Notice of the late Sheldon Clark. 



His death was tragical. Being, the preceding evening, on a 

 scaffolding in his barn, moving on his hands and knees — an infirm 

 pole, concealed by straw, suddenly broke ; — being very heavy, 

 a fall of fourteen feet upon a timber and stones, crushed in the 

 sternum and some of the ribs, and he at once pronounced himself 

 a dead man. With difficulty, aided by the arm of an attendant, 

 he walked into the house, and lingered fifteen hours in agony, 

 although with a clear disposing mind ; he was able to command his 

 hands to examine his pocket-book and papers — giving perspicuous 

 directions as to his affairs, the college, and his sisters, and then 

 lie expired, in the full energy of a strong frame, not so much ex- 

 hausted even by intense pain, as drowned by the extravasation 

 and secretion of fluids, impeding, and at length arresting the play 

 of his lungs. 



Under his extreme sufferings, not a word escaped him as to his 

 future prospects ; he remarked only, that he had endeavored to 

 do all the good in his power, and we trust the preceding pages 

 have shewn, that his endeavors were not in vain. 



A large concourse of friends and neighbors and people of the 

 vicinage, with several of the officers of the college and the clergy 

 attended him to his last home. A long retinue of rural vehicles 

 wound slowly down the high hills and along the deep valleys to 

 a secluded burying ground, which he had been instrumental in. 

 arranging, on a quiet and beautiful plain, shaded by pines and 

 watered by the murmuring current of a branch of the Housaton- 

 ick. A neat marble slab records his name as " a distinguished 

 benefactor of Yale College." Such indeed he was. His bene- 

 factions to the institution, including the funded interest that had 

 accumulated to the time of his death, amounted to full thirty 

 thousand dollars — three times as much as any other individual 

 ever gave.* 



Allowing all that belongs to human nature, of the love of pres- 

 ent or posthumous fame, (and there is no doubt that Mr. Clark 

 fully participated in this common feeling,) still he has set a noble 

 example, which it is equally our duty and our pleasure to present, 

 in strong relief, to our country and the world. In proportion to 

 his means, few have done as much, and it would not be easy to 

 find those who have done more. 



* Only one individual, the late Dr. Alfred Perkins of Norwicli, gave $10,000 as 

 library fund, and there are a few living men -who have given from $5000 to 



ancxn g^ch. 



