Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-09-16
AN ATHEISTS STRANGE FUNERAL
Reading Of an Grafton by Col. Inger-
soI---IIis Estate to the University Of
Vermont

Reading Of an Grafton by Col. Ingrr-
sol---His Estate TO the University Of |
vermont
From The Evening Pbuniv Of Friday
The funeral of DR.. Thomas Seton Rob |
ertson, who died on Wednesday, was held
Thursday afternoon in his apartment in
the Beverwyck in West 27th street, New
York city There was no ceremony as Dr.
Robertson, who was an atheist, bad spec
tally requested that no minister or priest
should take part in bis burial. The only
observances therefore were the addresses,
flowers and the singing OF the Lost
Chord"
The oak coffin was piled with wreaths
and heaps OF flowers, sent in by old friends
and members of the numerous clubs and
societies to which DR.. Robertson had be-
longed. There were present also large
number of friends, including Stanford
White, A. II. Hummel, William K. Mead
Justice Beach OF the supreme court, j. A.
Delehanty, George w. Floyd and Joseph
| Howard, ir Mrs. Robertson. the widow,
| was present at the burial in WOODLAND
cemetery, but was not at the funeral The
/ two had been living apart for two years
and he had recently brought suit for di-
vorce on the ground of abandonment.
Mrs. Robertson came to New Y ork from
! New England Thursday morning and went
TO the apartment in the Bever wyck where
she remained for an hour with the body.
Afterward, in a closed carriage, she joined
the three others in the funeral procession
and went to Woodawn by train.
AT the funeral Joseph Howard jr.,
spoke briefly of the kindness of the doctor
to his friends. Al present, he said, had
experienced it, He had been a CHEEKY
comrade, good friend and a help in the
time OF trouble "Where he has gone we
do not know said MI Howard al
would be idle to speculate, but We can say,
God bless you, dear friend. Goodby,
goodby'
Col Robert g. Ingersoll, who had been
a close friend OF the doctor, was TO have
delivered a funeral grafton, but illness,
consequent. it was said, on the sudden
death OF his friend, prevented him from be-
ing present. Mrs. lngersoll attended. how
= ever, and Mr Hummel read the eulogy
Col Ingersoll had prepared. 1t was, il
part, as follows:
He who lies before us in the sleep OF
? death was my friend and was his. He
was generous to his fellowmen and hi.
hands were always swift to help, eager tC
save He pitied the fricndless. the hope
less. He was proud Of his profession, the
nobest proud OF his skill, OF his success
He was quick 10 decide, to act prompt, tire
less. always forgetful of self. He length
5 ened life and conquered pain. Hundreds
are well and happy now because be lived
e This is enough This puts star aboy,
the gloom of death He was no, quit,
fashioned for this world. The Il mt an1
thorns Oh LIES highways bruised and
pierced his flesh. and Tor his wounds h,
did not have the blessed balm of patience
He felt the manacles, the limitations. tn,
imprisonment OF life and So within tn,
walls and bars hp wore his very soul away
He could not bear the storms. The tides
! the winds. the waves IN the m rnine OF hI
r. lite dashed his frai. bark against the rocks
b He fought a. best Ae could and that b. fell
was not hi. faux.
b He was honest. generous and courage
a / oUs. These three great virtues were his
H. was true and steadiAst friend. sreiu.
+ only the goodness of The ones he loved
Only a great and noble heart Is capable O
] / this. But hr has passed beyond the rracl
! OF praise or blame, passed to the realm @
= resi-, to the waveiess calm OF perfect peace
The storm is spent the winds are hush
- el, the waves have died along the shore
y lhr tides are STILL the aching heart ma
b. ceased to beat. and within the brain a.
{ / thoughts. all hopes and fears. ambitions
b memories rejpiciuCs and regrets, a.. i'm
% ayes and pictures OF the world he knew
4 are now as though they had not been
. And ye, Hope. The child Of Love, th
b deathess beyond the darkness sees th
q dawn. And We who knew and loved him
d We who now perform the las, sad rites
d the last tina, friendship can suggest Wi
r keep lis memory green.
Y Dear friend. farewell If We DO NEE
q again then We shall smile indeed If no,
e this parting is well made Again All
= again farewell.
The only music a, the funeral was tn
e singing by Miss Biideweil Of "The Los
5 Chord"
il Or. Roberts rs vii is IN possession @
If Mr. Hummel !. provides thai the mos
k of his property shall 20 to the Universit
l- of Vermont and establishes two perpetua
IS trusts whose incomes are to be devoted t
e science. The extent Of this property an
Of the trusts is not yet known. DR.. Rot
ertson's large amount of iewelry, the veal
ing of which was one of his foibles, h
divided between Colonel Ingersoll, Josep
Howard, ir, and Mr.. Humme Nj
a Mead and stanford White are put i
charge of the estate. Nothing is left t
the widow.
DR.. Robertson was well known in Brat
a. tleboro He spent one summer here an
S at Spofford lake, and while at the latte
IS place he was a companion of Clay Greene
It the celebrated playwright, who wrote Fol
e given and many other successful produC
e tions for the America stage.
p BACK FROM PORTO RICO.