The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-04-19

SADNESS IS OtPiCtcu ul'Oil tilS Noui'-
tenances Of her people and their hearts
are bowed down in sorrow.
s/tb Vance IS dead.
The hero aud IDOL OF The people IS
no more.
The foremost North Carolinian Of
modern times, if not of all times, has
passed from the stage of action.
The man of all Others whom his
people loved best and delighted most
to honor, and who in all times and
under all circumstances served them
we'll and faithfully, now rests from his
labrrs.
The great tribune of the people,
their steadfast friend, sturdy champion
and able defender, lays down his
buckle and shield and is gathered to
his fathers.
Yes, Senator Vance is dead, great
and good man has passed out from
among US but his deeds will be cher
ished and his memory forever live en-
shrined in the hearts of his people.
The highest type of man, beloved
! and honored as no North Caro,inian
ever was before useful citizen, able
lawyer, wise legislator, brave soldier,
| ideal Governor, efficient Congressman
and distinguished Senator; brilliant
orator, ripe scholar, broad statesman,
| loyal patriot, true friend and Chris
tan gentleman, his was we'll rounded
character, beautiful, symmetrical,
whose like we may never look upon
again.
But it is not our purpose here to
speak of the man as he was or attempt
to pay him that tribute which his mer-
its so much enttlc him to, as it is not
within our power to do SO. Such a
task must be reserved for ADLER pens
and more eloquent tongues.
In common with North Carolinians
everywhere we pause to drop a tear of
regret and place a flower of love upon
the bier of the lamen.ed dead, and
thank God for the gift of such a man
As Zebulon Baird Vance, whose life
and labors may be emulated by the
present and future generations with
profit and honor tc themselves.
Peace to his sacred dust.
The following account ofthe funeral
ceremonies in Washington, taken from
the press dispatches, will be read with
melancholy interest:
WASHINGTON, April lG.-The fu-
neral of Senator Vance was an exceed
ingly impressive ceremOnys The two
Houses met at the usual hour, II
O'Clock. In the Senate the blind chap
lain, Rev. DR.. Milburn. with character
istic appropriateness and in his deepest,
most solemn tones, offered prayer. His
invocation was in these words
o, Eternal God with our hearts we
come to the foot OF Thy throne, while the
funeral knell sounds through the capitol
announcing the death of another Sena-
tor; while North Carolina mOurns the
departure from her OF a beloved and
hOnored son, and the nation feels the
loss. We bless Thee for his large native
powers, skilled i'll the wide experience OF
public affairs, and for his genial humor,
enrching and illumining all subjects he
touched, making him kindly with his
kind, by virtue of which he shed the in
tluence OF a wise and benefcent counsel
and character on his native State, and
by virtue OF his place in this chamber on
the land at large. Grant to the widow
and children, under this sore bereave-
ment, the comfort which can come tC
human hearts at such a time-unshaken
faith i'll Thy Holy Gospel, and the con-
ISOLATION and sympathy of Thy beloved
son. As the earthly part of one of our
brothers has entered on the border Of
the invisible world, grant that We may
hear from Thy lips, Blessed are the
dead who die the Lord; yea, saith the
spirit, for they rest from their labOrs;
we humbly pray, through Jesus Christ
our Saviour, amen.
THE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT
At the conclusion of the chaplain
invocation Senator Ransom. of Nortl
. Carolina, arose and in pathetic anC
eloquent words announced the dealt
OF his colleague. He said
Mr.. President 1t is my melancholy
duty to announce to the Senate the
death of the Hon. Zebulon Bairl
Vance, late Senator from Nortl
Carolina. He died on Saturday nigh
last at 45 minutes past 10, at hi;
residence on Massachusetts, avenue, il
this city. Though lis long continued
and serious illness ought to hav,
prepared all of us for the sad event
still, beguiled by his own hopeful ant
cheerful spirit, none of us had dreame,
that the white horses were coming 81
rapidly to his door. His death shock,
us to the depths of our hearts. 1t is ;
calamity. Il sorrow, a deep public anC
personal bereavement. \ great MAJ
has fallen in our midst-a great patriot
Il great statesman. a great speaker.
great thinker. 4 great actor has passet
away from our sight for this life. II,
died at his post Of duty. with his com
: plete armor on, with his face to thu
tront-courageous, hopeful, useful. t.
E the last. Suffering did not break hi
, proud spirit nor dim his noble intellec
nor shake his fearless fortitude. Full
of years, but still in the strength of hi
eminent faculties, crowned with exalte,
honors, but still animated with We
higher aspirations aud promise of doin!
. good. physical wreck and overcom,
! with incurable malady. he stood tirml,
in the line of his comrades and at tn,
, last moment serenely gathered his robe
! around him and stepped with tn,
: dignity Of Senator and the faith Of ;
Christian from earth into eternity.
looks rs if by some prophetic intuition
he had returned from the spring
flowers and genial skies Of Florida I.