The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-06-14
his promise was never kent.

, this promise was never KEPT.
Soon after this memorable event he
had the misfortune to lose his estimlble
wife, who had always encouraged him in
| his work. who mad been the main stay al
his literary attachments, and to whom be
longs the credit of the fame and euow
| of this great Englishman,
At her grave he was 50 overcome with
| grief that he had to be restrained from
leaping into the grave, hut in 1wo or
three months was paying t1attering court
to an English girl and was soon hurried
to his second wife
Sheridan had during the life of his first
!! wife, become the owner OF Drurv Lane
Theatre, which was afterwards burned,
and a story is told with reference TO the
rebuilding of this theatre. Sheridan,
as | have before intimated, was pos
sessed of the peculiar characteristic Of
forgetting his business obligations, and
when the architect of the new theatre
desired to make a settlement of accounts
he was given many appointments by
Sheridan who invariably failed to keep
the appointments. One day when the pa
thence of the architect had been thorough
IL tried, he unexpectedly encountered
Sheridan, accompanied by some Of the
Lords. Sherry said My dear fellow
| am so fortunate in meeting you at this
time. My friends are anxious to see the
new theatre building, and | wish you to
90 with US .and point u the splendid
architecture" Off they went 10 the new
theatre, and after showing them all about
the architect was asked by Sheridan if
he was sure that an ordinary one could
be heard in any part Of the hall. The
architect replied that one could hear in
any part of the house. WhereupOn
Sheridan requested him to 60 back up
into one Of the galleries, and then said
to him, Can you hear distinctly every
word | am saying?' "EVerY word, -
sain the architect. Mr.. Sheridan then
wished for himself and the friends with
him a good morning and before the
deluded architect could reach the door
Sheridan and his party were gone, and
no word Of settlement had been said.
Even upon his death bed he was har.
raised by his creditors and his corpse was
not free from their attachments. One debt.
after another was raised by his friends At
last all his household goods were sold down
to the very mattress on which he lay, and
he died lying on goods boxes, his blankets
his only bed. After the papers the morn
ing after his death announced that the
brilliant and accomplished Sir Richard
Brinslev Sheridan was dead, dukes came by
scores to pay him honor and those who had
turned their backs on him in life now fol-
lowed his remains with all the marks of
woe. He passed away in June, 1916, dying
forsaken by his friends, and the prey II his
creditors.
While the body lay in its coffin at the
house of Samuel Rodgers, the poet banker,
one of the creditors gained admittance and
placed a paper over the face of the dead.
1t was an attachment for $500, and Rodgers
had to pay this before Sheridan could be
buried. At Sheridan's funeral a long line
of carriages filled with dukes and knights
and princes of the blood royal wendell its
way to Westminster Abbey, where his re
mains were deposited in the poets corner.
Often have | stood on the slab that
covers all that is mortal Of this brilliant
genius, and as the notes from the organ
die away in the arches and the softened
tones of the English service float on the
air, | have seen the figure of the LOwly
One rise before me, and have heard the
words, "What shall it profit a man if he
gain the whole world and lose his own
soul? ? for w~hOsOever lOseth his life shall
find it, but he that loveth his own life
shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in
this world will keep it to life everlast-
ing" Come unto me, all we that labor
and are heavy laden, and | will give you
rest" lake my yoke upon you and
lean on me-, for | am meek and lowly at
heart and you shall find rest for you
souls, for nv yoke is easy and my bur-
den is light
have taken the life of tuis brilliant
genius and wit of England as an example
to present to you to-day, an example of
a misguided life, a life that was a failure.
He served the world and got for his
sweets all bitterness; he served the We rid,
but was fOrsaken by it.
Young men of Trinity college, take
this lesson to yourselves You are en-
tering upon life. You must soon meet
it's problems and its temptations. Take
the life of this brilliant orator and wit
and gentleman as a warning.
Young men Of Trinity college, God
bless you.
The audience was her dismissed by
DR.. Crowell.