The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-09-10
THE DAILY GAZETTE.
LETTER FROM MRS. SWISSHELM.
aE. suMsERs HEALTH

SwIssvALE, Aug. 23, 1856
H With many thousands of Mr.. Sum
ner's friends in Western Pennsylvania,
have long resisted the spirit which
impels Us all to seek his presence and
offer tributes Of respect; bat it has
been almost beyond human endurance
to read the reports that are constantly
circulated about him. His friends
have been informing US that "a gen.
tlernen Of our acquaintance" has Wis
ted Mr.. Sumner and found him SO
and SO. Then, "a celebrated physi,
eian Of Philadelphia" has said SO and
50. Next, "a we'll known clergyman"
Of somewhere, has been with him, and
thinks thus and so. One time he has
been convalescent and win be about
IN couple of weeks; and next there
is great danger OF his intellect being
forever extinguished. Allthis sound
ed mysteriously, and the enemies Of
the freedom Of Congressional debate
have taken advantage Of this mystery
TO spread the impression that there
was some juggling about it-that he
WAS made 10 appear i'll for political ef-
feet, A brutal attack upon him in
the Hollidaysburg Standard revealed
| the TACT that he was receiving visitors
who we're far from being friends, and
| resolved to go at once and see what
it all meant.
l found him at the private residence
OF DR.. Jackson, whom, with his amia-
bic wife, | have for some years claim
ed as personal friends, andI remained
with them two days to find out the
secret ofthe conflicting accounts Of his
health. The Rev. Mr.. Furness of
Philadelphia. who gave it as his opin
ion that there was serious danger Of
chronic congestion oil the brain, and
recommended Cape May. He went
there, and returned to Philadelphia
nothing better, when DIR. Wistar insis-
ted upon Allegheny Mountain air; and
wishing to avoid the publicity of a
hotel, he took lodgings at DIR. Jackson's
private residence. The DR.. is Dem
ocrat and most accomplished surgeon,
and says he thinks there is blood now
settled or congested III the vessels Of
the membrane which lines the brain
pan, but that with plenty OF mountain
air, generous diet and exercise, it will
gradually be absorbed, and he be res
torsd to his full yigor.
For the two days was there |
watched Mr.. Summer closely, bringing
to bear upon his case thirty years |
experience Of frequent and sometimes
long periods Of nursing the sick, and
think there is ample room for the
worst apprehensions of his friends
He rides on horseback, over the rough |
est mountain paths, twelve or fourteen
miles day, and returns with good
appetite for dinner; but walk of
quarter OF mile prostiates him very |
much. Prior to his injury, he was
considered the best pedestrian in
Washington. and ten or twelve miles
was only pleasant exercise to him.
He has all the impatience of erdin-
airy men in illness, or in the prospect |
Of restraint, and assures every body |
that he is doing very well, feels very |
we'll, is quite strong, and will surely
be able to 60 to Washington in two
weeks. Mr.. Burlingame assures me,
with tears in his eyes, that this is
what he always said. Eve. since his
injury, he has been going to be quite
we'll in two weeks, but when he rises
from his chair he takes hold of the ia
BILE. His gait, at first glance, ap-
pears that Of a man of ninety years OF
age, but watching him while, l felt
that it vast very kind Of a step one
takes when creeping through dark
ened chamber under the influence of
paroxysm of nervous headache; but
he says with kind OF lofty, incredu.
lous seorn, that his head does not ache!
he feels pressure on the
top of his head, and it appears to hurt |
him when he walks, but he will be
ready to go to Washington in two
weeks. /,
1t is remarkable fact, that | never
saw sick man who was not either
going to die ia half an hour, or would
not be ready TO 60 to Washington in
two weeks.
Those mistaken friends of his who
would iain see Brooks killed or MANNED Il
would greatly distress him if any
sncb killinU or maimipo we're done 4