The evening world., 1889-02-06
TRIBUTES TOA TRUE HEART.
THE WORDS OF COL. INGERsOLL AT MARY
FISHES FUNERAL.

An Eioqnent Prayer TO Mother Nature to
Hold the Departed One NJ TenderIy as
she Had Held an Unprotected Babe
Other Incidents OF the Obseauics-
Beautiful Flowers from Many Friends.
The obsequies Of Mrs. Mary Hewins Fiske
took place at IL o'clock from the Scottish
Rite Hall, Madison avenue and Twenty-ninth
street.
Cards were issued for admission. and the
place was crowded by the many friends of
the deceased journalist. Hosts of actors were
present.
The floral tributes we're numerous and ex-
q~uisitely beautiful. The platform was quite
taken mp with them. Mrs. Fiske's photo
graph was in the centre, draped with snAilax.
The music was under the charge OF Nine.
Williams.
At ll.l6 the remains, covered with the
choicest flowers, were brought into the
house. preceded by the pail bearers. The
casket was Of plain broadcloth, with tour
massive oxidized silver handles.
Harry Edwards then osrne forward and
said that he had been asked to speak q few
words of respect for the dear friend who lay
before them. He spoke Of the shock IL was
to 80 many friends to witness the death of
this benefcent one. Mr.. Edwards's re-
marks were full of feeling. He spoke tor
some ten minutes.
Nine. de Ruyter then sang a solo. Never
Col. Robeft ingersoll began speaking at
my FRIENDS. In the presence of the two
great mysteries. life and death. we ART met to
say q few words Of conscious regret and love.
In this presence let US speak OF generosity;
love and duty. Truly flowers should be laid
on the tomb.
MARY Fiske was like herself only. She
patterned after none. She WINS q genius. She
cared nothing for roads, for beaten paths.
She went across the fl Ids and through the
woods aud by the winding streams and by
the crags where fancy ever dwells.
She wrote lines ripe with laughter and
words wet with tears. Her pages were iecked
with sunshine and shadows. and in every
word there was pulse and breath. Her heart
went out to all the wretched in this weary
world. and yet she seemed Ms joyous as II
grief and death were only words. She wept
with others, but found only hope In her wi
ills. -.
'She lived for others. Her heart was full
Of motion and life. She longed for freedom.
Even limitation was a prison wall. She gave
her almost every thought TO praise Of gener-
GUS deeds.
"She pi,ied the poor. the friendless
None could wanter beyond her sympathv.
To her there we're no outcasts. She knew
that circumstance and conditions determine
character. She had no words of soorn, but
only enger hands of help. She heard the
poor, and all she had she gave. A God could
do no more.
THE manned and hurt sought her open
door and the helpless put their hands in
hers. She shielded the weak. she fought the
strong. Her heart was open as the gate Of
death.
IF all her deeds were flowers. the air
would be faint with perfume. Mary Fiske
had within her the divine fire called genius
and in her heart the truth Of nature that
makes the whole world kin. She wrote as q
stream flows.
"A little while ago q babe was found.
cold, unparented. Mary Fiske took the waif
and held IL to her breast, making II her own.
I'VE pray then. Mother Nature, that thou
wilt take this woman and hold her as ten
derby In thy arms as she pressed to her heart
this abandoned babe. We ask no more. In
this presence let us remember our faults, our
f~railties. and let US remember the tender,
generous. loving deeds Of Mary Fiske."
Col. Ingersoll spoke for ten minutes with
the greatest feeling. HIS voice was full Of
emotion and he evidently feH ever word OF
warm praise he uttered,
Sig. Perugiui then sang 1.-THE Last Greet
ing, by Schubert.