Daily Republican., 1881-07-26
Third EDITION.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The Presidents Calm Courage
How Mrs. Gariield Keeps Up
Talks With the Nurses.

"Was there much alarm about the
White House yesterday, as the case
continued 80 grave?" Mrs. DIR. Edison,
the Presidents faithful nurse, was ask
ed.
"Yes, and very strong reasons for it.
The second chill was very discouraging
to every body, though we had no idea
within doors that the anxiety outside
was 80 great. But l see now that the
entire country had chill Of nervous
dread while the President had his yes
terday."
"What did he seem to think of it
himself?"
"He was inclined to be rather down
hearted, still with the idea uppermost,
as it has been all along, that there was
a chance, aud very good chance, for
him yet The physicians have never
cheered him up so but that he could re.
cognize in their opinions that his condi-
ton has always been grave. 1t was
fortunate, therefore, for him that he
was mentally prepared to meet the dan
gers of yesterday. He was too sick, of
course, to be cheerful or animated, but
still he never entirely lost heart.
did the more favorable examination
in the evening brighten him up any ?'
every much. With the rest of those
about him he was at once inclined to
take more favorable view of the case.
He watches always the state OF his
pulse and temperature with interest,
, frequently inquiring about them. Nat
, urally, therefore, when the facts were
told him yesterday he became at once
conscious of his condition, but was not
alarmed over it. He expressed himself
as being very tired and worn out with
the days sutferings. He got to sleep
about the usual time of the night after
hypodermic injection had been given
him, but had u bad night of it Ia ken all
together.
GLOW did the unfavorable news affect
Mrs. Garteld?'
Badly indeed she had been so buoyed
up with the encouraging look of things
for the week past that the occurrences of
yesterday alarmed her very much.
Still, all that is outside the sick room.
She never allows the slightest trace of
anxiety which she must tee)--the great
est of all those around the couch-to be
manifested in the presence of the suffer
er. She preserved the same hopeful
disposition that she has shown from the
first shock Of the meeting with Ter hus-
band, ana cheered him mp by her pres
ence and ministratious during the
weary hours of prostratlon that ensued.
This is the most remarkable since the
events of the DAY must have suggested
the nameltss dread and anxiety of The
day of the shooting. All We're looking
forward to pleasant anniversary, as
the President had named his
Saturdays when he jockin'gy re-
terrel to the events of the shooting at
the end of the two weeks. The wife OF
the President, though, is the woman tor
the situation No matter how she feels
as long as her strength will keep she
will remain outwardly calm, and the
charm of her presence will smooth away
the despondent feeling to which the sui
ferings of the President might make
him give way"
Colonel Corbin was asked il the Pres
ident was improving any in his
strength. He replied that he was not,
and that he was a very week Iuan. "In
fact, few know how enfeebled his con-
dition is. d"
"Can he raise his leg?"
"No, indeed he can hardly exert a
muscle"
"Can he raise his head ."
"Not the least. 1t has to be propped
up every time he takes mouthtul OF
food or water"
"Can he lift his arm"
"No more than his legs or head. He
has to be turned in his bed, and when
the bedding and linen are changed he
the shect that is under him. He is
very, very weak, and the recent rlgors
have made perceptibe change in his
He has, with all these
great amount Of vitality
at the command Of his will and an earn
est desire to get we'll. There is no let
d wa to this resolve. OF course, a man
who has been able to take but little
who has wasted 50 much
tissue and has discharged so much puS
would necessarily De "a week man, yet
with all this physical exhaustion his
mind is clear and his will obedient To-
the direction of the surgeons. Such
patient deserves all the blessings that
healthtu rtCupcrati0n can bring to
him.
DR.. Bliss has accepted torthe Presi.
dents use a patcIt bed, which can be
folded like II chair. The mattress is in
several paris, and over it is a canvass
stretcher which will bear the President
while the mattresses are being moved
The canvass can also be raised TO admit
an under current OF air AT any time, thus
serving the purpose of d hammock. The
frame OF the stretcher is hinged AT the
heat, which can be lifted upri ght. The
lower part can be rnStrapned to any pu-
sitlon and the middle part will remain
stationary as a seat All of thi, mani
pulatlon can be done by means OF screws
and cranks without touching the Presi-
dent. George McGovern,of Richmond,
the maker OF the bed, will instruct the
attendants in the sickroom how 10 use
it. 1t would have been put up yester-
day put for the relapse
In conversation with "A correspondent
last night General Swain, one Of tine
Presidents most constant attendants
said:-"He is doing well now, and |
think tins last danger has been met and
overcome. | never saw IL rountry We,
without some hills and valleys, and |
never saw IA very sick / badly wounded
man who uld not AVE his ups AMI
downs. The PrrsiC mt came to one Of
the harn places last Friday night on
his road towards recovery, but we thiNA
he has now got abuU, over it. He has
,.ad no risor since laai pight, He takes
and relsnes nuuri>hment and /. sleep
ing well. He Iereived one-eighth Of a
grain OF m,rphia TO night an;. that pro-
vel sufficient. hope and believe WE
shall find him better tomorrow morn
ing than he ha, been before for seversl
days. feel greatly encourage
Br8ndyWfne CamD