West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-08-03
MOST FAMOUS
OF ALL BOB INGERSOLL's ORA
TlONS
Was This Funeral Talk over His
Dead Brother.

For time now the papers will be
given TO Ingersolliana. During his
career he said many things that VIII
live. but perhaps the bost OF all his
word painting was the grafton he de.
livered AZ the funeral OF his brother.
lie said on tina: occasion;
My Friends-l am going To do that
which the dead oftou promised he
would do for me The loved aud low.
ing brother. husband aud father.
friend, died where manhuod's morniHp
nlmost touches Roon, aud while the
shadows were falling towurd the West
He had not passed on life's highway
the stone that marks the highest point,
but being weary for II moment he lay
down by the wnyside, and using his
burden for pillow, fell into that
dreamless sleep that kisses down his
eyelids still
While yet in lovo with life, aud rap
tured with the world, he pnssed to sill
ence and pathetic dust.
HOt, after all, It may be beat. Just i'm
the happiest, sunniest hour OF all tho
voyage, while tho eager winds are
kissing every sail, TO dash against the
unSeen rock, and in an instant hear
OillowA roar oyer n suulten ship.
For. whether in mid-ssA or among
the breakers of tho further shore, a
wreck must mark at laAt tho end OF
each and all. And every life. no mat.
tor IL its every hour Is rich with love.
and every moment jewsled with n 10y,
will at its close become tragedy, as
sad and deep and dark as can be woven
OF the warp aud wOof Of mystery aud
death.
This brave and tender man in every
storm Of life was oak and rock. but in
the sunshine he was vine and flower
lie was the friend OF all heroic souls.
IIe climbed the heights and left all
superstitions far below, while on his
forehead fell the golden dawning OF a
grander day. lie loved the beautiful,
and was with color, form and music
| touched to tears He sided with the
weak, and with willing hand gave
aims With loyal heart and with pur-
est hand he faithfully discharged oil
public trusts.
He was a worshiper OF liberty and
friend OF the oppressed. A thousand
times / have heard him quote the
words For justice all places tenn.
pie and all seusons summer" He be-
| lieVed that happiness was the on ly
! good, reason the only torch, Justice the
only worshiper, humanity the only
religion and love the priest.
lie added to the sum OF human ioy
and were every one for whom he did
some service % bring blossom to his
grave he would sleep beneath n wilder
ness OF flowers, Life is narrow vale
between the narrow peaks OF two eter.
mites.
We strive in vain, 10 look beyond
the heights. We cry aloud and the
only answer Is the echo OF our wailinp
From the yoiceless lips OF the unreplY-
ing dead there comes no word, but in
the night Of death, hope sees a star,
and listening love can hear the rustic
OF a wing.
lie who sleeps here. when diving
mistaking tho approach OF death for
the return OF health, whispered with
his last breath. II ara better now. A."
Let us believe in spite OF doubts and
dog mas, aud tears and fears. that
these dear words are true OF all the
! cohn Tess dead
And now, TO you who have been
chosen from among the many men he
loved TO do the last sad office for the
dead. we give bis sacred dust Speech
cannot contain our love. There was,
there is, no gcntler, stronger, nanIier
man