The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1882-09-16
I'm MeIaaOR.iaHpn.
THE ST. LANDRY MED. AND SURG AssocIAT's,
lnalnnsnS Sarai I5tI, 1890


THE ST. LANDRY MED. AND SURG. AssoCIAT'E, J
Opelousas, Sept 18th, 1882. :.
On the morning of the 9th of May, 1882
were committed to the grave the remains Of
DIR. EDWARD MI. WILLARD, whose character
had been sustained in NEST creditable man
ner, for nearly half q century, in his profes-
sion, in the Senate and State Conventions.
Arrived at period Of existence when the
intellectual powers are in their full maturity :;
happy in his faniIy-with wealth aud u lucra-
tive practice-surrounded by admring and de-
voted friends, and in the zenith of his reputa-
tion-Our lamented associate perceived the
first approaches of the insidiOus disease whose
slow but fatal progress was to darken his fiji
ture, and ere long draw the curtain forever
between him and all he valued in life.
F0rtltude and patience availed nought-
love and devotion ayailea nought-prayers
ayailed nought-nothing but death was the
unequivocal condition
Fully acquainted with and appPeeiating the
impending doom yet he lived calmly for two
years in the stern contemplation of the ghast-
ly procession of causes and etfects-all point
ing to his approaching dissolution, all reVer-
encing the illustrious victim, all chanting the
niiserere of the heart and the waning hopes of
the heeting hour.
Is it not an agonizing and distressing sitl,a.
tion, to be convinced that relentless and
fearful enemy has fastened upon our frame,
and must eventually gain the victory over
this frail structure OF ours What gloom and
despair such conviction must throw, espe,
cially over the life of the medical man!
But death is common to all; and, however
organized or constituted, whatever be its func-
tions or manifestations, it is the allotted ter
mination of every living, sentient and intelli-
gent being.
Religion and philosophy = an undetinable
and innate presentiment every man has with
in him-a spark of divine radiance illumin-
AF,nl Il of f,,4, Al,o,,
pirations of lofty impulses, engender and for
tify confidence in that unknown hereafter,
that glorious immortality Philosophy has fore
| shadewed and Divinity revealed.
En- that Elysium, where an immortal spirit
shall dwell apart from it's mortal tenement,
or where, rejoined and regenerated by divine
nat, they shall rise again to nevef-endiEg life.
| Yet the mysteries of vital chemistry are un-
known to man; and to the reality of human
condition, feelings or perceptions, death is the
| same dark and impenetrabie barrier, beyond
| whose shrouded portals all that we love and
| cherish in our common life sets and sinks fsr
ever!
| 1t was painful and distressing malady-
adynamia. Tortured and exhausted, his no
BILE intellect triumphed over every calamity
and reigned pure and unclouded to the last
moments; and as the fat of death went forth
he came finally to his end without pain, be
cause I" it is as natural to die as 10 be born y
nature intending that the end of man should
be as painless as his beginning.
Thus closed the life OF Ed. NJ. Millard, A. M.
M. D., on the evening of the 9Th of May, 1882
/ His remains were followed by large con
course of people. and inferred IN Grand Co
teau, among those he lovedso well-his friends
and PATIENTS whom he taught the ways O.
| life, and finally how to die
Apart from the altars of affection ant
| friendship, Death has his sanetity, hallowef
by every creed-a respect that finds reverence
in every exalted sentiment of instructive ma
ture. and receives homage in the rites o
every known people.
We have no monument, chisel or niche, o.
any other device to dedicate, or with which t,
perpetuate his distinguished name. With un
/ covered head, we bow in great reverence, an(
! lay ON his grave crown of honor and hon0rs
VINCENT BOAGNI, President
JAMES RAY, Secretary