LAST WORDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 11 September 1937, Page 12

LAST WORDS

OF FAMOUS I'EOPLE The last words of famous people arc always treasured. Solemn as the hour must always bo, humour has not always been wanting. Charles II remarked. “I fear, gentle- ] men, I am an unconscionable time j a-dying”; and Lord Chestfield, polite to the lust, said, “Give Dayrolles a chair.” : Bernard de Fontenelle, the famous French writer who lived 100 years, died saying, “I do not suffer, friends, but I feel a certain difficulty in existing.” “My bed fellows arc cramp and cough —we three are all in one bed," were Charles Lamb’s last words; and perhaps the most famous humorous dying speech is the one attributed to Viscount Palmerston. who said, “Die. my dear doctor? That is the last thing I shall do?” Many dying speeches refer to something dear to the heart of the one whose I end had come. Queen Victoria, whose ! life closed while the Boer War still j dragged on. died saying, ''Oh. that peace j may come!” Beethoven, the deaf musician. died exclaiming, "I shall hear in ; Heaven.” "That unworthy hand,” said Cranmcr, thrusting into the flames the hand which had signed his recantation. Cecil Rhodes, who dreamed of a nobler empire, sighed at the last, “So little done, so much to do.” When Anaxagoras, the famous Greek philosopher who taught in school, was dying, he was asked if there was anything he wanted. With his last breath he whispered. "Give the boys a holiday.” Socrates passed on after saying. 1 “Crilo, we owe a cock to Aesculapius. Be sure that it is paid.” "Remember!” was the last word of Charles Stuart on the sea Hold, looking meaningly at Bishop Juxon. —“Children's Newspaper.”