The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-07-16
A MOST IMPRESSIVE EXAMPLE

Since the eventful Saturday of the 2nd
instant. the people of our country, and
many others in all civilized lands, have
had before them every day an ilustra-
ton of the sustaining power of moral
principle. in the person of the stricken
/ President, more eloquent and conyincin"
than any ever spoken from the lips or
written by the pen of man. 1t is cheer
full ness, courage, morality, virtue, faith
teaching by practical example. The
theme is worthy of every pulpit of every
creed, as it is of every household. 1t has
already been made the subject of touch
! ing discourses by the entire newspaper
press. An example like this has more
force than whole libraries of didactic
precept and exhortation and it is this
living and illustrious example that should
be held steadily before all persons that
can be gathered together. Beyond ques-
ton there have been innumerable in
stances of the same nature, at the bed
sides of other sufferers, but these have
been seen only by the family, the medi-
cal man, the minister of religion, and by
| limited circle of intimate friends. This
one comes before all the people; they are
all of the national family of the sufferer.
and are ALL so to speak, at his bedside,
witnesses of the way he bears himself in
his hours and days of extremity. 1t was
generally understood that Mr.. Garfield
has been church going man, religious
man, in the best acceptation of the
phrase-though with but little outward
show of the faith he held. There Were
but few, however, who knew how deepl.
his faith-we do not mean his denomna-
tional creed-had struck root. Now We
all see the inner man as if Il beam of
electric light had been transmitted
through his wounded body. Look at his
cheerful courage, his brave composure
his unfaltering contemplation Of all pos
sible results. These are manifestations of
the influence of the sound mind shrined
in the temple of sound body. If the
physical nature of the man had been un-
dermined by bad habits, how little would
be seen of what is now the admiration
and the consolation of his countrymen:
and that he is what he is, in his physical
manhood, is because he lived up to the
homely virtues he held as precepts of
morality and religion to be faithfully OBJ
served i'll his course through life. Here
there is no need for the doctor to keep
up the courage of the patient. 1t is the
patient keeping up the courage of the
doctors-all the doctors, nurses attend
ants, and intensely anxious wife and
children. There has seldom been any,
thing like it to the degree witnessed in
this instance, and never in case
that has gone SO broadly to the world.
His cheerfulness under severe bodily
suffering Eliminates the minds and iea-
lures of all around him, going back re
Elected to him, to come To them again,
when they lapse into apprehension. This
is one of the lights at the side of what
was feared to be, and may still be, the
death bed of a man who has lived Il good
wholesome life.
Look now at his readiness. his pre-
paredness to go, if that shall he in the
ordination Of Providence. Is it possible
for man in full health in the vigcr of
manhood, the centre of a loving and he
loved family, the h"norcd chief of a
great nation, chosen by the free suffrage
of the people, in full prospect of a long.
happy and honored life, to be struck
down suddenly from all this, and he
brought into imminent peril of immediate
death, as this man has been. and vet face
death more serenely than this man has
done? Where is the parallel instance:
Though he is possessed of everything to
make lie dear to his heart. there is not
the slightest indication that he breads
death-as death. He must feel the tear
of the earthly separation from wife. chill
dren, mother kindred, loving friends
but this is not dread of death. Beyond
this, all the manifestations are of pre-
paredness to go. Whence comes this
readiness, this tranquil contemplation of
what may be of such momentous couse-
quence to him? 1t will be said that
other men of very different mould have
shown it. Hardly, under Il parity of
surroundings. But let that be granted.
There is at least an impressive coincidence
here. This man, who has come to lofty
position from humble origin, this scholar.
this soldier this statesman-has led 4
virtuous life, part of it spent in a scene
surrounded by great temptations; he has
abstained from habits and vices common
tomen in many positions he has occupied:
he has stood firmly in practice by the
sound morals he was taught and has
taught to others; he has abiding faith
that the man who does what is right be
tween man and man, according to his
light. need have no fear of the hereafter:
he is good son, noble example of fila!
Diety, a faithful and loving husband: an
affectionate father, conspicuous for the
felicity of his home in these relations:
his conscience is clear so far as human
eye can discern; he is a Christian believer,
and this term is used in it's broadest and
highest sense. These things. we repeat.
exhibit at least most impressive coin
cidence-no one can go aside from that
but they should make their way into
all minds as cause and effect. Whether
the illustrious sufferer shall live. as all
good people pray and hope, or whether
he shall die from the assassin shot, the
courage. the cheerfulness, the faith, the
preparedness. which have gone forth
from his bedside, are so many signal
demonstrations of the beneiicent in
1uencc and power of the homey virtues.
morality and religion.
Why Eve Did not Keep Hired Girl.
4 lady writer furnishes some of the
reasons why Eve did not keep a hired
Girl She saws.