The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-01-18
The Dead Singer.

[Chicago TribHne.l
P. P. Bliss, the evangelist and singer,
as our readers are well aware, was one
of the victims of the Ashtabula calam-
ity. According to the statement of those
who were in position to know, he made
a heoric effort to save his wife, when he
might have saved himself, and, failing
in this, remained aud died with her, the
two offering their prayers together as the
fatal flames approached them, like the
old martyrs at the stake; and thus, united
in life, they were not divided in death.
They died the deaths of Christian he
roes-the faith of the songs which she
had written and he had composed, bios
soming out at last in the full flower of
victory over death. Those who remain
pursuing the work in which he was en-
gagged, have already provided the means
for educating his children, and bringing
them up in the way their father walked,
and for erecting an appropriate monu-
ment to the memory of this faithful
pair.
This is we'll; but the most lasting
monument-mon,taen ere perennius
which Horace sang-to the memory of
the dead singer will be found in his own
songs, which have already crowned his
name with undying fame, and reached
around the world with their simple
melody-sung to-day in the Tabernacle
in Chicago, yesterday in the Zulu Mis-
sion of South Africa, tomorrow in the
temples of China. There is probably no
part of the civilized world in which his
lyric, "Hold the Fort" is not sung, and
numerous other of his songs, like "The
Armor Bearer" almost Persuaded"
and "What Shall the Harvest Be?" are
also winging their way across the seas to
distant lands. His was the trumpet
note that led the Christian crusaders
against the strongholds of Satan, just as
Mr.. Root, with his war songs, inspired
our troops during the war of the rebel
lion. He has been Mr.. Moody's right
arm, for Mr.. Sankey has chiefly sung
the songs which the dead singer COM
posed and used to sing. He is dead, but
he lives again; lives in the Sunday
school; in the church in the revival +;
in the foreign missions; in the heart OF
every man and woman striving for some
thing higher and better; wherever men
preach Christ and sinners repentance.
1t takes much from the sadness of the
singers awful death that his life was SO
rounded and complete. His work had
been SO well done that death could not
surprise him and find his mission unac.
complished. Hehad made his mark, and
the mark will remain. His life has stop.
ped, but his work goes on in every
church and in every home all over the
world; and years from now, when even
his name may be lost, his songs will still
continue to inspire faltering men and
women with courage, to bring consola
tion into the house of mourning, tc
arouse faith in the human heart. Fol
such life, so perfect, so successful, SC
far-reacbing in its influences, spent il
the most benefcent of labor, and lost al
the post of duty, there should be nc
tears. Other voices will take up hi,
strains, and the work will go on with
out stop. Their simple beauty is not
marred, nor is their wonderful influence
upon the popular heart lessened by hi
death. Noble and impressive in hi
physique, afable and genial in his con
tact with every one, earnest and untirins
in his work, he will long be missed as 4,
leader in the evangelical movemen
which is now stirring the popular heart
but he has left his impress upon tn,
world, with results more lasting than tn,
work achieved by heroes of the battle
field or masters OF statecraft. His harl
is forever silent; his voice is foreye
hushed; but the songs which he sang cal
never die. Their melody, like the brook
goes on forever.