The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-18


This, then, was Corwin's idea Of his
own epitaph. 1t sounds like the diseon-
tent of a disappointed man, and asked
his venerable cousin the cause of it He
replied:
''As the rest Of this letter and others
show, Tom Thought his life failure.
He was in latter days bewailing the fact
that he had not lived to any great pur-
pose and blamed much upon his wit .
''Was he, like Webster and Clay, dis
appointed not to be PRESIDENT
mo; don't think he ever had much
ambition that way. His ambition was
to be rich He always regretted that
he had to die poor. He left nothing save
q mortgage on his house, which was
lifted by Judge George r. Sage, his
son-in-la law. When he died at Washing
ton and was buried here, remembered
the letter about his epitaph and showed
it to the family. They did not consider
it seriously, however, taking it as one
Of his grim, sarcastic jokes. Yet no
doubt he meant every word of it. -
Corwin's grave was for many years
unmarked, but now plain granite shaft
is over his grave in the new cemetery,
bearing only his name and that of his
wife, who died in 1873, and the name of
an only SON. Four daughters survive
Mrs Sage, now living in Cincinnati;
Mrs. Burris of Jamestown, n. Y; Mrs.
Cropper, a widow, who lives in the old
homestead with Katherine COrwin, the
oldest daughter of all, but who since
childhood has been a paralytic and
constant care.
COrWin never could have been rich
man. He made enormous earnings as
lawyer and was not extravagant, but
he was too liberal with his pen in en-
dorsing notes, and security payments
kept him poor. One day he vowed never
to 60 security on another note. The
very next day request for such a favor
came in. His Office was filed with men
who had heard him make such remarks,
and they were stunned with surprise
when he signed the paper without
word. When the happy man was gone,
they all exclaimed in surprise: ''Why,
COrwIn, what do you mean? Don't you
remember what you said yesterday
'tOh, yes, but l know this man can
never pay the note, and expect to do
it. I'll not be fooled in this case. ?
That bespoke the man. He remarked
one day: mo man can become rich in
mercantile business or any other follow
ing if he strictly interprets and obeys
the lessons taught by Christ in the ser
mon on the mount try to do it, and
no wonder am poor.
Yet he once refused kingdom and a
crown-also a lot Of trouble which " ent
with it When Louis Kossuth, the
Hungarian patriot, was in America, he
became a great admirer of Corwin. It
was not altogether but at least fairly
reciprOcated- Kossuth one day came to
COrWin and proposed that he give up
American craftsmanship to become king
Of Hungary. Corwin was told that all
Hungary was hungry for just such a
king as he would make, and that the
nations of Europe would acquiesce in
his favor. But Corwin refused the
crown SO persistently pressed upon him,
saying that he preferred ''to be a coun-
try lawyer rather than the king of any
country on earth !"
Corwin always told his intimate
friends that he wanted to die suddenly
To drop dead was his choice and with
no long, painful, suspenseful illness. His
favorite poet was Scott, and IN speak
ing of death he would often quote the
line beginning
Mine be the death of tropic sun
There is no twilight in tropical coun-
tries, and night comes on suddenly as
the sun flashes out of sight below the
horizon.
Corwin was touched by the death
angel during q banquet at Washington,
much like Secretary Window, like Cor
win, = secretary Of the treasury. Corwin
fell into ths arms Of Whitelaw Reid
and Garfield. who carried him from the
room. He fingered IN q comatose state
q few hours and died. His wish was
granted, for his great soul passed pain
lessly into peace.