The Complete Works of Brann, the Iconoclast — Volume 12 — John Shaqi
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
It has been suggested that the friends and admirers of
Mr. Brann join in a contribution to mark the spot where
he sleeps. It is proposed, if this meets the approval of
friends, that it be a granite vase, some four or five feet
high, surmounted either by a life size statue in bronze or
marble of the dead, holding in his hand a copy of the
ICONOCLAST, as if offering it to the passer-by, and the
word ICONOCLAST upon it in letters sufficiently large to
be read at a distance of twenty feet. It is said by those
who claim to know that such a memorial can be erected
at a cost of some $3,000 or $4,000.
Many of his friends would not approve, and neither
would he if he could express himself, of anything that
would require any large expenditure of money while so
many thousands of worthy men and women are struggling
in vain to secure the bare necessities of life, these holding
that costly monuments can do the dead no good, and are
in bad taste in the living. There can be no doubt that
thousands in the years to come will seek his grave to lay
their offerings upon the shrine of genius, and while his
will be marked I wish to say in this connection to those
asking in what condition Mrs. Brann is left financially
that while she will have sufficient to keep the wolf from
hers and her children's door if properly managed, that
she will not have over a tithe of what it has been published
that she would.
Submitting these few words for the consideration of
his friends, I can say if a response sufficiently favorable
come, then the proper steps will be taken to carry it out;
if not, nothing more will be said, at least not from me;
and as his friend I would not approve of keeping standing
in the ICONOCLAST a list of subscribers to the fund; if
the suggestion is carried out it will be time enough to
publish it when the work is finished and the statue
unveiled. G. B. GERALD.
. . .
The man who takes up Brann's work will only succeed,
not replace him. He was a star of the first magnitude,
and such bodies are not created in an hour--not always
in an age. He who attempts an imitation, however clever
his work, would stand before the world, self-confessed, a
failure from the first. Booth, in his favorite character
inspired us--Joe Jefferson could only prompt us to
laughter. Yet, is not Jefferson without genius in his way?
There is no reason, however, why he who follows may
not be as loyal to the faith, as courageous in the fight,
as Brann was known and acknowledged to be. The Chief
is dead, but did not die until he had blazoned the way
for those who dare follow where he so bravely led.
. . .
In life Brann often said he wanted no mourning worn
for him, save that which enshrouded the hearts of his
family and friends--that the mere trappings of woe were
but its "limbs and outward flourishes," which, too often,
failed to reach the heart.
* * *
SPEAKING OF BRANN.
Died Fighting April 2, 1898.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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