Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-28


are w. II. Vanderbilt and John W. Mackey the
latter having sent Mr.. Field letter on the eve
OF his departure for Paris. saying that i'm case of
an ''unfavorable outlook" he would be in the
front rank of the subscribers to the fund.
President Gariields Church.
TALK WITH ITS PASTOR.
Among the daily visitors to the White House
is the Rev. Mr.. Power. who for six years has
been the pastor of the little Christian congrega-
tion that worship on Vermont avenue. He said
to New York Sun correspondent yesterday that
the attempted assassination of the President had
stim ulated the movement to build new church
edlfce for the congregation, and that the sub
scrlptlons had come in generously. He could
not state the exact amount now contributed be-
cause some large gifts were conditional or as yet
in abeyance. II am afraid" said Mr.. Power
THAT we shall have to make it amemorial church
We had expected to begin on the first of October
and possibly before that OF course the excite
ment and anxiety since the assassination has
occupied our minds to the exclusion of other
business, and we cannot now begin SO soon. We
have money enough to Justify beginning on the
plans We had proposed as the best"
The President has always been an active
and prominent member Of your church. be-
lieve?'
''Yes," said the pastor. 'for many years He
is. of course. well known throughout the coun-
try to our people. and is loved as well as ad-
mired. especially by those communities with
which he has been chiefly brought into personal
contact. The members Of our church fellow
ship have, of course, followed his prosperous
career with great interest. because he has al
ways identified himself with U.S. In the early
feeble days of the church in this District
he was very active member. They
used to meet in room in the City
Hall before they had the means TO get
separate building of their own and i'm these
days the President took an active part in the
services, leading the meeting. About ten years
ago the congregation felt able to call pastor
and since that time Gen. Garfield has been one
of the congregation, and always a prominent
and Jealous member. His wife and mother are
both members of our denomination. and the
children went to our Sunday school until the
family broke up housekeeping here last fall"
The absent members of the family are not
coming on to Washington. believe"
mo; the Presidents mother is rather too
feeble to undertake the journey. and the children
are too small to appreciate their loss. Mrs
Garfield prefers that they should recollect the
White House as happy home. recollect that
the Presidents mother said at the time of
the Inauguration, when was cOn9ratulating her
on the great hOnOrs which had come to her son.
Yes, it is too good; | am afraid something will
happen. have often recalled that remark as
trouble after trouble came upon the family
First, the Presidents mother herself YOU will
remember, fell sick. Then came Mrs. Garfield's
sickness, and now. last of all. this violent and
terrible injury of the President himself NV
congregation" Mr.. Power continued 'have nat
urally taken the deepest interest i'm the family
read them the bulletins every Sunday and eX-
plain them as well as can. because they expect
that | can perhaps tell them something COM
fnrting every week. Latterly we have had
special prayer meetings. and at such times I
read them the evening bulletins but it has been
hard work lately to find comfort in them"
60 Clean of HOpe.7
THE CHANGE FOR THE BETTER LAST EVENING
The third extra of THE STAR. issued at eight
O'Clock last evening. gave to the public. under
the heading "A Clean of Hope" the first an
nOuncement the decided change in the Presi-
dents condition for the better. as shown by the
following extracts:
SIGN THAT STRENGTH HAS NOT FAILED.
During the afternoon while Gen. Swain was
in the sick room. the President asked for a
drink of water. Gen. S. gave it to him. and the
President took the goblet and helped himself.
thus showing that he is not at times
SO weak as his pulse would indicate.
At the same time he said: ''Swam. believe /
feel better than 1 did yesterday at this time"
Although admitting that he is 4 very i'll man.
Gen. S. feels that the President lacks vet the |
signs of a fatal illness.
GEN. SWAIN HOPEFUL
Gen. Swain continues to be hopeful His
faith cannot be shaken by even extraordinary
complications. COntemporaneous with Dr. Rey-
burn, he said: ''The President is getting along |
His stomach is acting admirably. The Presi- |
dent is better than at this time yesterday"
ARRIVAL OF Mr. RUDOLPH AND DIR. AGNEw
Shortly after four O'Clock Mr.. Joseph Rudolph.
brother-in-law Of the President, arrived at the
house. James Garfield and Don Rockwell went
to meet him. Following close upon the heels of
Mr.. Rudolph there came DIR. Agnew. he having
arrived on the afternoon limited express from |
New York and Philadelphia. DIR. Agnew will be |
present at the evening examination and his |
name will be appended to the bulletin tonight. |
WHEN HE WILL CEASE TO HOPE.
Rev. Frederick Power. this afternoon. at five |
o'clock, was asked what he thought of the |
Presidents condition. 81 will not give up hope |
until the President is unmistakably in a coma /
tose condition.
5P. Nan IMPROVEMENT REPORTED.
At five o'clock Secretaries Window. Blaine. |
Hunt and Kirkwood left the White House. They
all felt somewhat encouraged. They said that |
they believed that there was slight fmproye-
ment. They had just received that assurance
from the physicians. Secretary Kirkwood said:
I've have just been told that the President is
better The doctors were very earnest and be-
lieved that there was an improvement"
WHAT THE DOCTORS SAID TO THE CABINET orpI-
GERS
Secretary Lincoln was somewhat more ex-
plict in giving an account of what the Cabinet
officers had been told. He said: 1--WE have been
told by the doctors that the President is shade
better. DR.. Bliss said that the President lis bet
ter now than he was yesterday. The pulse still
fuctuates, but it is better pulse. It is frmer
and better In tone. II has during the after
noon averaged, during its fluctuations, about |
ia. The President looks better than yester-
day and his stomach h doing very well |
indeed. The trouble is in that swollen |
gland II It wers not for that strong hope Of |
recovery might b entertained Hut TIT Socal !
affection is bad It's very bad Tho gland sup