Daily Republican., 1881-07-09
Bits OF the Presidents Talk.

A little of the conversation which the
President will insist on indulging in
gets ont from the sick room, all of it
showing how perfectly well his mental
faculties are retained. For instance,
last night he said to General Swain,
who is one of the attendants: "Swaim,
where is Crete?" by which familiar
rame lie speaks to intimates of Mrs.
Garfield, it being an abbreviation of
Lucretia.
"She has gone to bed," General
Swain replied, "and you must not do
any talking"
"Oh well, them" the President re-
piled, W'll 60 right to sleep, 'and in a
few moments he slept.
Once in the night, or early morning
when he awoke he Said, quickly, "Pm
hungry, and want something to eat
besides that chicken broth. Can't l
have some Oat meal mlSh?'
The physicians said they wanld see
what they could do for him, and he re-
piled, "Well yon know best, but hope
you will think as feel about it.
When the President heard that Dr.
Boynton had arrived and was in the
White House, he said at once that he
wanted to see him. The Doctor was ad-
mitted simply to make a visit. The
President reached out his hand as DR..
Boynton, came into the room, smiled,
and said, "Well Boynton, what do you
Think"
DR.. Boynton replied, "Oh, think
you'll get well all right"
I ' ;.,J IL "A
When the President was told that his
friends all over the country were send
ing him large stores of fine wines and
liquors he smiled again, and said "The
White House will now have a v inc Gel
lar, sure"
The President was greatly interested
in the operation ofpntting mp the cooler,
but while watching it he said nothing.
Mrs. Garfield insists that it was well
for all who see the President to appear
to him to be possessed Of the same hope
which he has, and when the oldest
daughter, MOllie, came this mOrning to
see her ta'her, Mrs. Garfield said "No,
you mustn't tSgp in in that way. Brush
away your tears and look as pleasantly
rs you can, stor that's the way your
father wants to see you.'
The quiet routine ot the Presidents
household runs on with very little in
cident. Mrs. Garfield wisely husbands
her strength, retires early and always
brings II serene face to her husband s
bedside She is SO careful against any
excitement that she w,uld not allow
Miss Mollie Garfield to see her father
after her arriv:... ,.:i ,...i her first burst Of
grief was over and her emotion, u,ri-.
perfect control. Children of the family
20 into room very seldom, and are not
to talk with their father.
While the Presidents mail has been
reduced by the cessation OF the Of
tcc- begging letters hat formerly loaded
it, yet Mrs. Gart-li'S has immensely in
creased, letters Of coincidence and sym.
pathy arriving from all parts OF the
country. These areall kept by Srcre.
Brown, and will be delivered 10 her
when the President is in such condition
that her attention can be called to other
matters.
The prohibition against talking bears
severely upon the rreSi lent, who is
fond of conver>ing. DR.. Woodward
said to him this afternoons: "Mr. Pres
idcnt yun must remember you have Il
bullet II de in your diaphragm, and that
every time you talk you move your di-
aphragm, and add 20 the risks of iuham-
atom
The President smiled and was silent
Frequently Ii" will not even ask when
he wants y glass OF water, hut will
touch his mouth with hts finger.
The play lulneSS of his humpr some
times breaks through al restraint, how
ever. Con. Rockwell said II his evening:
"lIe likes to drink water, like all per-
sons in feeble condition, but the doc.
tors don't want him to drink much. He
knows this, asks fer lit as little as DOS
sihe. Once, after Mr.. Crulnp had given
him some chicken broth, he said, look
ing toward Crump, quizzically: "Well,
after chicken bruth, what neXt?"
Crump did not take the hint, and he
went on: as it medicine-or food--or
water?' pauSing between each word.
Crump understood, and handed him
glass Of water. The presidenh clappr,i
his hands in mimic applause, as much
IL, to say "Good boy"
Col. Rockwell further said this even
ing that the di>Coloration of skin was
hardly noticeable, and was not more
than he had seen the President have
when in health. He said that last nigh,
the President slept unlnterruptedly
about an hour, but that ordinarily his
Sleep was success on of maps.