Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-31
Out of the DeDths.

The nation has had another week of try
Ing experiences. Since the second of July
the deeps of public feeling have not been so
profoundly stirred as on Friday last. The
news that greeted the readers of the bulle-
tins foreshadowed the approach of the hour
of the presidents dissolution. From the ex
periences of that day new Black Friday
has been added to the nomenclature of
dismal days. Its sable shadows were thrown
from the White House out over all the
nation. The story of that day in the Ian
gushing presidents chamber as told by
the newspaper chroniclers is to the eff
feet that the patients strength seemed
to be unequal to the struggle with the
forces that were sapping it he was plainly
weaker, and his weakness was visible in
certain confusion of mind when he
awoke from sleep and in an increasing ten
dency to WEAKNESS. That he was delirious
or at any time failed TO recognize his wife
does not appear from the more trustworthy
reports. The great wound showed signs of
insufficient nourishment in the system to
supply the demands of waste and of recon-
struction. The president grew steadily
weaker till four o'clock in the afternoon.
The doctors had seen the failure of the best
efforts of medical science to arrest the ebbng
tide of life, and had signifed to Mrs. Gar
field that she must be prepared for fatal
ending OF the desperate battle with the
forces that were assailing her husbands
life The heroic wife put Spartan's reso-
luton into her reply. Her husband was
going to live she felt and knew, and the
battle for his life must be maintained "until
death itself has set his seal upon him." and
she resumed her place with cheerful face
by the bedside of her husband. The nation
had nerved itself TO hear the fatal news
which was hourly expected, but the down.
ward course of the president ceased and for
several hours he grew no worse. Saturday
afternoon the patient said he felt much
better than at the same hour OH Friday.
The evening bulletin gave CLEAN of hope
in its first sentence, "The presidents
symptoms show slight amelioration this
afternoon" and on Sunday, through our
country communities which had been listen
ing for tolling bells, cheering tidings, almost
like notes from beyond the dark river, were
announced Of a fresh stand and new hopes
for life. The presidents condition now is
said to be that of clear mind, better action
OF the blood and brain, an improved appear
ance of the wound, more natural voice,
better stomach, more regular pulse, easier
respiration, capacity to take and retain
liquid food, and more free discharge from
the wound and swollen gand,-in the
language of DIR. Hamilton, "away from the
breakers and aaoat." The physicians ex-
press themselves with varying degrees of
confidence, and there is over the White
House circlea stronger feeling of hopefulness
In spite of dangers passed, and if the
hopeful feature in the presidents case were
ten-fold more hopeful, his life must still be
regarded as hanging by a very slender
thread. The poisoned life current the re-
duced system, the infrmity of the stomach,
the exhausting wound the unknown locality
of the assassins bullet and the conditions
which may exist around it, are appalling
elements Of danger, but as the unexpected
has always happened to General Garfield it
may still disappoint all the apprehensions
to which his condition reasonably gives rise.