Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-22

ROBERT G. INGERSOLL.
him. so that he would not have to walk
down stairs to the dining room. lie
laughngly replied that while ne did not
feel quite as young as he used to
he was not yet an invalid and would go
down stairs with the rest.
As he finished speaking and was about
to rise he was suddenly stricken and fell
back into his chair. Dr. C. n. Judson Of
Dobbs Ferry was Immediately sum
moned. When he reached Walston, he
found Mr.. Ingersoll still sitting rigidly
In his chair A hasty but rough exami-
nation was made by the physician, and
he found that all signs Of life had
passed. Mr. Ingersoll died almost in
stantly.
Mr.. Ingersol1s Career.
Robert G.. Ingersoll was best known
because of his views on reli tgious topics,
but his introduction to the country at
large was by reason of a political and not
an agnostic address. 1t was in 1876
when he made the address nominating
James G. Blaine for the presidency. 1t
was in this speech that MI Blaine WAS
first alluded to as the "Plumed Knight.
Mr.. Ingersoll was born in Dresden n.
Y, Aug II, 1898, and was the son of II
Congregational minister. 1t is stated
that the Rev. Mr.. Ingersoll was some
what liberal in his views and that this
liberality antagonizcd the more orthodox
members of his congregation. The son
naturally agreed with his father. but
even before he had passed out Of boy
hood he had gone much further upon the
Il q r,-,,l
dreamed of.
Early in the forties the Ingersolls re-
moved to Wisconsin and little later to
southern Illinois. Bob Ingersolrs boy
hood and early manhood were passed in
that state. At Is he entered the Office Of
his elder brother, Ebon G. Ingersoll. when
of age was admitted to the Illinois bar
and, with his brother. opened a law Of
fee at Shawneetown. Both were Demo-
Gratis and prominent in local politics. Eb
on G. became congressman. and at that
time it was Roberts highest ambition to
be himself sent to the house of repre-
sentatves from his home district. In
1857 he removed to Peoria. where he
thought the field would be wider and his
political ambition more likely to be graf
fled He devoted much of his time to
political speaking and acquired consider
able local fame.
In 1860 his opportunity came. He was
then offered the Democratic nomination
In a district that was overwhelmingly
Republican. He accepted and was beat
en- out of his boots. His disappointment
was so severe that he never ran for of
fee again. He settled down to the prac-
tice of law, but upon the breaking out of
the civil war entered the Union army
after organizing Il regiment of cavalry,
the Eleventh Illinois, of which he was
made colonel. He made reputation as
soldier for personal daring and dash.
Most of his service was in Tennessee.
Back to Illinois.
When his term of service expired, he
returned to Illinois In politics he be-
came Republican. and his rise in the
legal profession was rapid, In 1866 he
was appointed attorney general for
Illinois, which post he filled for several
years. Ten years later, in 1876, he be-
came Il delegate to the national convpn-
ton, and his nominating speech was the
sensation of that occasion.
Mr.. Ingersoll never denied that there
was Il God. He used to say that the
Bible was il beautiful book and that he
would give all he had if he could believe
its promises Upon the death of his
brother he delivered brief euogy which
was quoted by many as an indication that
he was about to embrace Christianity.
but this was not true. The closing para
graph of this famous address is AS fol-
lows.
nd t,
children's hands and crossing others on
Che breasts of peace, with daughters
babes upon his knees, the white hair
mingling with the gold. he journeys ON
from day to day to the horizon where the
dusk is waiting for that night. Sitting
by the holy hearth of home as the last
emhems change from red to gray. he
falls asleep within the arms of one he
worshiped and adored, feeling upon his
palid lips loves last and hottest kiss"