The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-07-29
At His Brothers, Grave.

A remarkable Grafton. and one
that has occasioned some discus
sion as to l, gersoll's actual con-
victions regarding future life, was
his address at the funeral OF his
brother. Many hold that in it he
admits the doctrine of Immortality.
His adherents have ever claimed
that the expressions were only those
of breaking heart reaching out for
the hope of future life:
s.My Friends: 1 am going to do tina,
which the dead often promised he would do
for me. The loved and loving brother,
husband, father, friend, died where man.
hoods morning almost touches noon, aud
the west. He had not passed on life's high
way the stone that marks the highest point,
but, being weary for a moment, he laid
down by the waysii lie. and, using his burden
tor 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 eager winds are kissing every
sail, dash against the unseen rock, and
in an instant hear the pillows roar a sunken
ship. For, whether in nndsea or among the
breakers OF the Iatner SnOre, 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 a
Joy, will, at its close, become a tragedy. as
sad and deep and dark can be woven of
the warp and woot OF mystery and death.
rhis brave and tender man, in every storm
of life, was oak and rock, but in the sun
shine he was vine and flower. He the
friend of all heroic souls. He climbed the
heights and left all superstitions far below,
fs.1l 81
ing of grander day. He loved the beauti-
tul and with color, form, and music
| touched to tears. ie sided with the weak,
and with willing hand gave aims; with
| faithfully discharged all public trusts. He
was worshlper OF liberty and a friend of
the oppressed. A thousand times 1 have
| heard him quote the words: 'For justice
all place temple and all season summer.
He believed that happiness the only
good, reason the only torch, justice the only
worshiper, humanity the only religion, and
love the priest.
"He added to the sum of human joy, and
were every one tor whom he did some low
ing service to bring blossom to his grave
| he would sleep tonight beneath a wilderness
| of flowers. Life is narrow vale between
| the cold and barren 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 cry. From the voice
less lips of the unreplying dead there comes
no word; but in the night of death hope
sees star and listening love can hear the
rustic of wing. He who sleeps here,
when dying, installing the approach of
death for the return of health, whispered
with his latest breath: Il I'm better now.
Let us believe, in spite of doubts and dog
mas 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 to 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.