The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-11-24
GOVERNOR wILLIAMs-DEAD.


/ The chamber where the good man mees his fate
| Is privileged beyond the common walk
! OF virtuous life; quite in the verge of Heaven.
/ Governor James ID. Williams departed
this life Yesterday at 1890, at the age OF
seventy-two years, ten months and -four
days. He died full of years and full OF
honors. He died universally respected. He
died in Office, the highest within the gift of
his fellow-citizens, He died
Like ONE who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him and lies down to pleasant dreams"
Governor Williams lived right and when
the summons came it found him ready. for
he wrought
With human hands the creed OF creeds,
| In loyellness OF perfect deeds
We are inclined to the belief that Govern
or Williams was not taken by surprise. He
was not long confined to his room, but as
disease became more firmly seated there
were premonitions, dispatches to the SOUL
that the silver cord would soon be cut and
the golden bowl broken. He had ample
time to review the past, TO con-
template the future, to remember
all the friends he had seen around him fall
like leaves in wintry weather-wife and
children-and to contemplate the bliss of
reunion. He did not die at night, nor yet
at the dawning, but at high nOon-just as
the sun had crossed meridian his soul took
its everlasting flight to enter the abodes of
rest. He did not die at time when the
earth is robed in emerald beauty, when
flowers are blooming. when birds are
Il 4
to the sea, nor yet when the fields are ready
for the harvest; but he died when the earth
lay wrapt in winding sheet of snow, sym
bolizing death and suggesting that the year
1880 was soon to yield up his scepter. 1t may
be a fancy, but winter seems to he the most
appropriate time for death to reap his har-
vest. Then the trees are bare; the music
of bird and bee is hushed and the winds go
wailing with trailing clouds; the earth is at
rest; the seasons have fulfilled their mission,
and the old, who have fought the battles of
life through three score and ten years or
more, may take their silent chambers in the
halls of Death with less regret than when
the earth is robed in vernal beauty, and the
sunshine and the balmy air invite the old as
we'll as the young to go forth
and enjoy the benedictions of Heaven.
But Death claims all seasons for his own,
and in the exercise of his mournful preroga-
tive has summoned Governor Williams away
from his high office and important duties
to higher and a,brighter existence.
His death will be mourned by the people
of Indiana, for the State and society have
sustained a loss not easily repaired; for it is
characters in which are combined in so large
degree integrity and efficiency, prudence
and courage, kindness and firmness-virtues
which will long be remembered by the
people of the State whom he has served in
various official capacities for more than forty
years. retaining to the last reputation not
only unsullied but growing brighter with
advancing years
To the student of biography the life of
Governor James d. Williams can not
fail OF being largely profitable. His
public and private life has been
marked by an infexible fealty to truth, to
honest convictions, unsweryingly main
tanned. With such a foundation, the super
structure of character must always be inn
posing, life success and death a triumph.
1t would require volume to analyze the
character of the dead Governor and bring
out its commanding traits But now. while
the great heart of Indiana is bowed with
sorrow and every word referring to the sad
event is sigh of grief, we can only say as a
fitting Conclusion of this tribute of respect,
that .t
Doubtless unto him Is given.
4 life that bears immortal fruit,
.--- In such great offices as suit