FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Evening Star, Issue 19666, 20 September 1927, Page 5

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

WHEN THE GREAT LAY DYING

Rarely have the death-bed utterances of distinguished people been in the grand manner. Many havo been bclittingly grave, some almost gay. but lew rhetorical and artificial. Think of tho simplicity of George Washington's “ It is well,” and of Byron’s equally tranquil “ 1 must sleep now'.” The must witty farewell was surely Unit of Mine do Pompadour, most famous of the mistresses of Louis XV., who maintained her queenly dignity and high spirits to tho end. “Un moment, Monsieur io Cure,” rslio said, smilingly, to the cure ol the Madeleine, who was about to leave her room, “ nous nous cn irons ensemble.” (“One moment, M.. 1c Cure—wo will go out together.”) RALEIGH’S COURAGE.

For courage, it would he difficult to surpass the bravery ot Raleigh, who. noticing the reluctance _ot the executioner, demanded; “Why dost thou not strike? Strike, man!” And who docs not remember his jest when a, lew moments earlier he asked to bo allowed to feel tho edge of the axe P—“ This is a sharp medicine, but it is a physician that will cure all diseases.” Lord Thurlow’s blulf exclamation, “I’m shot if i don’t think I'm dying!” contrasts strangely with the solemn, meticulous phrase ol Haller, the scientist and poet: “The artery ceases to beat.” .There the scientist triumphed over the poet I Grotins, tho seventeenth-century Dutch jurist, bade his friends “Be serious!” NELSON AND NAPOLEON.

Most people believe that Nelson’s last word was tho famous request to Hardy for a kiss. Actually he died with the words “ 1 havo done my duty, thank God for that,” on his lips. Napoleon is reputed to havo gasped out “La France —armcc—tele d’annie ” as ho died, and every schoolboy knows tho triumphant exclamation of that other great soldier, Wolto, as he lay on the battlefield at Quebec; “What, do they run already? Thou 1 die happy.” ' Compare, 100, tho words of Franklin.' “ A dying man can do nothing easy,” with William Hunter’s, “If I had strength enough to hold a pen i would wmite how easy and pleasant a thing it is to die.” Charles L, as he knelt at tho execution block in Whitehall, charged Bishop Juxon to admonish Prince Charles to forgive las father’s murderers, and died witii the single word “Remember.” Vastly different was his merry son’s last injunction: “Don’t let poor Nelly starve.” he begged, referring to his favorite, Nell Gwynn. A much later English Sovereign, George IV., did not realise he was dying until practically his last breath. “Watty, what is this?” he cried.' “It is death, my boy—they havo deceived me!” His great subject. Thomas Gainsborough, died with the quaint statement: “We are all going to heaven, and Vandyke is“ot the company.” But Theodore Roosevelt’s “Please put out the light ” are perhaps the most peaceful of all last words.

“Courting-sticks” were in use m New England about 100 years ago. They were long wooden tubes through which lovers could whisper to each other when the presence of other persons interfered with the secret exchange of endearing, expressions. Her Husband (as wife departs for a rest cure in the. country); “ you take some fiction to read? ’ His Wife. “No; I’ll depend on your letters from home.”-