, 81 hope you are prepared 1or bet
ter life hereafter, Mr.. Kerr"
The reply was prompt inclination OF the
head in the affirmative.
Again the minister asked, ~ trust you
have q firm faith in the merits OF our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Chrlst?'
After moments hesitation, in which he
seemed to be carefully weighing the ques-
ton, Mr.. Kerr shook his head slowly. 1t
was a fine distinction to make, and one wor-
thy of the fine analytical mind which main
tanned the supremacy to the last.
Findin. that Speaker Kerr could not carry
on the conversation, Mr.. Harris promised
to pray for him, to which Mr.. Kerr whis-
percd, 81 thank YOU"
10 Mr.. CoX's inquiry whether he was
content to die, he nodded tranquil assent.
Thus passed away one OF the best and
purcst of men, and one OF the ablest and
truest of American stateSmen-a man whose
integrity was religion, and whose heritage
to his descendants is his untarnished honor.
THE EMBALMISG PROCESS.
The Herald correspondent, writing from
Rockbridge Alum Springs, says: The Hon.
NJ. C.. Kerr, Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, who now "slcepeth that sleep
that knoweth no awakening." was laid out
last night in black cloth suit, and looked
as only sleeping. His remains were care
fully watched over during the night by
kind friends. This morning he was found
to be rapidly approaching decomposition,
when, to the agreeable surprise OF all, espc-
cially Mrs. Kerr, DR.. schophint, OF Washing
pared to preserve the body from further de-
cay. He was also accompanied by Mr..
Towles, OF the same city, who came to as
sist in preparing for his removal. Your
correspondent for the first time witnessed
the interesting performance, and was struck
by the skill with which it was done, and
also the remarkable and prompt action on
the skin, that had become much discolored
by the decomposition setting in, at each in
teriection of the fluid through the principal
artery OF the lower limb. You could plain
ly see the change rapidly taking place, first
in thousands OF little white streaks, and
later they became larger by being merged
into one another. After about one gallon
had been injected by the force-pump the
face once more assumed its natural hue.
At this time what remains OF this honest
man lies in state in the elegant drawing
rooms at this celebrated watering place.
AS an instance that life is dear to every
body, when Mr.. Speaker Kerr arrived at
these springs, that stand so high for their
curative powers, some weeks since, his hope
well-nigh cqualled his faith; but he soon
found himself sinking gradually but surely,
though he had, in addition to the waters,
found here the care and skill of Professor
]. s. Davis, of the University OF Virginia,
one Of the most distinguished physicians Of
the country, to whom it was soon evident
that Mr.. Kerr could not recover, and in an
swer to the question if he knew any one that
could likely bring back his lost health was
constrained to answer this candid question
of candid man that he did not; and when,
to satisfy friends, change of treatment was
made, it was evident and believed by all here
that it was only calculated to hasten the in
evitable, and this belief was too soon real
lied. "
MR.. kERR'S SECRET MARRIAGE.
The New York Tribune in its obituary
notice says:
Micheal C. Kerr was q native of Pennsyl-
vania, having been born in Crawford coun-
ty, near Titusville, on March Is, 1927. His
parents were in humble circumstances, his
father being farmer, an occupation which
in that country was not then very profita-
BILE.
In 1852 the old home was sold for $4,000.