Famous Last Words - Just For Fun

Famous Last Words

Just so you’ll know, I wasn’t there and can’t prove this is what was actually said.  These are reputed to be the last words of some eloquent men. That said, some of these are classics.

“They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist. . . .”
General John Sedgwick, Union Commander, 1864. He never finished his sentence as he was hit by a confederate marksman.

“Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.”
Oscar Wilde, writer, 1900. Somehow appropriate for a man who wore his hair long and openly scorned so-called "manly" sports, decorated his rooms with peacock feathers, lilies, sunflowers, blue china and other objets d'art – sort of a “Queer Eye from the Dead Guy” kind of thing.

“I've had a hell of a lot of fun and I've enjoyed every minute of it.”
Errol Flynn, 1959. Nothing like a little contrition there Robin Hood. Actually I love old Errol Flynn movies.  Robin Hood is probably the best but Against all Flags and Captain Blood are great.  Errol Flynn is not a role model of any sort - but he's still fun to watch on a cold rainy Saturday afternoon.

“Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something.”
Pancho Villa, 1923. What else Is there to say? 
Depending on who you listen to he might have actually said, "It can't end like this. Tell them I said something good".  It's still pretty funnny either way.

“I see black light.”
Victor Hugo, 1885. Guess we know where he went…Actually, he was a very religious man though vehemently anti-Catholic and extremely unconventional in his religious dogma, "Religions pass away, but God remains" V. Hugo

"I am still alive!"
Gaius Caligula, 41. He said this after he had been stabbed repeatedly by his guards – might have been better to keep his mouth shut since they stuck him a few more times to finish the job.

"That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted."
Lou Costello,1959. A man’s got to have his priorities… The picture is from one of the funniest skits of all times, "Who's on First"

Abbott: Oh, I'll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names.

Costello: You mean funny names?

Abbott: Strange names, pet names...like Dizzy Dean...

Costello: His brother Daffy.

Abbott: Daffy Dean...

Costello: And their French cousin.

Abbott: French?

Costello: Goofè.

Abbott: Goofè Dean. Well, let's see, we have on the bags, Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third...

Costello: That's what I want to find out.

Abbott: I say Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third.

Costello: Are you the manager?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: You gonna be the coach too?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: And you don't know the fellows' names?

Abbott: Well I should.

Costello: Well then who's on first?

Abbott: Yes.

“How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?”
P. T. Barnum, 1891. Like I said, “A man’s got to have his priorities…” 

The little guy is "General" Tom Thumb who was 18 at the time this photo was taken.  He was two and a half feet tall.  A distant cousin of Barnum's, he was born Charles Stratton in 1838.  He eventually grew to three feet three inches.  when he died in 1883, 10,000 people attended his funeral.

And finally, how I intend to go out…

In response to his attending physician's attempt to comfort him by saying, "General, I fear the angels are waiting for you."

"Waiting are they? Waiting are they? Well---let 'em wait.”
Ethan Allen, American Patriot and Revolutionary War Hero, 1789.   Interestingly, they were no contemporary paintings of Allen - any image you see of him is largely conjecture.

Post Script

Since I've been talking about a favorite subject lately, namely, T. Jefferson, here are his last words:

"Is it the Fourth?" - it was the Fourth, Jefferson died on July 4th, 1826, just hours before his longtime friend and sometimes competitor, John Adams.  John Adams  last words were "Thomas Jefferson--still survives..." ...and so he does.