Footprints of the Red Men: Indian Geographical Names
He was now at the age of seventy-three, but enjoyed, with the exception of a gradual failing of the sense of sight, an almost unimpaired mental and physical vitality. But the gloom before his eyes grew remorselessly thicker and thicker until every familiar scene and the faces of family and friends faded from 'his view. In the custody of this great affliction, the spirit of Dr. dark was not crushed, but rather purified and exalted, so that he who in earlier years had been conspicuous as the heroic leader, was now none the less remarkable for his Christian humiHty, hope and love. A few years longer he tarried upon the eartih, in order that there might be registered upon the hearts of men the beauty and nobility of the character that was his. And then, at Glens Falls, in the home of his son, James C. Clark, the spirit of the great reformer went to its long home. His death occurred on Wednesday morning, September 20, 1866. Dr. Holden says : " The intelligence of his departure was swiftly borne through the place ; his name was on every lip as all, with hushed reverence, bore testimony to 'his virtues, and to the usefulness of a life luminous with the light of a Christ-born principle." Notwithstanding his portrait, in its severe lines, gives evidence of his decisivie mind and undeviating purpose, he yet possessed elements of character that endeared him to all. While in terms of affectionate banter, alluding to his spirit of determination and his practice of proposing to formulate the mind of public meetings in resolutions, he was sometimes spoken of as " Resolution Billy," the people knew that beneath the crust of self-reliant earnestness dwelt the loving humanitarian and the undying fires of a moral volcano. Unlike the experience of the most of those w<ho entertain pronounced ideas and proclaim them in the face of established custom.