Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-20
LAST WORDS OF FAMOUS MEN.
Some Death-Bed Utterances that Live in
the Pages of History.


the Pages of History.
God be praised!' exclaimed Wolfe, the
hero of Quebec, on hearing that the French
were giving away in every direction; 81
die happy" His antagonist. Montcalm.
deavoring to rally his men, and when told
that his end was approaching made an
swer: so much the better; shall not
live to see the surrender of Quebec
Il play thee, see me up safe, but for nv
coming down | can shift for myself" re-
marked Sir Thomas Moore, observing the
weakness of the scaffold Il heard say
the executioner was very good and |
have a little neck, said Anne Boleyn, put
ting her hands about it and laughing
heartily.
The unhappy Charles |. expired with the
word Remember" ON his lips, and the
last words attributed "Buckshot' Foster
were No home rule. " while Rebelai calm
ly remarked, Drop the curtain, the farce
Is played out.
With some presentiment that they are
about to die is the Irst symptom of ap-
preaching death, says Once Week. MOI
art wrote his requiem under the convic-
ton that the monument he was erecting
to his genius would prove monument
to his own remains. When life was ebb-
ing fast he called for the score; and as he
unused over it he said: did | not tell
you truly that it was for myself that COM
posed this death chant?" Bewick, famous
wood engraver, was last employed upon a
representation of 1.-The old horse waiting
for DEATH and Hogarth delineated the
end of all things, and having given it a
last touch, seized his palette and broke it
in pieces, remarking: Il have finished. :"
Many remarkable instances may also be
| cited in which the dying lips murmur out
the names Of friends and the occupations
and recollections of past life. Goethe S
dying lips murmured something about a
beautiful Homan's face, and Napoleon s
last thoughts were for the head of his
army, while Disraeli some quarter of an
| hour before his death, raised himself a lit
tie 10 his bed and stretched himself out in
the old familiar way that he was wont
/ when rising to reply in debate, while his
| lips moved in silence.
De Lagny, the great mathematician, was
asked the square of twelve when he was no
longer able to recognize his friends about
his bed, and mechanically answered: Zone
hundred and forty-four. No less striking
were the last words of Lord Tenderden, the
famous English judge. Some time before
his death he had been delirious and talked
incoherently, but presently recovering his
| composure and raising himself from his
pillow, he was heard to say in a slow and
solemn tone, as when he used to conclude
his summing up in great cases of import
ance; And now, gent men of the jury
you will consider your verdict
Sometimes the strained threads break
~, a IL
Boileau expired from the effects of dropsy
A friend entered the room where was ST.
ting, and the poet in one and the same
breath bid him hale and farewell. Good
day and adieu, said he; sit will be a very
long a adsu and and nd d instantly s expired
ems sister-in-law when it became evident
that a fit was upon him. Yes, on the
ground" he said very distinctly, as he
slid from her arm and fell to the floor.
Edmond Keen made his final exit in
the middle of the greatest scene of his
graetest play. ''Get me off, Charles" he
gasped, ''I'm dying" His son led him
off and all was over. And Phelps, who
had supe1stitious horror Of the word,
farewell while acting Wolsey and actu-
ally uttering his ominous words:
Farewell! a great farewell to all my
grateness." broke down, and the curtain
slowly dropped upon him for the last
| time.
| Many instances are on record where per-
sons have continued to jest through con-
scious the end was at hand. 1--WE shall
soon meet again were the last words of
Louis XIV. to Nine de Maintenon, and
the murmured rejoinder "A pleasant rem
devious he is giving me; that man never
loved any one but himself.
1T there nothing on earth | can do for
you?" said Taylor to Wilcott, as he lay
on his death bed. Give me back my
youth, y were the last words of the lively
| if scurrilous poet, who under the title of
Peter Pindar amused the latter end of the
! eighteenth century,