The Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 12Brann, William Cowper
History
The Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 12
Brann, William Cowper
Brann, William Cowper, 1855-1898; Essays; Reformers
forth the gladness of his heart in song. Brann watched
the bird and drank in the music of his song. I saw his
face light up with exquisite tenderness, and I knew that
he accepted this matin song of the bird as a message from
his Maker. I trust I may be pardoned for relating this
simple incident, but it served to show me the man as
few things could have done. I know 'tis true that: "As
snowflakes fall to the earth unperceived and are gathered
together in a pile, so do the seemingly unimportant events
of life succeed one another. No single flake creates a
sensible change on the pile, and no single act constitutes,
however much it may exhibit, a man's character." But
it is from simple things that the sum of life is made up
--from those acts which are most spontaneous and usually
least observed that human nature may best be determined
and most justly estimated. This man made no preachment
of his virtues, believing that "the years are seldom
unjust." He was the Navarre of modern journalism, and
his white plume ever showed in the thickest of the fight.
It was his strong hand that taught the "doubtful battle
where to rage"; 'twas his to enchain friendship and inspire
followers. Had he battled for a creed as he fought
for a faith, his bones would have been canonized. Had
he struggled for a party as he stood for the State, no
political preferment would have been held beyond his
reach. Had he lived in another age, among other people,
his body would have been inurned in the Valhalla of the
Brave. As it is, all that is mortal of him occupies only
so much of Texas soil as may serve as "paste and cover
of his bones." Little does he reck of this, and his friends
should not repine, for the same prairie breezes that waft
incense of flowers over the graves of Travis, Bowie and
Crockett, sing a sad requiem over the final resting place
of Brann. The aspiring soul has found its fixed abode
among the stars; his Titanic intellect which, here on earthy
ever struggled for the light, now bathes in the effulgence
of the Sun. His heart, ever unquiet because of the woes
of his kind, now knows that peace which "passeth the
understanding of man." The hand of the All-Father has
forever soothed the heart-hunger and unrest of life from
his troubled breast. That hand which swept, at will, every
cord of the harp of life, has fallen nerveless, but its music
will yet linger in the hearts of men until love of truth
and beauty shall utterly fade from the earth. A long
good-night to thee, Brave Heart, thy better part has
found the better place; to that which is mortal and
remains with us, we say, Rest--Rest in Peace.
A MEMORIAL TO W. C. BRANN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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