THE LAST DAYS OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2341, 4 October 1881, Page 3

THE LAST DAYS OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

From the American papers received by the last mail we compile a few of the incidents narrated of the illness of President Garfield CHAT TROM THE SICE BOOM. The injunction net to talk is very irksome to the President. He tries hard to carry out the mandates of the physicians, but try as bard as he may he can hardly help speaking sometimes. He can very well refrain from talking to some of the doctors, bub when an old friend enters his room ho involuntarily eays something. If any encouragement whatever is given he will continue to talk about his condition and reference to his household. It particularly annoys him to have to remain quiet when his wife is in the room Indeed, he has never yet been able to overcome his inclination to say a few pleasant words of encouragement to her. He seems to want her to be always at'his side, and is never so happy as when she is near him, Mrs Garfield is so confident of the President’s recovery that she inspires everybody else with hope. She has been so fatigued and worried over his condition that, at the peremptory order of her doctor, she goes out riding occasionally. Today she rode out with Mrs Blaine and Mrs Hunt. When she leaves the White House, however, she is constantly worrying and is anxious to return. She looks careworn, and, as she has only just recovered from a severe attack of sickness, the doctors are somewhat afraid of a relapse. On August 12th he was remarkably cheerful daring the day, and has seemed anxious to converse on general topics. Several times he asked if there were any matters requiring his signature that he might attend to. Between two and three o'clock this afternoon he asked for writing materials, and indited the telegram to his aged mother, at Mentor. Its contents were of a most cheering and hopeful nature, and will no doubt be received with exceeding joy by that lady. In an interview with one of the President’s nurses, this evening, some new facts about bis demeanor daring the operation on August 25th were elicited.

" The President stood it bravely," said this informant, " just as might have been expected. That he was not unconscious of how it might fare with him and of the danger that might overcome all that was being done for his relief is best evinced by a little inoident that happened before the operation commenced. Mrs Garfield kn<sw nothing of the operation till it was over. He did not want her to feel the horrible dread that half possessed himself, and as Mrs Dr. Edson was leaving the room to keep Mrs Garfield company in another room near by, the President knowing where she was going and why, gave her a most earnest look and then said, ' Good bye 1' in such a manner that he seemed to have made up his mind for the worst. He felt thoroughly his position then, if ever. How much depended on the few minutes before he could see his faithful friend again." " Mrs Garfield's ride last evening was regarded as a good sign by many!" " Yes, no doubt. She had lost some of the anxiety that alarmed her so on Saturday, but was little disposed to leave the President yesterday at all. But he, ever solicitous to spare her a moment's worry, and fearing that she might break down in the tiresome ordeal of watching and waiting, insisted that she should take a drive, and she reluctantly consented, to please him."

SEEING HIS CKILDBEK.

These was, it seems, some hesitation about allowing the President to have an interview with his children to-day, but as the sick man was becoming more importunate it was decided to allow the children in one by one. So the three children were called togetherHarry, Jimmie, and Mollis—and each was told that a visit was to be paid to their father. They were delighted. Before being admitted to the room they were cautioned not to talh and not to allow their father to converse with them. As Miss Moilie entered the sick room she stood on the threshold a moment, and brushing away a few tears that would show themselves, she advanoed firmly up to the bed on whioh her father lay. The President was turned the other way when bis daughter entered, but he heard hex light step, end at once guessed it was she.

"My dearest girl," he said, moving sear where hii daughter was standing. He clasped her hands in his, and was about to speak fr-ther, when she disengaged one of her hands, and placed a finger across his lip. He playfn'ly attempted to bite the finger, and then smile i.

" You are a brave, good child, Moilie," he said, " end you must hope that your papa will get well."

" You wi'l get better, papa; I know you wi'l," Mill Mo! i; a replied, trying to keepbaok the teari; " but you must not talk." Xne father held his daughtsr's handi in hit until the latter qr ; etly slipped out of the roem, knowing tbit her brothers would be impatient for the favour she had already enjoyed. xDo meet'ng between father and sons was affecting. He giviped the light hand of He<-.y, the elder, and was Evidently greatly agi*- tci. Tno youth boro himself well, and showed no signs of the storm that must hare been raging withri him. He said a few cheery wo. Is to his father, end the litter respandt 1 a tilfe sadly that he hoped he wou'd get better to be with b ; s wife and children once more. Seeing that his presence seemed to affect h<s father Harry withdrew, and Jimmie met admitted. He was detained by l-a fa f her for a long time, but the President; did not talk much, as h-'s son would not r'low b'm to do so. The President r-kedhim what he had been do'ig all the morning, and Jimmia enswered that he ha I been waiting to see b : i papa. " That's a good boy, my ion," said the father. After the visit of his children the President felt much better than before. It seemed to be a torfo to b'-n. pud he was in humor throughout the reit of the day. He took cor"siderable noFuihment, and altogether appeared in exec 1 lent spirits. He inqcred n'ter the cow, and remarked that it woii d be in order to send it up to see him. THB GOODWILL OF TAB PITBLIC. To-day the President aikci Oolonel Bockwel', "T- it true that the Archbishop of Be'timore has directed tbit the cJergy shall offer pi -yer during mass for the recovery of the President ?" "It ?V repl ; ed Rockwell. " How do you know ?" " The Archbishop's letter to the clergy of this archdiocese has been printed, and it if official." "Bless the goodwill of the people!" caid the President. MBB ANGUISH. " How did the unfavorable news from the sick rf om affect Mrs Garfield ?" " Badly indec 1. She had been so buoyed up *ith the eneouraging look of things for the week pest tMt the occurrences of yesterday rV-mc 1 her very much. Still, all that is outs : de the sick room. She never allows the si*'ghtr3t trace of the anx ; ety which she must ff ri—the greatest of all those around the couch—to be manifested in f he presence of the er*Eerer. She nrecsm 1 the same hopefr 1 r ,, 'sposition thitsne hn shown from the f-st shock of the naejting with her husband, and cheered him up by her presence and ministration* during t> ? weary hours of prostration that ensueo. Tim h the more remarkable sinoe the events of the day must have suggested the nameless dread and anxiety of the day of the "hooting. A 1! were looking forward to a pleasant anniversary, as the President hni named h« Bato'days when he jo> ; ngly referred to the events of the shooting at the end d the Lao weeks. The wife of the President, though, is the woman for the situation. No matter how she feels, aB long e% her strength will keep up she_ will remain outwardly calm, and the charm of her presence will smooth away the despondent feeling to which the sufferings of the President might make him give way " Garfield's letter to his motiihb. Mrs Garfield, the President's mother, received to-d3y a letter from her son. It is the first time she has had a word from his pen since he was shot, six weeks ago. It is brief, but it is written so clearly and legibly that it speaks volumes in regard to the P'f 81 * dent's physical condition. Mrs Garfield has been filled with anxiety since she heard of the last operation that was performed upon her son. Nothing could have so effectually cheered and comforted her os this evidence of his increasing strength as well aB of hii thoughtful love for hor. The following is a verbatim CO' y of the President's letter : " Washington, D. 0., August 11th, 1881.— Dear Mother, —Don't be disturbed by conflicting reports about my condition. It is true I am still weak and on my back, but I am gaining every day, and need only time and patience to bring me through. Give my love to all the relatives and friends, and especially to sisters Hitty and Mary.—Your loving son, James A. Gabfibld. Mrs Eliza Garfield, Hiram, Ohio."