The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-18
DR.. JOHN @. WALKER.

Yesterday the mortal remains of DIR.
John @. Walker were quietly laid away
beneath the sod of Crown Hill Cemetery.
Obituary notices have appeared of the dead
man, and it is not the purpose of this writ
ing to touch upon such incidents as have
been referred to by those who have brought
TO the attention Of the public "reminiscences
of his public career. 1t had its GASES, its
sun-burnished elevations. it's high am
billions, and inspiring hopes. 1t also had
its gloomy pathways, its disheartening
shadows, its struggles and failures. So far
as mortality is concerned it is ended. The
desire of power in excess caused
the angels to fall, the desire of knowledge
in excess caused man to fall but in charity
there is no excess. Neither can angel or
man come in danger OF it," and, after all,
there is divinity that shapes our ends,
rough hew them how we will" DR.. John
G. Walker was more than an average man.
In his youth he shaped events. he had
creative power. The mysterious agencies Of
his mind were recognized by men older
than himself, and he stepped to the front by
the royal right which superior intellect al
ways confers.
much has been thrown
On living canvas much been cast abroad
In words of Hottest import; much been framed
BY plastic hands to shapes of awe aud wonder;
But nothing ever bodied out the soul
In its most daring flight"
And thus it happens that in dealing with
the dead it is more profitable for the living to
know those soul yearniDgs for the good
which to the charitably disposed are of
greater worth than pictures on canvas or
marble statues. 1t would be grand beyond
any work of Raphael or Michael Angelo, if
the conception, as it took shape in the mind
of Peter Cooper, to build an Institute to help
the poor to knowledge could be pictured 20
the world. The great philsnthropist lived
to give form and efficiency to his concep-
tons, and died at last to live in perpetual
gratitude because his own hands had made
tangible the high and holy conceptions of
his mind. Who shall ever know the hal
lowed dreams of high ambition that ANNA
ted the mind of DR.. John @. WalEer when his
admiring countrymen sought to confer upon
him the second highest Office in their gift,
and were prevented because his years were
not equal to his capacIties2 Who shall know
the majesty of his patriotic hopes when be
donned the soldiers uniform to take his
chances on the field of strife? That his
purposes were exalted none deny who knew
him we'll and BEST, but noue may know the
penalties of Disappointment May it not be
told in his own graphic verse:
And this is ALI A torn and tattered wreck,
Cast out upon s bleak and barren SHORE
A fragment only of the gallant deck
Which used to ride the storc1, but nevermore
Can breast the breakers of LIES rugged sea,
Nor smoothly sail where winds aud waves are
light
No more! no more can life bring joy to me
To love, and hope, and lie, and light, good
night"
In saying farewell to DR.. John G. Walker
it will be well to remember that he was as
unwavering in his friendships as he was
fearless amidst perlls-chsrac eristics which
all manly men admire. That he had more
mind force and will power than physical
strength doubtless accounts for his early de-
parture. That he saw death casting its
somber shadow athwart his pathway none
will doubt, and those who stood by him in
the fual struggle will testify that the closing
scene was heroic. DR.. Walker died well.