GRIM CONCEIT.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13755, 21 June 1913, Page 3

GRIM CONCEIT.

The ruling passion strong in death! That was, indicated by the last words of the handsome Danton, who, with a curious conceit, aslted the executioner to show his head to tho spectators; at his execution after tho guillotine had dono its deadly work. "It will..be a long timo. before they see its like," he said. Lord Chesterfield, essence of politeness, said, "Give Dayroles a chair," as he lay dying; Napoleon murmured "The head of the army," and Paul Scarron, who had given amusement to so luany, said, "Ah, my friends, you will never cry so much for me as: I havo made you laugh."

Tho last thoughts of several famous generals were of martial matters. Bluchor said: "I know I shall die. 1 am not sorry for it, seeing that .1 am no' longer of any use"; and, conturios earlier, Ziska, the Bohemian patriot, tho blind general who led his armies with such success, ordered in his last words 'that after his death his skin be made into drum heads in order that the enemy might bo frightened.

Very few great men have been afraid to die—afraid, that is, when death was near. NaUiro seems to make the passing easy, and the state of mind of most men has been similar .to that of Schiller,; who with/liisslast breath said: "Many things are growing clear to my understanding." •