Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-19
LANES DEATH CAME. AS A
 SHOCK TO WASHINGTON

Washington, May 1S.-Word of the death of Franklin K. Lane came as peculiar shock today to the nationals ca pitol, for so many years even more his home than his chosen place of resi- dence in California. There were mani festations of grief in every department of the government from the president to the messengers in the interior depart ment who had known so long the kindly, humorous. but efficient public servant.
 Messages of sympathy went to Mrs. Lane from the president and Mrs. Hard ing. former President Wilson and scores of others high in national and diplomatic life The message from the president and Mrs Harding follows:
 "I have just learned of the death of your distinguished husband and am Wlr- ing to expres sny very great shock and my exceedingly deep sorrow over his un- timely passing. He was an outstanding American who rendered most distin- guished service to his country and found an abiding place in the affections of all who knew him well. Mrs. Harding joins me in an expression of most sym pathetic condolence."
 Former President Wilson also sent message of condolence to Mrs. Lane which was not made public.
 Mir Wilson did not make public what he had said to Mrs Lane of the man who stood by him in his cabinet for seven years. The blow fell most sharp ly at the home here of Mrs. Phillip C. Kaufman his only daughter.
 To some of the former secretary most intimate friends here there had come before his death remarkable mes sage dictated by him in the hospital al Rochester, Minn., after the operation which preceded his death by only few days. The message showed that the former secretary had undergone the op eration with full consciousness and ac ceptance of the fact that he might no survive. It told in detail of his sensa tions before, during and after the opera ton. of which he was fully conscious al inc condition of his heart would no permit the use of general snaesthetlc The message closes as follows:
 For two days I had knowledge tha this operation was to take place at th1 time and my nerves had not been Jus as good as they should have been. Fhos
 men who sleep twelve hours perfectl before being electrocuted have evidentl led more tranquil lives than I have, o have less concern as to the future. AT now I was to know the great secre
 For forty years I had been wonderins
 wondering. Often I had said to myse lthat I should summon to my mind whe
 this moment came some words thF'
 would be somewhat a synthesis Of m
 philosophy. Socrates said to those WI
 stood bv after he had drunk the heh
 lock No evil can befall a good maj
 whether he be alive or dead I don
 know how far from that we have gor in these 2,4o0 years
 "The apothegm. however was not ai
 nosite to me. because it involved de iaration that I was good man ana
 don't know anyone who has the riel to so appreciate himself. And ! ns n,
 come to the conclusion that Terh~ps T3s :, sttsd M into the words I accept which t n,eeq mt meant cant that If in the jaw of natu ? nnv mv individual spirit was to go back in tirs the gre. great ocean of spirits, my one ag :. s was wa to conform. Lead Kindly Llgf s
 was all the gospel I had. accepted