The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
LITERARY EPrTAPHS.
some Famous Authors Were Fond
Of sWritins Them.

Tt needs scarcely be said.' observed
Wordsworth. that All epitapii prcsup-
poses a monument" so II would seem.
Out how often We accept az a logical
demonstration what Is merely an ASSOC
citation OF ideas! On second though.
however. if Wordsworth recognized that
"a monument. for epitaphing purposes,
may be an imaginary one, there is m
further criticism to offer of his sal,lep
remarks. No stone had been rear. Il,
says the Philadelphia Er,nino Ledorr.
on which to sut the celebrated epitaph
composed by t;arricI on 1.-THE late Mr..
Goldsmith" Mr.. Goldsmith had been
80 often late at lie club that the cir
cumstance always excited wit rather
III surprise. Many u modern student.
by the way. rs of opinion that Garrick's
lines were principally witty
Here lies poet Goldsmith. FOR sh or,uess
called Noli.
Who wrote like an anse! ana talked Tx.
poor Poll.
Wordsworth's Essay on Epitaphs' Il.
a serious discourse on the immortality
OF the soul. and IL may N doubted
therefore. If he had in mind anv ~
those n aginary monuments Of which
We have spoken. Comic relief is absent
wordsworth would ave- considered II
unworthy OF his subject. and. indeed.
outside of his subject, TO have paid at.
tention to the epitaph scrubbed ~ a.
gay courtier on the bedroom door of
Charles H.:
Hero lies our sovereign lord. the King
whose word no man relies ON.
Who never says a foolish thing.
Nor ever does a wise one.
There was John Hill. an apo;hccary.
He fathered the tincture Of a rJana.
az a specific for govt. az
which disease he died. And then the
wags composed his cpi,aphs
Poor Doctor HI is dcad. Good ,acl,,
"ot what disorder -" Am attack
or govt" Indeed: 7 though, tha, he
nae found a ~wondrcu. remedy"
why, 20 he had, and when he tried
Hc found II truc-the doctor died"
But epitaphs seem TO have sn,e gu,
or fashion, both the kind which we're
literary exercises and the kind inscribed
on solid one The causes are doubt.
less many. but one may be the Increased
faculties OF communication which haya
worked SO many changes In the world.
a monument now s~ufices. or rather, "A
mans life speaks for him, after he
gone, and no epitaph can sufficiently. con-
tradtct the worlds knowledge. II i, a
matter OF the increase OF criticism. l.
used TO he that II YOU SAN n thing In A
DOCK II was so. and perhaps 1t Was the
Same way with the epltaphs.
Fope studied the art of cpitaph writing
as a literary field worthy Of cultivation
Some products of his pen along this line
were carved on ton,bstones: the rest NAV
ne round in his collected writings. An
interesting sentimental tale is connected
with one OF these compositions on thu
same occasion Pope composed two or
three other epita phs but. as he wrote In
Lady Mary Montagu. the most piou.,
one was selected for use. ON the nouu.
ment on which it appears Is also this
Inscription:
Near this place lie the bod..,
or John Hevl; and Sarah Drew.
An industrious youn; man
And rirtnons young maiden Of this parish;
Who. being A. harvest work
with several others.
Were in ono instant Killed by lrhtrrx
The last day Of July. l;ls
Popc's epitaph follows:
Think not. by rigorous judgment s.i,a
\ pair so faithful could expire.
victims 50 pure hesVn saw We rle,st
And sna;ch'd them in c,crna. IRE.
lave well. aud fear no sudden sac.
When cod calls victims 80 the graz,
HlIhe NS justice, soon or late.
Mercy alike, TO k.ll or save
Virtue uDnoy'd can hear tlc ,t
AMI face the fash that NETS tho bail
Pope wrote to Lady Mar. telling hsr
the story OF the loving pair and desiring
that she try her Skill at making au cui-
The clever lady. It seems. could
not read Fope's Handwriting well enough
to get the name OF the yong her, or
rectl!, but responded as follows:
Here lie Joan Hughc. And Sarah Drew
ferhapS wou1n say what's that to your
Se!I"Ne me. friend. much may he said
IN THIS poor couple that are dead.
ON sunday next they should have married.
Hui sec how oddly thinss arc carried,
IN thursday last Il rdln'l and ItChtcnd.
THESE tender lovers. sadly frightened.
beneath she cooking ha,.
In hopes TO pass the time av.y.
But the bold thunder found ,hc,u OH,
'Co'nmlsSion'd for that end. no Iouh,l
And selling on their trembling meath.
Consigned thcm to the shades 81 d.,fh.
knows II twas not kindly ,un,'
for had they seen the ncA' year, sun
\ beaten wife and urkold Swain
Hsd Jointly cursed tho m,r-itre .h,,,,
Now they are happy in thor doom.
FOR rope has wrote upon tielr tomb.