American Orators and Oratory; Comprising Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of America, Together with Gems of Eloquence Upon Leading Questions That Have Occupied Public Attention, from the Foundation of the Republic to the Present Time (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883 Excerpt: ...was a marked year, because in it Hugh Miller died. But there is a year near at hand more tremendous to us, and that is the year in which we will die. Seventeen hundred and seventy-five was a memorable year, for in it Waterloo was fought. Eighteen hundred and fifty-nine was a memorable year, because in it Solferino was fought.. But there will be a more memorable year to us, and that will be the year in which we fight our battle with our last enemy. That year will open with the usual New Year congratulations. It will revel in the same orchard blossoming; it will roar with the same Fourth of July rejoicings; it will close with the same Christmas festivals; and yet it will be unlike all others, in the fact that it will be our closing year. The spring grass may be cleft of the spade to let us clown to our resting-place; or while the summer grain is falling to the sickle, we may be harvested for another world; or, while 540 THOMAS DE WITT TALMAGE. the autumnal leaves are flying in the November gale, we may fade and fall; or the driving sleet may cut the faces of the black-tasseled horses that pull us out in our last ride. But it will be the year in which our body and soul part; the year in which for us time ends, and eternity begins. All other years are as nothing. The year in which you were born, the year in which you were married, the year in which you began business for yourself, the year in which your father died--all of them are of less importance than this last year of your life. During the year which expires to-night, in three hours and twenty-five minutes from this time by (hat clock; how many will have gone into the next world? About five million five hundred thousand souls. It was their last year. Some of them may have expected it, but the great majorit...