Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-04-20
Last Words.

A cotemporary remarks upon the ten
dency of dying men to recur in the last
hour to the scenes which have made the
strongest impressions in life. 1.-THE old
mountaineer, when he comes TO die,
with his last whisper says his snow
shoes are lost; the stage driver is 'on
the down-grade and cannot reach the
brake; the miner cannot get to the air.
pipe; the sailor says eight bells have
sounded and the gambler plays his last
trump" The last words of distin-
guished men have been carefully noted
and preserved in history, and in many
hibition of the 'sruling passion strong
in death.n If there be reality in this
tendency of the human mind to revert
in the closing hours to matters which
have been of all-absOrbing interest in
life, we may imagine the words which
future historians will record as emanat-
ing from the lips of some men who are
now prominent before the public in pol
itics. For instance, we may reasonably
anticipate that the last words of Gen.
Grant will be embodied in some such
phraseology as this: "Time flies faster
than my fleetest horse; see that the
bull-pups are well cared for. Let us all
smoked"
Blaine, we imagine, as the recollec-
tons of the rebellion come crowding to
his memory, will exclaim with his ex-
piring breath-"Blood will tell; give
that shirt another dip!"
Roscoe Conkling, the lordly New
York Republican, will recur to the scene
at Sprague's, and shrinking with af-
frighted aspect, whisper in tremulous
tones to his attending friends "Avaunt !!
foul fiendi I have ever opposed the
shotgun policy!'
Benjamin Butler will close his eye to
earthly scenes, and mutter in accents of
despair-"O, fate severe! All my
spoons will be melted !"
Among the public men of our own
State it is not difficult to predict what
their final utterances will be. There is
our friend, Parson Massey; who can
doubt that his last moments will be
cheered by the reflection that his life
has been governed by 1.-THE immutable
principles of Justice" and that he will
exclaim with his last breath-"I depart
in peace. for these eyes have seen the
last of the coupons!"
Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, ex-
claimed in the near prospect of his dis
solution, IT have fought good fight, l
have kept the faith" It may be doubt
ed WnoCner JONI raul, Tue apostle VI
reimbursement, will adopt such trium
plant language. His melancholy lam
entations will more probably be-"I
have fought against the rights of the
creditors and have not kept the faith.
I would like to readjust my own &C
counts, butt is too late-too late !"
Who does not remember the last words
of the Immortal "Stonewall" Jack
son? Although the most prosaic of
men, his life was grand epic, and in
its closing moments he uttered those
memorable words so full of poetic beau
ty-"Let us cross over the river and
rest under the shade of the trees"
It is at least possible that Harry Rid
dleberger may immortalize his final exit
from earthly scenes by the exclamation
-"Let us cross over to the Wing office
and eliminate another million !"
And then there is Malone! Malone,
Virginia! All! what can we expect of
him but repetition of the last words
of Randolph, of Roanoke, "Remorse
Remorse Unless he may consider
more appropriate paraphrase Of the
dying exclamation of Cardinal Wolsey
Had 1 served Virginia as faithfully as
I have served Malone, I could die in
peace. O! the Crater-the Crater ~
Charlottesville Chronicle.