Evening journal., 1897-09-04
. spEAxNe coNoRzss.
Ihe Eifty-Eourih Recalled for Its
Talent tn Oratory.

She sifty-Eourth Recalled for Its I
Talent tn Orators.
II aas often been SAID that the late /
sunset Coz several times national rep |
resentative Nom he state OF New York. !
and whilomlninis er 10 Turkey, was The
poet OF Tie Forty fourth con gress. That
congress was especially chosen as the
basis for this distinction. because il was
full Of brilliant speakers. James q.
Blaine. Proctor Knott. Nathaniel p.
Banks. John a. Kasson, John Good, Jr..
Milton Saylor. Frank Hurd, Martin
Townsend. Randolph Tucker could Jug
gle with the English language in mas
,erlv fashion. Yet Sunset Cox surpassed
them all.
In fair West Virginia, torn just now
with the dissensions of the coal miners
strike. is the historical health resort of
Alum Springs. 1t lies in the beautiful
/ Blue Ridge mountains, and is not far
from Washington. To this secluded
nook Michael Kerr, the first speaker of
the Forty-fourth congress, was taken
mortally i'll. 1t was there that he died,
and at his deathlbed stood Sunset Cox.
A bitter cold Saturday in December
was set aside for the presentation of
suitable resolution on the death Of the
speaker and the expression by members
of the esteem in which they held him.
Among a goodly number, Sunset Cox
arose. From the magnificent tribute
he paid to his dead friend, few who
heard ii have forgotten that beautiful
word painting which described his pass
ing away.
"He died at the Alum Springs, in West
Virginia" said Mr. Cox. 1T is an old
resort. an intervale of beauty. charm
ing little park sweetly embosomed in
the Blue Ridge; lonely spot, with now
and then a habitation, but with brac-
ing abr, a splendid forest and grand
mountains. There is a primeval qui-
etude there, almost summer afternoon
feeling. as if the lotus eaters Of Tenny'
son had made it a resort aloof from the
cries of people that do come and go
The only noise is that Of murmuring
, waters. 1t was amid these solemn ST
lences that his last weeks and hours
were passed. 1t was amid these remote
! and pleasant nools of nature that Goo
| nntlOSeU HIS veal 9t<lis Ills ''N'N 49,
sudden call. All preparations. seculai
and spiritual possible were made by hi
! own direction. The silver cord was TO
cut hurriedly, nor the golden bowl brok
en- in an instant. The cord was gentl.
. united; the golden bowl melted away
as if it were scarf of vapory amethyst
, or rather as the light fades away from
. the armament at the coming OF al
: evening mild. Just as the sun wen
down his spirit peaceflly departed. Tn
pearl dropped from its wasted shell a
the sun passed behind the mountain
There he lay in the lap of a loveher ma
ture. by stiller streams and faire
:. meadows than we are wont to fancy II
- some blest Already, but when deaf
: came il made the beauty Of the mouI
= tains seem barren as the desert; th
flowers and LEAKAGE and rocks and hill
- lost their charm, the breeze its fresi
ness, the song of the birds its music, an
= the sweet shine of the sun was joyles
; But in the mountains did he feel his faitf
n All things responsive to the writings theI
l. Breathed immortality, revolving life,
n And greatess still revolving-inhnite;
:. There Httleness was not; the least
y things
IN Seemed infinite.
ST. Louis Republic.