THE LAST DAYS OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 900, 15 October 1881, Page 2

THE LAST DAYS OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD.

From the American papers received by the last mail we compile a few of the in. cidents narrated of the illness of President Garfield CHAT FRQM THE SICK HOOJt. The injunction not to talk is very irksome to the President. He tries hard to carry nut the mandates of the physicians) but try as hard as he may he can hardly help speaking sometimes. He can very well refrain from talking to some of the doctors, hut when an old friend enters his room ho involuntarily says something. If any encouragement whatever is given he will continue to talk about his condition and reference »,o his household. It par- Y ticularly annoys him to have to remain quiet when his wife is in the room'. In- M deed, he has never yet been able to come his inclination to say a f ew pleasant words of encouragement to her. He seems to want her to be always at his side, and is never so happy as when shs is near hitn. Mrs Garfield is so confident of the President's recovery that she inspires everybody else with hope. She has been so fatigusd and worried over his condition that, at the peremptory order of her doctor, she goes out riding occasionally. To-day she rode out with Mrs Blaine and Mrs Hunt. When she leaves the White House, however, she is con J stantly worrying and is anxious to return. I 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 remnrlcably cheerful during the day, and has seemed • xious to eon Terse »n general topics. Several times he asked if there were any matters requiring hia signature thu he might, attend to. Between two and thrse o'clock this afternoon he asked for writing materials, and indited the te'egram i# hiß aged mother, at Mentor. Its coi tents ware of a most checriiig.' and hnjioful nature, and will iw doubt be received with exceeding j«y hy (hat kdy. In an interview with one of the Presidents nines; thin owning. Borne new facts about his demeanor during iha operation' on August 35th were elicited, " The President stood it bravely," said " this-informant, "just as might have been j .expected," That he was not unconscious' dm of bow it might fere with himand of tha' - JH

dEhger that might overcomo all that was being done for his relief is best oviuced by a little incident that happened before the operation commenced. Mrs Garfield knew nothing of the operation.till it was w 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 yknowing where she was going and why, /gave her a most earnest look and then said, 'Goodbye 1' in such a,manner that lie up his mind for tlio worst. He felt thoroughly in his position then, if ever. How ranch depended on the few minutes'before lie could see his faithful iriend again. Garfield's ride last ovoning was /• as a good sign by many I" "Yes, no .doubt. She bad lost some of the anxiety that alarmed her so on Saturday, hit was little disposed to leave the President yesterday at all. But he, eve r 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 CHILDREN, There 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 together-Harry, Jimmio and Mollie—and each was told that a visit was to be paid to their father. They were delighted. Before being admitted ■i to the room they were cautioned not to talk and not to allow their father to converse with them. As Miss Mollie entered the sick room she stood on tlio threshold a moment, aud brushing away ■ a few tears that would show themselves, slio advanced firmly up to the bed on which her father lay. The President was turned the the other way when his daughter entered, but he heard her light itep, anil at once guessed it was she. "My dearest girl" he said, mo<« ing near where his daughter was standing. He clasped her hands in his and was about fo speak further, when she disengaged one of her hands and placed a finger across his lip. He playfully attempted to bite the finger and then smiled. " You arc a brave, good child Mollio," lie said, "and you must hope your papa will get well." ) " You will get better, papa, I know you will," Miss Mollio replied trying to keep back the tears "but you nust not talk."

The father held his daughter's hands in his until the latter quietly slipped out of tho room knowing that her brother would impatient for the favor she had already enjoyed. i The meeting between father and soi: was affecting. He grasped the right han of Harry, the elder, and was evidentl greatly agitated. The youth bore bin self well, and showed 110 signs of th storm that must liave beon raging withii him. He said a few cheery words to hi father, and the latter responded a trifli sadly that he hoped he would get better ti * Ibe with his wife ami children once more Seeing that his presence seemed to affec his fathor Harry withdrew, and Jimmit was admitted, He was detained by his! father for a long time, but the President] not talk much, as his sou would not I NHRtdw him to do so. The President asked I what he had been doing all tho morning, and Jimmie answered that he had beon waiting to see bis papa. " That's a good boy, my son,'' said the fUhcr. After the visit of his children the President felt much better than before, It seemed to he a tonic to him, and he was in splendid humor throughout the rest of day. He took considerable nourishment, and altogether appeared in excellent spirits. He inquired after the cow, and remarked that it would be in order to send it up to see htm. TUB GOODWILL 01' THE I'UIiLIC. To-day the President asked Colonel Rockwell, " Is it true that the Archbishop nf Baltimore has directed that the clergy shall offer prayer during mass for the recovery of the President]" '• It is," replied Rockwell. "How do you know?" "The Archbishop's letter to the clergy of this archdiocese has been printed, and it is official." " Bless the goodwill of the people 1" said the President. / mrs garfield's anguish, •' How did the unfavorable news from tho sick room affect Mrs Garfield ?" "Badly indeed. She had been an buoyed up with the encouraging look of ythings for the week past that tho occurrences nf yesterday alarmed her very much. Still, all that is outside the sick room. She never allows the slightest trace of the anxiety which she must feel —the greatest of all those around the couch—t" be manifested in the presence of the sufferer. She preserved the same hopeful disposition that she has shown from the first shuck of the meeting with

her hußbat.d, and ohesred him up by her presence and'ministrations during (he wearj'hours of prostration lhat ensued. This is ihe mure remarkable since the events of the day must have snjested the nameless dread and anxiety of the day of the shnutin?. All were Inoking forward to a pleasant anniversary, as the President had named his Saturdays when he jokingly referred to the of the shooting at the end of the two weeks. The wife of the President, though, is the woman for the situation. No matter how she feels, as Inn" as her strength will keep up she will remain outwardly calm, and I 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 letteii to hih mother. Mrß Garfield, the President's mother, received tu-day a letter from her son. It Jj first time she has had a word from en, since he was shot, six weeks ago, brief, but it is written so clearly and legibly that it speaks volumes in regard to the Presidents physical condition. Mrs Garfield has been filled with anxiety since she heard of the last operation that was performed upon her son. Nothing could bo effectually cheered and comforted her as this evidence of his increasing strength as well as of his thoujjhtful love of )ier. The following is a verbatim copy of the President's letter:--" Washington, D.C., August 11th, 1881.—Dear mother—Don't be disturbed by conflicting reports about li my condition. It is true lam still weak -f 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 16vine son, James A. Garfield, Mrs Eliza Garfield, Hiram, Ohio.