The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-17
WORDS AT DEATHS PORTALS.
Last Expressions of Noted Men AZ
Vital Moments Depart.

The last words uttered by John Adams
upon his deathbed were: Thomas JEFF
ferson still survives" As matter OF
fact, Jefferson had just then died in a
distant part Of the country upon the morn
Ing of the same Fourth OF July. 1896. which
witnessed the demise of these two men
so closely associated with one another
and with the early history of the country.
The last words OF famous persons have a
peculiar interest, and, in many instances.
have become proyerbial. Thus, the last
words of the noble hearted Caesar, as he
saw in the ha-ss 6. ais friend the daggse
Of the ASSASSIN are known to everyone.
The last exclamation OF Washington Is
he quietly confronted death, at is WE'LL"
is significant of the peculiar grandeur OF
his character. A like tranquility was
shown by Socrates, who said to e friend
before drinking the poison: ''Krito, we
owe a cock to Aesculapius; discharge the
debt, and by no means omit it" The
superb courage Of Sir Walter Raleigh was
well shown in his command to his exeeu-
toner who appeared nervous: Why dos4
thou not strike? Strike, man.. Sir
Thomas More, before laying his head on
the fatal block, felt tbs edge OF the exc
ed upon his face.
The stern terseness of Cromwel's last
words ''It is not my design to drink or
sleep. but my design is to make wat
haste l can te be gone, were in thoroaf1S
keeping with the character Of the man.
Columbus expired with the pious eiscula-
tion, "In manus tuas. Domino, commendo
spiritum meum.' Pizarro's last word was
"Jesui" ''At that moment" says Pres
colt, @he received a wound in the throat.
and, Keeling. sank on the floor. while the
swords OF Rada and several Of the c0nspira-
tors were plunged into his body. "Iesu!"
exclaimed the dying man. and. tracing
cross with his finger on the bloody floor.
he bent down his head to kiss ii. etc.
The ambitious Cardinal Beaton. assassi-
mated in Scotland in 1856 exclaimed: Fly.
fy, all is gone And so he flames Mel
VIM stroke him twyse or thrise trowght
him with a stog seveard; and so he fell;
never word heard out of his mouth, but I
an :: priest / am priest; fly, fy, all 10
Comet"
Sir High Percy, lighting unsuccessfully
for Henry VI at Hedgeley Moor t14S4),
upon being mortally wounded exclaimed:
II have saved the bird in my BOSOM re-
ferring to his devotion to his sovereign.
when so many had deserted An example
of the ''ruling passion strong in death. Is
furnished in the last word of the Earl OF
Chesterfield: "Give Dayrollss a chair. "
Upon the morning of his deeease, says
the b.ographer of the polite nobieman.
land about half an hour before it happen
ed. Mr. Dayrolles Ia friend) called upon
him (Chesterheid). TO make his usual visit
U'';.an he had entered the room. the valet
de ehambre opening the curtains of the
bed. announced Mr. Dayrolles to his lord
ship. The earl just found strength in
faint voice to say Give Dayrolles a chair
These were the last words he was heard
to speak. They were characteristic. and
were remarked by the very able and atten-
tive physician then in the room CDR.
WARREN His good breeding said that
gentleman. only quits him with life
DR.. William, Hunter exclaimed. on his
deathbed. If / had strength enough to
hold a pen l would write how easy and
pleasant n thing it is to die"
The last words OF the gentle waywarl
Goldsmith are especially striking and pa.
thetic 1T then occurred to DR.. Turton.
saws Forster. in his Life and Times OF
Oliver Goldsmith" Ito put a very pregnant
question to his patient Your pulse he
said. is in greater disorder than it shoult
be. from the degree of fever you have Is
your mind at ease?' NO. it is not was
Goldsmith's melancholy answer. They are
the last words we are to hear him utter
in this world
FontenelIe. when asked shortly before
his death il he suffered replied: Il do not
suffer, my friends, but feel a certain o4t-
fculty of existing
Napoleon's last words showed thaf MS
thoughts were with his soldiers lie eN-
pired," says Lamartine. lat length Without
pain and in silence. during eonVulslon
Of the elements. on the night OF The 5th OF
| Nav. 1921 The last words ne stainihetei
ont we're Army and France but 1t coul |
| not he ascertained whether it was
dream. or adisli.
BYRON exclaimed: Il mGst sleep no~."
ard sank into that slumber from which 10
never awakened in this verdi.