TIME in a capsule

Time Magazine Monday, Mar. 18, 1946

Irish sentiment led John Cardinal Glennon to pause in his native Ireland as he flew back, a new-made Prince of the Church, from Rome to St. Louis. There last week, as it must to all men, Death came to Cardinal Glennon. He was 83.

Odd, I can hear that, intoned, in some corner of my mind. Not the whole piece; I had to look it up to find the context. No, the words I hear, like some solemn Pete Smith voice-over: There, last week, as it must to all men, Death came…

Somehow, I had created for that fragment of pomposity, a whole setting. It would have been movie newsreels, and in that situation, formulaic. Because I could hear the one, I assumed there were others. A standard obituary in the darkened house of flickering images. Hence, Death came to Former President_____, Death came to the star, Death came to Joe Blow.

Because of that, the supposition of a notable over-use, I wanted to twist it and use my version as an opening sentence: Last week, Life came to Robin Gray.

I may use it anyway, even if I am the only one who can here that deep, perfectly enunciated echo of Death.