The state journal., 1884-10-25
THE LATE JAMES WORMLEY.
His Daughters Marriage to Paul
Girard-Dangers of Lithotomy.
a STAFF Correspondent PhIla. Press.

some facts relating to the late james
Wormley, the dead colored hotel
keeper of this city, which may be
interesting. The life Of Mr.. Worm
ley, in very many respects, was an
example worthy of emulation by
members Of his race, since, by honest
industry and untiring perseverance,
he achieved a place in public esteem
which but few colored men have ever
attained.
Mr.. Wormley was endowed with
more than the average amount of
that reliable stap.e IN life, common
sense. Possessing that, he was, of
course, man of the strictest integ-
rity. 1t is safe to say that for years
before his death his credit was good
for any reasonable amount of money,
that man who was fortunate enough
to secure his endorsement could get
his note discounted at any bank
where James Wormley was known.
If the latter was temporarily short he
had only TO apply to such men as
Mr.. w. w. Corcoran, Mr.. George W.
Riggs and other Washington capital,
lists and get all the cash he wanted.
In color Mr.. Wormley was a light
mulatto, with pure Caucasian features.
In his department, while always
courteous, he was always calm and
self-possessed. Respecting himself,
he was respected by others, white as
well as black. Unlike many of his
race he never "talked politics" He
was republican and never hesitated
to aVow himself such when questioned
as to his political faith. | do not
mean to especially commend his reti
cence in this regard, although con-
sidering the nature of his business,
his policy was a wise one in a bust
ness point of view. If any colored
man doubts it let him contrast the
careers of James Wormley and Geo.
T. Downing. Tue one wouldn't talk
politics and knew how to run
hotel, and first class one at that;
the other is deeply absorbed in politi-
cal problems but is yet to be known
as an eminently successful Boniface,
Mr.. Wormley numbered among
his warm personal friends such men
as Charles Sumner, whose caterer he
was, Col. John W. Forney and Hon.
Sam Hooper, Of Massachusetts,
who, when representative in Con-
gress, lived in an elegant mansion
opposite Wormley's hosiery.
1t was one of Mr.. Wormley's
daughters that Paul Girard, an
attache of the French legation here,
fell in love with and married some
fifteen years ago She was a pretty,
modest and accomplished girl, only
trife "off COLOR and this handsome
young Frenchman was very proud of
her. Being in every respect worthy
her husband failed to see the color
line, and possessed himself of her in
a legal and honorable manner. No
one who saw the happy couple walk
ing on the avenue about year later,
propelling baby carriage containing
a bouncing "pledge," could doubt
tina: they were very found of each
other. But their happiness was of
brief duration, for she died in France
few years after the marriage, which,
it is needless to say, stirred Wash
ington society, especially the south
ern element of it, to its profoundest
depth,
| saw Mr.. Wormley only a few
weeks ago looking in excellent
health, but he said he had suffered
terribly from calculus for long time
and had determined to have the ope-
ration of lithotomy performed The
result Of the operation has been made
public. The operation is regarded
among surgeons as an exceedingly
dangerous one, and patients desiring
to have it performed are always made
aware of the fearful risks they incur.
/ recall three fatal cases: One was
that of Napoleon III, who lived but
three days after the the operation of
lithotomy. Another was that of
Hon. Hiram .Wallbridge, of New
York, who survived it but a very
short time. And still another recent
case was that of Rev. Father Francis
\. Boyle, of St. Peters church, this
city, who actually died On the opera
ting table while the cruel knife was
finding its way to the impedimenta.
The fact that patients are found will.
ing to submit to the operation in so
many instances gives something of
an idea of the terrible nature of the
diseases and the dreadful suffering it