New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-26
MEMORIES OF GARFIELD.
A VISIT TO THE WIDOWS HOME.

An
CLEVELAND. Feb 24.--The traveller on the Lake
Shore Railroad IS pretty to know when the
train is approaching Mentor station by movement
among the passengers who begin to look earnestly
from the windows on the southern side OF the car,
and whose faces take on an expression of serious
, interest. Not much can be seen of the Garfield
farm as the train passes swiftly by but the eager
ness to get glimpse of the home of the martyred
President shows that here in Northern Ohio at least
his memory is not growing dim in the hearts of the
people There on the Ridge is the red-roofed house
with it's group OF farm-buildmRs. If you know the
place, you can even identify the window OF the
little library where he wrote the letter accepting
the Chicago nomination. These are the meadows
where in the old times before there was any thought
of the high honor of the Presidency he used 20 like
to swing n scythe and see how much of the skill
and strength of his boyhood days, when he worked
in the bayfield, still remained. There Is the young
orchard he planted, and the lane where he often
walked at sunset. In a moment the scene
yanishes but the thoughts and memories it calls up
remain ard the talk Of the passengers is about the
late President his once happy home and his cruel
fate, until the train rolls into the big smoky depot
| III Cleveland, and they separate.
Here in Cleveland you reminded CT President
Garfield at almost every step. His picture gazeS at
YOU from shop windows and from the walls OF offices
and parOrs wherever you 60 Many OF the shops
display photographs of all the members OF his
family and some have relics to sell Tor the benefit
OF the Monument Fund, made from the cataialque
use, at his funeral With all these reminders con-
stantly before your eyes, the TRAGEDY OF last year
seems to have ended only yesterday, and the
scmbrc smoky atmosphere of the city appears IKE
fitting sign of universal mourning.
The new home of the berraved famlly-chosen by
/ Nfr, we'll q
desire to Oo near the tomb of the Presldent-ls
modest ittle wooden house, which looks all the
| more unprctcntious because of the proximity OF
| many big mansions such rs the rich Clcyelandcr
DELIGHTS in II stands on Euclid-ave., we'll out TO-
| ward The suburbs and about midway between the
business end of this famous street and its country
| terminus at Lake View Cemetery. With its broad
lawn and its cosy rooms, It is cheerful, home-llke
| place Probably the Garields will live there for
some wears. until the education Of the younger
| children is well advanced. The Mentor farm Will
| he kept, however. as the homestead, and much OF
the time OF the simmer season Will DO spent there
So many sacred memories cluster around IL mat
they will never let it into the hands of strangers
| The Washington house, where they lived Tor ten
vears during the sessions of Congress- will be sold
| in accordance with the purpose General Garfield
formed when he was elected. Mrs. Garfield has no
desire ever to live IN Washington again. The
| house ought To find purchaser who will valuc 1t
obovc m cost rs so much eligible real estate. Most
of the best work of Garield's life done in the
studv on the second floor that looks ont on LIST.
| His Ohio home was place of rest; 5ut IN the
Washington house he worked necessarily. The
wears he spent there were the most fruitful OF ms
cnreer in intellectual growth and political success
Tine two older Garfield boys are in their first year
| at Williams College. Harry mears to be lawyer
and before the father died had with his instruction
! gone n long way IN Blackstone James has liking
for an active business career Their aVocltiOnb VIII
| nor he determined, however, until they are grad
| mated In whatever occupation they may engage,
| their mother desires that they shall 1--we IN ONO
and become identified with their fathers State.
! The two Younger boys and the daughter Mollie
attend school IN Cleveland, and with their mother
! and grandmother form the family circle
There are many visitors to the house OF mourning
| in EucId-ave but the circle of friends naturally
| tnnds To marrow itself and more to those who
y,nrn Lnnwn well and liked well in the years before
General Garfield reached tie height Of power ana
| honor which made everybody eager TO DC counted
| among his intimate acquaintance lime mas not
| yet Brought consolation 10 Inc TWO stricken Wo.ien
pon whom the blow of the Presidents assaSsnat on
fell with greatest force. The cruel tragedy OF iast
summer and fall is sill too near Tor them 10 forget
il for . moment SYM athletic tilends Try 10 Iaik on
other subjects, but the conversation aiWayS dIlltS
hack to the great grief which is never absent from
| the hearts or the wife aud mother Perhaps 1t Is
| more consdcrate in the visitor TO talk on the one
| topic which occupies their minds than To endeayorto
| hiring no subjects which they can feel little III
| rest All who have borne heavy sorrow know
that silence makes its fortunes more intense ana
that there is some relief when ut oil the tulhcss
| of the heart the mouth spcabcth1
| Mrs Garfield is taking an active part IN the pre-
pararion of work containing selection IRON ne
sprccbes lectures and other public addresses OF the
late President. The plan Is &c PRINT IN one or two
vuumes such of his Oratorlcal efforts rs have per-
manent interest and show best his power ana range
| M n statesman and scholar. The labor OF c0mplla-
| tion is being performed by President linsdac, OF
| U,ram College, with Mrs. Garlclds counsel and
assistance A good deal OF original matter VIII 20
INFO the book in the torn of notes and OF introduce
| tory articles explaining the clrcun stances under
which the speeches were delivered. and the history
and attitude of the public questions to which they
| relate Nothing has yet been decided about the
| anthorized biography. Mrs Garfield wisely thinks
| there should be no haste To publish the book ami
| shat il can well wait until the hurriedly written
| lives manufactured for campaign purposes ana re,
| publlshed after his death have had thelf run ana
the public is ready to view ms career III true MS
| made No doubt the task Will he cOnuded 10 some
! one whose place in literature is already won, and
who will not seek the work Tor The reputation IL
After he biography appears, but perhaps not until
many wears eapse, there Will probably be published
under Mrs GarieldS supervision one OF tw3 p yoi
| umes made up of selections from the mhrtyr.fresl-
dents corresbondence. In the letters which friends
can furnish and IN the press copies when he pre-
| served of much of his correspondence with public
| mon exists a mine of valuable material. These
| letters cover the entire period OF the war the
Reconstruction epoch the contest over the htlona
Finances ard the recent events Ill politics ana
| legislation and abound IN frank, manly. vigorous
onInions and criticisms. Well dlgested they would
form conscientious record Oh Neherl! uaihei ~,
| life and thought from 1860 to 1850, written by his
| own hand SO constant his habit of writing to
| n few intimate friends with freedom and iullhess oil
his experiences his readings III Literature science
and potical economy. his work in legislation and IN
the field of National politics. and his views OF public
| men and measures, that an AUTOBIOGRAPHY couIu
| almost Inc made MP from his letters. In justice TO
| himself and to others his correspondence If pub
| lshed will be edited with great care. IL may not
| he nrinted until most of the men who played
prominent parts with him in public life have passed
| of the stage
| TOPICS IN CUBA.