Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-26
The DreamIess RIeen.

We AOl uUllsui az tnO ISquChJ VI
many friends, the funeral Grafton Of
Col. Robert G. Ingersoll pronounced,
some months since in Washington
city, on the occasion of the burial of
the remains Of deceased brother.
Paraphrasing his own brilliant Ian
guage, lis a gem sparkling and jewell
ed all DER in beauty.
MY FRIENDS. l am going to do
that which the dead often promis-
ed he would do for me. The loved
and loving brother, husband, father,
friend, died when mauhood's morning
almost touches noon, aud while shad-
ows still were falling toward the west.
He had not passed on life's highway
the stone that marks the highest point,
but, being weary for a moment, he
laid down by The wayside, and, using
bis burden for a pillow, fell into that
dreamless sleep that kisses down his
eyelids sill. While yet in love with
life and raptured with the world, he
passed TO silence. Yet, after all, it
may be best, just in this bappiest,
sunniesS hour of all the voyage, While
eager winds are kissing eve.y sail t.
dash against the unseen rock audjn al
instant bear the pillows roar above a
sunken ship, for whether in mid-sea or
among the breakers of the farther
shore, a wreck must mark at las6 the
end of e-cFand every life. NOmatter
if its every hour is rich with love, and
every moment jeweled with a JOY, it
will at lis close become a tragedy as
sad, aud deep, and dark as can be wo-
ven of the warp and woOt of mystery
AID death. This brave and tender
man in every Storm of life was oak and
rock. but in the sunshine he was vine
aud flowers. He was the friend of
all heroic souls. He climbed the
heights and left all superstitions fer
below, while on lis forehead fell the
downing of a grander day. lie loved
the beautiful, and was with color, form
aud music touched to tears. He sided
with the weak, and with a willing
hand gave aims with a loyal heart,
and with the purest hand he faithful
ly discharged all public trusts. he
was a worshiper OF liberty-a friend of
the oppressed. A thousand times l
have heard him quote the words, For
justice, all place a temple and all sea-
son summer" He believed that hap
was the only good reason, the
only torch, justice the only worshiper,
the only religion, and love
the only priest. He added to the
sum ofhuman joy, and were every one
for whom he'did some loving service
to bring a blossom to ais grave. he
would sleep tonight beneath a wilder
ness Of flowers. Life is a narrow vale
between the cold and barren peaks of
two eternities. We strive 10 vain to
look beyond the heights. We cry
and the only answer is the
Of our wailing cry. From the
yoiceless lips Of the unreplying dead
comes no word, but in the night
death, hopes sees a star and listen
ing love can hear a rustic ola wirg.
He who sleeps here, when dying, mis-
taken the approach Of death for the
Of health, whispered with his
breath, II am better now" Let
us believe in spite Of doubts and dog
mas aud tears aud fears, that these
dear words are true of all the count
less 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.
a not contain our love.
was, there is no gentler, strong
err, manlier man.
NO CEREMONIES AT THE GRAVE.
There were no ceremonies whatever
the grave. But pathetic scene oc-
clrredwhen the Misses Lawler, daugh-
tiers ofthe late Gen. Lawler and adopt
ed children Of Hon. Il. Q. lugersoll, to
whom they were devotedly attached,
took their last leave Of their dead fes-
ter father. One Of them tainted Cd
taken to her carriage, and the
other fingered at the grave until al
most forcibly led away by her friends.
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