Daily Republican., 1881-09-26
PRICE ONECENT.
NJ r.. 0Afn cid.
From Evening Bulletin.

We think and speak of the late Presi-
fdent as martyred for his country, but
we are too apt to forget tho living mar.
Atyrdom of his wife. Is not her sacrifice,
as great as his; nay, from a woman's
Spoint of view is it not vastly greater ?
He gave up his life, but he gained fame
Msuch as few Americans have ever
+ gained before, honors at home and
abroad more widespread and more inn
Hportant than any other man has ever
Rhad, memo y which will be revered
Sby future ages, and name that will
5be conspicuous in American history
forever. What else could nan have
won in this world? If anything could
compensace him for the sacrifice of his
life this would, and many man has
= met death gladly for far less reward
But what has Mrs. Garfield lost ard
gained? She has lost her husband;
and that is the most terrible loss that
can come to a woman. The main stay
Eof her life is gone, the one thing that
made for her a ome aud assured to
her peace and security and happiness
. -tho.e essential elements of true
woman's life-has been taken away,
lard she is le.G to grief and loneliness
Xftul ucSpd i. CulluTCu
but their father is gone, and the sight
3of their faces, dear AZ they are, will be
Ia perpetual reminder of the dearer one
Ishe will see no more on earth. If she
were to express her feelings new, no
doubt she would say the dearest part
6of her life is gone, and that which is
left is of small account to her.
She has gained fortune; but no man
Itun Ia Il -lh hnr 90
utterly insignificant and contemplate
the most colossal riches would appear
TO her in comparison with the lost com.
|panionship of her husband She
has gained no fame, no proud memorial
mo high place in history, and if she
had she would not regard them as any
for her loss She must
just bear the blow inflicted and endure
the long agony silently, eomforted in
some degree by the love of her children,
pleased, perhaps, after awhile, by the
respect paid her for her husband 8 sake,
her physical wants provided for by the
loving tribute of a sympathizing people
proud of the memory OF her noble hus-
band; but with no compensation in all
this for the sacrifice she made in giving
him up.
There can be no compensation. No
woman with natural feelings and in
stincts can imagine any earthly reward
high enough TO make her entertain for
the thought of relinquishing
such a husband as James A. Garfield
was to his wife. No such woman who
had lost such husband will envy Mrs.
Garfield she will only pity her-and
will pity her all the more for circum-
stance which to man would seem of
very small Importance, the fact that
she could not have her husband to her.
self even after he was dead. Even the
poor satisfaction of shutting out the
world and spending the last sad hours
alone beside her dead husband, was
denied her. She had given him to the
public, and the public would not give
him up. His remains must lie in state
for the multitude to gaze at. His cotfiu
III list stand conspicuous to receive pub
lie honors and satisfy public curiosity.
She can have only his memory with her
mourning chamber in the few short in
tervals which are all that the prying
public would allow even to such sacred
(grief rs hers.
And after the funeral what will re-
l smain to her The blessing of private
| life, freedom from annoy ing crows, ex.
Iemption from the stern dictates Of
Society" and the glare of public life
and leisure to reflect upon the memory
|of the past fifteen months and to esti-
innate the sacrifice she was called on to
make that her husband might have
honor. If there can be an alleviation
|of her sorrow other than that
which time mercifully brings, it will
HE in this reflection, that the husband
was honored in her sacrifice. If it could
|tave been her life that was taken and
his that was spared, with results Of such
high honor to him, does any loving
woman doubt that the pang would have
been tar less for her? And since it
was necessary that one should die, it is
better that he should 60 to his grave
amid the tears of the civilized world
than neglected and forgotten by all but
!his in mediate family. Even the sor-
|sorrow-strlskeu wife can appreciate and
lind some comfort in that thought.
Nevertheless, all Christian people will
lpray earnestly and lovingly for
lDivine sustaining and consolation
itor the widow OF James A. GARFIELD.