The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-06-05
BOB INGERSOLL
At the Grave of His Brother,
i'm Presence of a Distinguish
ed Company of Public
Men, PrOnounces Il
EuIOgy that is almost siatchless
for ElOquence, Pathos
and Love.

The following is the Grafton of Col.
Ingersoll, which was received by ali
present with marks of deep and sin,
cere feeling and sympathy:
My FRIENDs-I am going to do
that which the dead promised he would
do for me. The loved and loving
brother, husband, father and friend
died where manhood's morning almost
touches, and while the shadows still
were falling toward the west. He had
not passed Oh life's highway the stone
that marks the highest point, but
being weary for a moment, he laid
down by the wayside, and, using his
burden for a pillow, fell into that
dreamless sleep that kisses down his
eyelid. 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 that
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 above u sunken ship.
For whether in midsea or among the
breakers of the farther shore, wreck
must mark at last the end of each and
all, and every life, no matter if its
every hour is rich with love and every
moment jeweled with joy, will at its
close become tragedy as 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 the oak, but in the sun
shine he was the vine and flower; he
was the friend of all heroic souls; he
climbed the nights and left all super
stitions far belowi while on his fore
head 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 hands he discharged all public
trusts; he was a worshippcr of liber-
ty, a friend of the oppressed. \
thousand times have heard him
quote the words, "for justice, all
places temple, and all seasons sum-
mer." He believed that happiness
was the only good reason. the only
torch, justice the only worshipper, hui
mainly the only religion, and love the
only priest. lie added t. the sum of
human joy, and were every one for
whom he did some loving service
to bring only one little blossom to
his grave, he would sleep Tonight be-
meath a wilderness of flowers. Life i
n narrow vale between the cold and
barren peaks of two eterniiie>. We
strive i'll vain to look heyond the
nights. We cry aloui /, ana the only
answer is the echo of our wailing cry.
From the vOiceless fps Of the unre-
plying dead there comes no word, but
in the mig Int of death hope sees star,
and listening love can hear the rustic
of Il wing. He who Sleeps here, when
dying, installing the approach of
death for the return of health, whis.
pered with his latest breath, Il am
better now" Let us believe, III spite
of doubts, and dOgmas, and tears, and
fears, that these dear words are true
of all the countless dead. And now
to you, who have been chns II from
among the many men he loved to do
the last sad office for the dead, We
give his sacred dust. Speech cannot
contain our love. There wa.-there Is
no stronger, manlier man.