Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-06-01
The Gospel Of F. K. Lane.

The Gospel of F. K. Lane.
Washington-Franklin K. Lane,
formerly secretary of the interior and
for years one of the most popular
figures in social and political life in
washington, sent some characteristic
impressions from his hospital bed to
friends in Washington few days be-
fore his death Wednesday at Roches-
ter, Minn. He died of an attack OF
heart trouble following an operation.
"It was a bet on the high card with
chance to win," wrote the late sec
retary, referring to the surgical op-
cation that had been performed up
ON him, "and I took it."
The secretary's letter referred to
his impressions before and after ne
| had walked "into the valley of the
shadow" and is a remarkable docu-
ment,. rejecting much the humanness
Of the man. Mr.. Lane submitted to
the surgical operation without gener-
al anaesthesia, this being prohibited
because, as he described it, his heart
had "been cutting up some didoes,"
and to his friends the former secre-
tary forwarded a description of his
feelings.
.sI have seen death come to men
in various ways" wrote Mr.. Lane,
"some rather novel and Western. 1
once saw a man hanged. And l have
seen several men shot. And came very
near going out that way myself two
or three times. But always the other
fellow aimed poorly.
He Could Not See the End.
"But never. before have I been
called upon to deliberately walk into
the valley of the shadow, and, say
what you will, it is great act. I
have said in the past months of end
less examination that a man with a
little curiosity and little humor and
little money, who was not in too
great pain, could enjoy himself study
ing the ways of doctors and nurses
as he journeyed the invalid's path. 1t
was, indeed, made fowery path for
me, as much as any path could be in
which man suffered more humilia-
ton and distress and thwarting and
Illustration, On the whole, than he
did pain.
"But here was path the end of
which / could not see. l was not COM
PEELED to take it. My very latest doc
tor advised me against taking it. 1
could live some time without taking
it. 1t was a bet on the high card with
chance to win, and I took it.
LEAD Kindly Light" His Gospel.
"For two days I had had knowl-
edge that this operation was to take
place at this time. and my nerves
had not been just as good as they
should have been. Those men who
sleep twelve hours perfectly before
being electrocized have evidently led
more tranquil lives than / have, or
have less concern as to the future.
All, now l was to know the great Sc
cret! For forty years had been Won
dering, wondering. Often I had said
to myself that / should summon to
my mind when this moment came
some words that would be somewhat
synthesis of my philosophy. Socra-
tes said to those who stood by after
he had drunk the hemlock, No evil
can befall good man, whether he be
alive or dead.' do not know how far
from that we have gone in these
twenty-four hundred years.
"The apothegm, however, was not
opposite to me, because it.involved a
declaration that I was a good man,
and 1 do not know anyone who has
the right to so appreciate himself.
And I had come to the conclusion
that perhaps the best statement of
my creed could be fitted into the
words Il accept which to me meant
that if in the law of nature my indi-
vidual spirit was to goi back into the
great ocean of spirits, my one duty
was to conform. Lead Kindly Light,
was all the gospel ! had. accepted" :"
Timely Hints For Hog Raisers.
Any change in the brood sow's feed
should be made gradually.