Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-03-31
CONSIGNED TO EARTH.
The Mortal Remains Of the Good
Gray Poet Laid to Rest
ROBERT G. INGERSOLL'S GRAFTON
At the Tomb-A Beautifully wOrted Tribute 70
the Greatest Lover Of Nature That America
Has-EvG PrOducet-A Philosophy and
Religion Of BIS 0wa.

CAMDEN. n. j., March 3O.-The re-
mains OF Walt Whitman, the poet, were
Inferred this afternoon Ia his tomb at
Harleigh cemetery, after impressive
funeral services, which were attended
by large throng OF people, including
many well known In literary circles.
At the tomb Francis Howard Wilson,
OF Philadelphia, read selections from
the Scriptures and the poets writings.
DR.. c. NJ. NJ. Buckle, Whitman's oiog-
rapher, spoke at length on the life and
character OF the dead poet as shown by
/, his works. Thomas II. Harmed and DIR.
nevid q. Brinton also made addresses,
andthe ceremonies were concluded by
an address by Robert q. Ingersoll, who
was an Intimate friend Of Whitman.
In his ADDRESS Col. Ingersoll stood up
near the bief9ud spoke in part thus:
Again, we, In the mystery OF life, are
brought face TO face with the mystery OF
death.
A great man, a great American, the most
eminent citizen of this republic, is dead be-
fore us and we have met 10 pay a tribute 10
his greatness and 10 his worth. ] know
that he needs no words of mine. His fame
is secure. He laid the foundation OF II deep
in the human heart. He was, above all
that, known as the poet OF humanity, OF
sympathy. Great he was; so great that no
rose above the greatest that he met without
arrogance and so great that he stopped 10
the lowest without conscious condescen-
sion.
He never claimed 10 be lower or greater
than any other OF tho sons OF men. He came
into our generation free uutrammeled
spirit with sympathy for all. His arm
was beneath the form OF the sick. He sym
pathized with the imprisoned and the de-
spised, aud even on the brow OF crime ho
was great enough TO place tho kiss OF hu-
man sympathy.
He was built on a broad aud splendid
plan, without appearing TO have limita-
tions; passing easily for brother Of noun
tains and seas and consultations; caring
nothing for the little maps aud charts that
timid pilots hug the shore with, and giving
himself freely, with the recklessness OF ge-
MUS, TO winds and waves aRd tides caring
for nothing as long as the stars were above
him.
He was the poet also OF that divine Dom.
Ocracy that gives equal rights To all the
sons and daughters OF men. He uttered
the great American voice, uttered IA song
worthy OF the great republic. He has ut-
tered more supreme words than any writer
OF our century and possible OF almost any
other. He was above all things man.
He was "A true man and he walked amongst
his fellow men as such. he accepted and
absorbed all theories, all crceds, all reig-
ions ana believed in none.
He had a philosophy and religion OF his
own, greater as he believed, and as ! be-
lieve, than others. He accepted all, he ab-
sorbed all aud he was above all. lie was
true absolutely 10 himself. He had frana-
aud hn trraa ssauAfa
light. He was not afraid IN live; not
afraid 10 speak bis thought. Neither was
he afraid 10 die
For many years he and death lived near
neighbors. He was always willing aud
ready 10 meet and greet this thing called
death. And for many months he sat Ia the
deepening twilight waiting for the night:
waiting for the light In his brain were
the blessed memories OF the day and In his
heart were mingled the dawn and dusk OF
life He was not afraid; cheerful every
moment, the laughing nymphs OF days did
not desert him. They remained that they
might clasp the hand OF the yelled and
silent sisters OF the night when they should
come And when they did come Walt
Whitman stretched his hands 10 both; one
on one side, the nymphs Of day. and on this
other, the silent sisters OF the night And
so, hand in hand, between smiles and tears,
he reached mis- journeys end.
From the frontier OF life; from the wcs-
tern wave-kissed shore be sent US met
sagcs OF content and hope And those mes
sages seem now like strains ofmuslc blown
by the mistic trumpeter from deaths pale
realm. To-day we gave back to Mother
Nature: 10 her clasp and kiss, one OF the
0ravest ahd sweetest souls that eyar lived
ia human clay. And thank him for the
brave words he had said on the subject OF
death. Since be has lived, death Is less
fearful than be was before. and thousands
and millions will walk down into the dark
valley OF the shadow holding Walt Whit
mrn by the hand, long after we are dead.
The brave words he has spoken will sound
like trumpets 70 the dying. And 20, lay
this poor wreath upon this great mans
tomb. / loved him living and / love him
still.