The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-31

CAMDEN, \. j., March 3O.-At tho
grave Of tho poet Walt Whitman, whose
funeral occurred to-day, Col. Robert G.
lngcrsoll delivered tho principal culogy
over tho body OF his friend.
Colonel Gngcrso!l stood up near the
bier and spoke in part thus: Again we,
in tho mystery OF life. are brought iacc
to face with the mystery OF death.
a great man, n great Americau-thc
most eminent citizen Of this republic
is dead before us, and wo have met to
pay tribute to his greatness and to his
worth. know that he needs no words
OF mino. His fame is secure. He laid
tho foundation OF it deep in the human
heart. lie was above all 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 condescension.
He never claimed to be lower or greater
than any other OF the sons OF men.
lie came into our generation free; un-
trammeled spirit with sympathy for all.
His arm was beneath the form OF the
sick. lie sympathized with the impris.
oned and tho despiscd; and even on the
brow Of crime he was great enough to
place the kiss OF human sympathy. IIe
was built on q broad and splendid plan
without appearing to have limitations
passing easily ior brother Of noun
teins and seas and constellations-car-
ing nothing for the little maps and
charts that timid pilots hug the shore
with, and giving himself freely with the
rccklessness OF genius to winds and
waves and tides--caring for nothing as
long as the stars were above him. IS
lie was the poet also OF that divine
democracy that gives equal rights to all
the sons and daughters OF men. lie
uttered the graat American voice, ut
tered song worthy OF the great repub-
lie. lie has uttered more supreme
words than any writer OF our century,
and possibly OF almost. ANY other.
lie was above all things a man. lie
! was true man; and no walked
amongst his fellow men rs such. He
accepted and absorbed all theories, all
creeds, all religions and believed In
non. llo had philosophy and re-
lision OF his own, as he believed--and
rs ! believe and others. He accepted
all. he absorbed all. And he was
| above all. lie was true absolutely to
himself. He had frankness, courage.
And lie was as candid as light. lie was
not afraid to live; not afraid to speak
his thought. Neither was he afraid to
die.
f. For many years he and death lived
near neighpors. lie was always willing
and ready to meet and greet this thing
called death. And for many months he
sat in the deepening twilight waiting
for the night waiting for the light. In
his brain were the blessed memories OF
tho day; and in his heart were mingled
the dawn and dusk OF light. lie was
not afraid-cheeriul every moment, the
laughing nvmphs Of days did not desert
him. They remained that they might
clasp the hand OF the vcilcd and silent
sisters Of the night when they should
come. And when they did come Walt
Whitman stretched his hands to both
| -OA OuC SINS tAiS ~ lipho VI Nuy uiiu
on the other the silent sisters Of the
night. And so, hand in hand, between
smiles and tears, he reached his jour
ney's end.
From the frontier Of life; from the
western wavo-kissed shore, he sent us
messages OF content and hope. And
those messages seem now like strains of
music blown by the mystic trumpeter
from deaths pale realm. To-day We
gave back 10 Mother Naturc--to her
clasp and kiss-one OF the bravest,
sweetest souls that ever lived in human
clay. And thank him for the brave
words he has said on tho subject of
death. Since he has lived death is less
fearful than he was before. and thous-
sands and millions will walk down into
the dark valley Of tho shadow holding
Walt Whitman by tho hand, long after
we are dead. The brave words he has
spoken will sound like trumpets to the
dying. And Sc lay this poor wreath
upon this great mans tomb. l loved
him living and love him still.