Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-08-19

HEALTH OF MIR. 0UMNER.-A correspond
ent of the Philadelphia North american, writ
ing from Cresson, Cambria county, Pa, where
Mr. Sumner is now staying for the beueit of
his health. thus speaks Of him:
81 saw him on his arrival, and was sur
prised and grieved to find, in his weak and
wasted confederation so long an interval
from 'the cause and most occurs d effect the
melancholy evidence of the terrible shock that
had been given to his entire system. His no.
BILE trame-which his foe would have met,
front to front, with the alacrity with which
he would have taken lion by the beard was
not, it is true, greatly attenuated but the
vigorous port and alert and decisive action
which distinguished him, were exchanged for
a body bowed down as it were by some nvis-
IDLE but crushing burden his limbs refused,
or yielded feebly, their wonted functions and
his physical being seemed as if robbed of half
its vitality.
Every movement was reluctant and languid;
scarce step was taken without aid, and the
moment he reached his couch he sank upon
it in evident exhaustion and debility. His
fine countenance, though not emaciated, was
pallid, and bore an expression almost haggard
of WEAKNESS, weakness, and long-coutinued,
long resisted pain. The fire and animation of
sensibility and genius the spiritual light and
glow, the change and play of expression, all
were lost and in their place was left the
rigid record Of protracted suffering. When
addressed, however, his olden smile would
struggle into momentary life F.; but it was only
to leave the settled expression more dreary.
No one looked upon that form or in that face
without the rt-ache.
Mr.. Sumner has suffered fearfully. His
symptoms have varied at the various stages of
his illness, but all have been peculiar, and all
agonizing. At one time, for days, he was tor
tured with a feeling as if quick and crushing
blows were continuously falling noon his
head. AT another time, all intolerable weight
as if mountain pressed upon his brain, over
whelmed him With these and many other
changing forms of agony, his mind necessa-
nly sympathized, and his frame became, not
parayzed, but stricken with benumbed and
helpless feebleness.
All his faculties suffered a trance-like tor
por, and Notwithstanding the resistant powers
of vigorous constitution, confirmed by tenn
perance, and nursed by travel, his friends
shuddered with the apprehension that the
brilliant light Of his intellect was about to be
extinguished by death, or by destiny worse
than death. The case was made an intense
study by many physicians, and the opinions
were various and diseordant. BY some, a
sottening OF the brain was discovered by
others it was ascertained that he suffered from
paralysis and each inquiry thus afforded its
own peculiar horror.
Many Of these opinions were communicated
not only to the public, but to the patient. who
alone regarded the case with a tranquil eoua-
nlmlty. The phantoms thus conjured up by
professional anxiety or imagination, have since
been exercised and Mr. Sumner friends are
grateful for the confident assurance of his en-
tire and perfect, and it is now hoped, speedy
recovery.
his physicians recommending seclusion and
retirement, Mr.. Sumner has accepted the hos
pitality of DIR. Jackson, under whose roof he
enjoys not only the tranquil comforts of home.
but the Superintendent of an enlightened
physician. The restorative and stimulating
magic of the mountain atmosphere, was i'm
mediately apparent in his improvement.
Notwithstanding the great improvement
manifest in his health, Mr., Sumner is still Sc
riously an invalid. His impotence under
sence of inaction, when so much is to be
done, his noble eagerness to return to the
held nom which he was borne bleedinr,induce
excessive exertions to procure, by exercise,
the requisite strength, He weakens himself
by his efforts to break the bonds that conhne
nm from his sphere of duty-doubly dear,
because now scene of danger. But after
each effort, his recurring exhaustion indicates
how far he is from that point of health at
which he can think of re. entering the arena.
But his fearless and indomitabe spirit land no
man IS more insensble TO fear) chafes under
the check; and his fiery impotence to return
to the Senate probably retards his GONZALES.
cence and disappoints itself"