392 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 26,

Remarks of Mr. Wirt:
Mr. President:

I desire to say a few words suggesting the propriety
of the adoption of the resolutions now before the
Senate. Senator Talbott has ended his career on
earth and it is meet that we, his associates, should
pause a while to place upon our records a fitting tri-
bute to his life and character and reverently meditate
upon this latest lesson of God's great teacher, Death.

My acquaintance with Mr. Talbott began with the
present session, but in that brief time he gave me such
tokens of his esteem that it seems appropriate that I
should join with my fellow Senators in hanging upon
the tomb of our deceased brother a garland of pleasant
recollections and holy hopes.

In his relations with his brother Senators Mr. Tal-
bott was ever kind and courteous. He had not only
the deportment but the heart of a true gentleman. I do
believe, sir, that he was sincere and honest in word
and Thought and deed, and that he had a high concep-
tion of his duties as a legislator. If in the Providence
of God our brother had been spared longer to the pub-
lic service his career would have been illuminated
with a conscientious and intelligent regard for the best
interest of his State and her people.

The circumstances surrounding his death were such
as to touch our hearts and imaginations. He was in.
the prime of life and had just reached that age when
man is capable of his best work. Like others, per-
haps, in this body, his years seemed to stretch out
peacefully before him full of promise and bright with,
happiness.

We naturally dwell upon the general loss to the
State of a capable public servant, but our hearts must
be filled with sympathy for the bereaved family in
their "cruel fellowship with sorrow. "

The sudden death of our brother should bring home
to all of us alive the lesson that we are but the
creatures of a day, the young man full of the strength
and enthusiasm of youth and the old man stricken in
years and trembling to the bosom of the great mother
of us all.