Dying, Stephen heaped shame upon...
Illustration
Dying, Stephen heaped shame upon his executioners, in effect calling them to repentance by forgiving them in advance. All of us have something for which we need to repent. One such individual was Lady Diana Cooper. An annual prize was awarded in the name of her late husband, Duff Cooper. One year the prize went to Robert Lowell, the twentieth-century poet. Before the date of the presentation, Lowell suffered a serious nervous breakdown and was taken to a mental institution. A substitute was arranged, but at the last moment Lowell checked himself out and showed up at the gala. Lady Diana's son learned of it, and was informed that, under no circumstances should Lowell touch alcohol. He rushed to the event to tell his mother what he'd learned. He found her talking to Lowell, who had just finished his third glass of champagne. Lady Diana said to her son, "Darling, I've just been telling this gentleman how the principle speaker has lost his marbles and been carted off to a looney-bin!"
