Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-10-24
An Irrepressible FuIOgy.

more prominent towns of a Southern
State, a member of the legal frater-
nifty passed from the vexations of
this life to the jurisdiction of the
great beyond. He was one of those
whom the papers of the day often de-
scribe as a victim to a single vice,
which darkened character otherwise
Illuminated with many virtues, and
the existence of which vice those
papers usually attribute to overflow
ing generosity and kindness of heart
in short, the professional brother
had for several years been more de-
voted disciple Of Bacchus than dill
gent student of Blackstone, and pro-
longed excuses in intemperance were
the immediate cause of his decease.
According to an honorable custom,
his former associates assembled in a
bar meeting to pay tribute OF re-
spect to the departed brother, and to
make preparations to attend and par
ticipate in his funeral services. Re-
Numbering however, that his taking
off was not of such nature
as to reflect great lustre upon his
memory, it was thought best by the
older and more prudent Of the barris-
tiers present to assemble the meeting,
pass appropriate resolutions, appoint
the requisite number OF pall-bearers,
and adjourn without any speech ma
king. This, as was to be expected,
could not prove acceptable to half a
score or more younger limbs OF the
law who had come duly loaded with
obituary poetry, and were eager to
inform those who knew him best how
great a man and lawyer our deceased
brother was. Among these latter
was General, who had in the @late
unpleasantness" conducted himself
with courage and distinction, but who
was a believer in the American insti-
tuition OF always having speech
ready, and was not disposed to let
the present occasion pass without
taking advantage of it, Several
times he essayed to speak, but some
elder, whose seat had been taken de-
cidedly near, prevented his doing so
by the gentle repression of a prom
Use that IL he would wait until the
resolutions were passed and other
business transacted, he should have
full swing. Impatiently like war
horse that snuffed the battle from
afar, the general submitted, until at
length, Immediately succeeding the
adoption OF the resolutions, motion
vas made to adjourn. unable to re-
strain himself longer in view OF an
opportunity nearly lost, he sprang to
his feet. shouting:
"Mr. PRESIDENT" Gaining the eye
OF the chairman, he proceeded-"I
can nc !, will not, suffer this mourn
full occasion to pass. and this meeting
to adjourn, content with the mere
formal adoption OF commonplace res
olutions, without saying something
in praise OF our beloved and deceased
brother, without laying some tribute
upon the altar OF his memory, with
out dropping at least a tear at his
open grave. Our brother Is gone
from our midst; we can not recall
him; the great Judge has delivered
to him the summons which al! must
obey; but we can and should recount
his great learning, diligence, and sue
cess in our chosen profession, his
Christian bearing. his elevated, STAIN
less purity of character. his generos-
ity, his kindness, his innumerable
traits OF worth and goodness. Mr..
President, knew him well; loved
him greatly. His. acts OF disinteres-
ted friendship, now that he is dead,
come back to me and nearly over
come me with emotion. 1 will men
ton only one. Well do / remember
when 1 lay, wounded and bleeding,
on the desperate field at Kenesaw
Mountain, and when 1 thought that
all hope OF succor had fled, and I
must prepare myself to suffer and to
die alone, without the presence OF a
single friend to whom could intrust
the message of a dying man to his
dearest ones upon earth, and when,
just as was resigning myself to that
fate, hard though it seemed, my dear
friend, whose memory We now honor,
came galloping upon his horse, 1 call
ed him to exchange one parting word.
He was following In the wake OF our
retreating forces when further re-
sistance was useless. Hearing my
voice, he rode up to me and dlsmoun-
ted, and seeing my condition, without
waiting for word from me-for the
enemy was pressing closely and sorely
our retreating battalions-he said to
me, General. mount my horse, and
fly for safety refused his generous
offer, and urged him to save himself.
This he Indignantly spurned, and told
me that to take his horse was my
only means of flight, while he was
uninjured and could possibly escape
on foot; that II my life was lost, our
country would indeed be the sufferer,
but that IL he were captured or killed,
ii would be but the loss oil a humble
though faithful soldier. Yielding to
his opportunities, I consented to ac-
cept his offer, but only upon the con-
dition that he would mount behind
me, and thus both be saved or lost