Evening star., 1937-06-06
DEATHBED WORDS
OF FAMOUS GIVEN
RockefeI|er's "That's Bet
ter" Recalls Remarks Of
Others Near End.

go, The last recorded words OF John D.
Rockefeller, gone finally to his grave
after nearly ss fruitful years, were:
sThat's better
! 1t was just whisper. The croesus
q oil, the prince of philanthropy was
1t the last, just an old man, weak and
FL, murmuring word of appreciation
to his servant: That's better"
The dying words Of men always as
sumo significance What are mems
thoughts as they leave the earth?
Is there a moment at the end when
man looks both ways-back to life
toward to eternity?
The question is moot. Only the
Anal words of dying men can be
witnesses to their thoughts; and often
delirium robs them of their i'm
portance.
DR.. George Miller Beard, a famous
American pioneer in the study of
nerves. was on his deathbed.
Il should like to record the thoughts
Of dying man for the benefit of
science" he murmured, but it is
impossible"
Scientist to Last.
Thus he died To the last he was
the scientist, searching his mind for
something that might help posterity.
There is a tendency of dying men
to voice the things dearest to them.
Sometimes it is principle. Often
1t is their country. Many times it is
loved ones. To Gen. Winfield Scott
1t was horse.
James said the hero of the war
with Mexico as he died, take good
care of the horse"
Henry Clay, master of words, died
sobbing: "Mother-mother-m
and my dear wife!"
The dying words Of patriots In
variably are the most dramatic.
Nathan Hale faced death with these
last words, which every school child
knows: Il only regret that I have but
one life to give to my country"
The youthful patriot, James Law
renee, one of Americas great naval
heroes, cried out as they carried him
below, mortally wounded: Don't give
up the ship"
Soldiers fight even to the door of
death. Charles Baxter, colonel of
the American forces in the war with
Mexico, was wounded as he led an
attack. Dying, he whispered
Say to my father that the New
York regiment was there. and that
I fell where I should have fallen-at
the head of it."
Brig. Gen. James Clay Rice,
Union soldier who died at the battle
Of Spottsylvania Court House, muir
INJURED with his last breath:
Tell the 44th (the New York
regiment he had commanded) that
am done fighting. Turn me over and
let me die facing the enemy"
Defiance breathes in the dying words
Of many.
Words of Crittenden.
Col. William L. Crittenden, an
American engaged in a fllibustering
expedition in Cuba during the middle
OF the last century, was captured by
Spaniards and sentenced to death.
He was ordered to kneel with his
back to the firing squad. To his
executioners he shouted:
An American kneels only to his
God"
So he died, standing erect, with
eyes blazing defiance.
Even a traitor has his moment of
high nobility at the death hour.
Benedict Arnold, who betrayed Gen.
Washington and the Continental
Army, died in London years later:
and his last words, they say, were:
Let me die in the old uniform in
which fought my battles for freedom.
May God forgive me for ever putting
on any other"
Sauuel Davis the scout of the Con-
1ederacy who was executed when
caught within the Union lines with
valuable papers concealed about his
person. was Offered his life and free.
dom II he would tell the name of the
Union officer who had supplied him
with the information. With a chance
to save himself, the young Southerner
scornfully replied:
DO you suppose that would betray
. friend? No, Sir! I would die 4
thousand times first!"
Edgar Allen Poe, with a xoul AZ
susceptible to emotion as a reed to
breeze, died crying out, piteously:
Lord, help my SOUL"
Thomas Paine, another famous
- American writer, was asked by his
physician: DO you wish to believe
that Jesus is the son of God?"
Paine's reply was his last utterance.
Il have no wish to believe in that
subject"
James Russell Lowell. in physical
torment, groaned "Oh, why don't vol,
let me die?" Those were his last
words.
Washington IrvinEs Words.
washington Irving. another of the
proud names Of American literature.
was as calm at the approach Of death
as was his leisurely prose.
:! must arrange my pillows" he
said, for another weary night"
1t was the night Of eternity for the
author OF THE Legend Of Sleepy
Hollow"
The cold drama of the scientific
mind is found in the last words of
George w. De Long. arctic explorer.
There was no human ear to hear, but
the words are written imperishably in
nls diary, found long afterward:
l4oth day. Boyd and Gertz died
during night. Mr.. Collins diving !"
Cornelius Vanderbilt, not as rich
Is Rockefeller but rich nonetheless
said as he died:
"Yes-yes; sing that for me. I am
poor and needy"
So rich man died.
Daniel Webster's last words were
almost oratorical.
Il still live!" He cried.
Then he uas daod