Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-06-19
lNGERSOLL'S ELOQUENCE.
Grafton Pronounced Over the Dead Body
Of His Brother.

Of His Brother.
The funeral of ex-Congressman Eben c.
Ingersoll, brother of Colonel Robert Inger
soil, took place in Washington on the Srd
inst. The ceremonies were extremely simple,
consisting merely of viewing the remains by
relatives and friends and a most eloquent and
impressive funeral Grafton by Col. Ingersoll.
A large number of distinguished gentlemen
were present, including Secretary Sherman.
Senators Blaine, VOORHEES,, Paddock, ALI
son, Gov. Paund and others. The following
is the Grafton of Col. Ingersoll which was
received by all present with marks of deep
and sincere feeling and sympathy:
My FRIHNDs-1 am going to do that which
| the dead often promised he would do for me.
| The loved and loving brother. husband,
father, friend died where manhood's morning
almost touches noon, and while the shadows
still were falling towards the west. He had
not passed on life's highway the stone that
marks the highest point, but, being weary
for moment, he lay down by the wayside,
and using his burden for pillow, feel into
that dreamless sleep that kisses down his
eyelids still. While yet in love with life and
raptured with the world, he passed to silence
and pathetic dust. Yet, after all, it may be
best, just in the happiest, sunniest hour of all
the voyage, while eager winds are kissing
every sail, to dash against the unseen rock
and in an instant hear the pillows roar around
a sunken ship; for whether in mid sea or
mong the breakers OF the further shore, a
wreck must mark at last the end of each and
all. And every life, DO matter if its every
hour is rich with love and every moment
jewled with i,y, will, at its close, become
a tragedy as sad and deep and dark as can be
woven of the warp and wool of mystery and
death. This brave and tender man in every
storm of life was oak and rock but in the
suns time he was vine and flower. He was
the friend of all heroic souls. He clambered
the heights and left all superstlions far be-
low, while on his forehead fell the golden
dawning of a grander day. He loved the
beautiful and was with color, form and music
touched to tears. He sided with the weak,
and with a willing hand gave aims; with
loyal heart and with the purest hand he faith
fully discharged all public trusts. He was a
worshper of liberty friend of the oppress-
ed. A thousand times l have heard him
quote the words, ''For justice all places are
Il temple and all seasons summer" He be-
lieved that happiness was the only good,
reason the only torch, justice the only wor-
shipper, humanity the only religion and love |
the priest. He added to the sum of human
Joy, and were every one for whom he did |
some loving service to bring blossom to his |
grave, he would sleep tonight beneath a |
wilderness of flowers. Life is narrow vale |
between the cold and barren peaks of two
eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond
the heights. We cry aloud and the only
answer is the echo of our wailing cry. From
the voiceless lips of the unreplyng dead there
comes no word. but the night of death. Hope
sees star and listening love can hear the
rustic of wing. He who sleeps here, when
dying, mistaking the approach of death for
The return of health, whispered with his last
breath, 81 ain better nOw.' Let US believe
in spite of doubts and dogmas and tears and
fears that these dear words are true of all the
dead. And now to you who have
been chosen from among the many men he
loved. to do the last sad Office for the dead,
we give his sacred dust. Speech cannot con-
ain our love. There was, there is no gen.
ler. stronger, manlier man.
There was no ceremonies whatever at the
grave but a pathetic scene occurred when
he Misses Lawlor, daughters of the late
5en. Lawlor, and adopted children of Eoen
!. Ingersoll, to whom they were devotedly
attached, took their last leave of their dead
oster father One of them tainted in being
aiken to her carriage and the other fingered
It the grave until almost forcibly led away by
Ter friends.