The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-07-28
INGERSOLL'S ORATOKY.
Grafton Delivered over the Grave oi
His Brother.

Grafton Delivered Over the Grave of
His Brother.
Following is the Grafton delivered
by the late Robt. G.. Ingersoll over
the grave of his brother, Eben In-
gersoll:
My friends, l am going to do that
which the dead often promised he
would do for me. The loved and loving
brother, husband and father, friend,
died where manhood's morning almost
touches noon and while the shadows
were falling toward the west He had
not passed on life's highway the stone
that marks the highest poIDt, but being
weary for moment, he lay down by
the wayside, and, using his burden for
a pillow, fell into that dreamless sleep
that kisses down his eyelids still
While yet in love with life and
raptured with the world he passed to
silence and pathetic dust
Yet, after all, it may be BEST just in
the happiest, sunniest hour of all the
voyage, while the eager winds are kiss
ing every SAIL to dash against the un-
seen rock aud in an instant hear the
pillows roar over a sunken ship. For,
whether in midsea or among the
breakers of the further shore, a wreck
must mark at last the end of each and
all. And every life, no matter if its
every hour is rich with love, and every
moment jeweled with joy, will at its
close become tragedy as sad and deep
and dark as can be woven of the warp
and woof of mystery and death.
This brave and tender man in every
storm of life was oak and rock, but in
the sunshine was vine and flower. He
was the friend of heroic souls He
climbed the heights and left all super
stitions below, while on his forehead
| fell the golden dawning of grander
day. He loved the beautiful and was
color, form and music touched to tears.
H sided with the weak and with a
willing hand gave aims. With loyal
heart and with purest hand he faith
fully discharged all public trusts
He was worshipper OF liberty and a
friend of the oppressed. A thousand
times l have heard him quote the
words, For justice all place a temple
and all season summer" He believed
that happiness was the only good, reason
the only torch, Justice the only worship.
per, humanity the only religion and love
the priest.
He added to the sum of human joy
and were everyone for whom he did
some loving service to bring blossom
to his grave he would sleep tonight
D6llbdJI II Hess Vi HONbGS. blI6
! is narrow vale between the narrow
peaks of two eternities. We strive in
vain to look beyond the heights.
We cry aloud and the only answer is
the echo of our wailing. From the
voiceless lips of the unreplying dead
there comes no word, hut in the night
of death hope sees star and listening
love can hear the rustic Of a wing. He
who sleeps here, when dying, mistak-
ing the approach Of death for the re.
turn of health, whispered with his last
breath: II am better now"
Let us believe, in spite of doubts and
dogmas and tears and fears, that these
dear words are true of all the countless
dead.
And now, to you who have been
chosen from among the many men he
loved 60 do the last sad office for the
dead, we give his sacred dust.
Speech cannot contain our love
| There was-there is-no gentler
stronger, manlier man.