The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-12-10

er slept over four hours at time, and
through the day he would often doze in
the car and catch snatches of sleep, hut
when awakened either by the stopping
of the tra in or to make speech his nag
gard and careworn expression of coull-
tenance was always more expressive of
fatigue than any remarks he was ever
heard to make.
Meanwhile Mrs, Greeiey's health had
been rapidly declining, and she had re-
moved from Chappaqua to this city,
Mr.. johnson of 323 West Thirty-sev-
cnth street, had placed suite of apart
menis at her disposal These the iuva-
id occupied with her eldest daughter,
Miss Ida, while Mr. Greeley had rooms
in the same house. a~'5
FIRST sTslproIs OF EXTREME MENTAL De
-, PRESTON. . -
1t was there, while passing sleepless
nights at the bedside of his dying wife.
that Horace Greeley first began to show
symptoms of great meEtal depression
On one occasion, when the opposing
press was criticising his great Pittsburgh
speech, he said "If they make the issue
that / IN the rebel candidate, I'm bound
to, be defeated" This consideration
seemed to weigh on his mind, and often
when he supposed he was alone he would
clasp his hand to his head and cry out,
'Oh,oh,' as though suffering from intense
pain. He was advised to continue his
wood-chopping Saturday matinees, aud
though severely chafed by the accounts
of them published in the New York
Times, he still pursued his open-air ex-
ercise. .f
On one occasion at Chappaqus, he
was accompanied by Mr.. Johnson and
his son. MIR. Johnson, Jr., chopped
down the lower limb of hemock tree,
which narrowly missed his fathers head.
"What do you meant cried out Mr..
Johnson, Sr do you want to kill me,
Wiliie?" II wish somebody would kill
me- responded Mr.. Greeley in a voice
Of extreme sadness.
Mr.. Greeley always said he did not
expect to carry either of the States of
Vermont or Maine yet the result of the
State elections there, September and
10, respectively, made him more despon-
dent than ever. Georgia gave the Dem
ocrats a rousing majority on the Sd day
of October and his spirits rose proper
tionately; but when, six days later, Ohio
aud Pennsylvania gave large majoriiies
for the Administration candidates, and
while the result in Indiana was still in
doubt, he became utterly despondent; !;
and for the first time his most intimate
friends began to perceive that defeat in
November might prove fatal TO him. He
talked once OF offering the portfolio Of
Secretary of State to Mr.. Charles Fran
els Adams, and in the next breath he
would lament large falling off in the
subscription list of the Tribune Such
outbursts of incoherent expressions, fol-
lowed by paroxysms of rage, now be-
came more freqept- End speRtsnsopsf-=-
They came inyoluntarly, as it were, and
always exci;ed anxious apprehensions
among his friends, but they were attrib-
uted to the fact that he was too much
deprived of sleep while watching beside
his wife
AT length, on the morning of October
80, Mrs. Greeley died. When the wild
owed husband was informed Of his wife's
death he wrung his hands, cried like a
child, and said, "Oh, why didn't you let
me sit up with her? Why did you send
me to bed? My poor wife, my poor
wife, Two days afterward Mrs Cree
ley was buried. Her remains were fol-
lowed to The grave by large concourse
of people, all of whom noticed Mr..
Greeley's grief. He returned, after the
| funeral, to Mr.. Johnson's, and instead
of interesting himself about his daugh-
iers and the future, gave way wholly. to
detection, ,. - ...a ,..
1t was then he showed the first posi-
tive evidence of mental derangement,--
The November election, seemingly did
not interest him. His defeat did not
surprise him. lie deceived his friends
by receiving the news with perfect iu-
difference. II was, noticed about this
time that he would tell his private busi-
ness to every one with whom he was
brought in contact, and to each one he
told different story OF his defeat, his
troubles, and the inidelity of his sup
posed friends. He would at times de-
nounce the Democratic party, whom he
would accuse of selling out to the ad-
ministration. Then he would violently
criticise the course pursued by the OPP
position newspapers, and especially the
mismanag nagement of the Tribune, and his
fatal mistake in allowing his name to be
used as a candidate for the Presidency
"a Mr.. Alvin j. Johnson was his most
intimate friend. One evening, while
holding his hand, Mr.. Greeley said TO
him: "Eh, Johnson, do ,you know
made terrible mistake about Mr.. Da-
ma? He was right about On to Rich
mondn Yes, am satisfied now that he
| WAS -IlSil aDOul IL. OlIcu after lnal,
when he was unable to sleep and while
his disease was yet in its incipiency, Mr..
Greeley would take Mr.. Johnson to his
room, and with hands clasped he would
impart to him the most intimate secrets
of his heart. One morning he said to
Mr. johnson, as the latter was leaving
his house: "Meet me at the Tribune OF
fee at 2 o'clock this afternoon. | have
private communication to make to
you," At the appointed hour Mr.. John
son was there, hut Mr. Greeley declined
saying anything except; "Meet me at
Sam. Sinclair's at 6 clock tonight
want TO see you" Mr.. johnson went
there at the time and found Mr.. Gree
ley asleep. Nh Sinclair and Mr. George
Ripley were in another room Mr. Gree
ley slept for some time, but when at
length he awoke his mind seemed gone.
| Mr.. Sinclair begged him to remain there,
to so to bed. He quietly assentel, and
then turning to Mr.. johnson said: "a.
j., take me home with you, won't you "
I II 4 l.