The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-01
PERSONAL AND ANECDOTAL.
The Time When He Was Not Accessible-He
Had No Fear of Death.

TIL Time When He Was Not Accessible-He
Had No Fear of Death.
Washington Special to Philadelphia Press.
Vice president Hendricks was one of the most
accessible men in Washington. He was seen or
the streets or about the hotel lobbies as often as
any man OF prominence in town, and would reply
just as pleasantly, and take up a converse
ton just as easily in one of these public
places as when he had the opportunity in his
room to say yes or no when a visitors card was
presented.
Hhe only walk when he could not be inter
rupted was his first promenade in the morning.
Then he took his wife with him, and walked
for half an hour up and down the avenue. She
did all the talking, evidently, and proba-
bly, gave him advice enough to last for
the day, for his face carried an expression
of receptive meekness then that never was
noticeable at other times. Seated in his favorite
place in the hotel lobby in the evenings, he
always was a noticeable figure. His old fash
Toned low-cut vest and big expanse of white
shirt front and collar contrasted strikingly with
his rudy face and brown, rumpled hair, and
is bright eyes and broad high forehead showing
out from under his fiat m silk hat gave
him every appearance of mental strength. No
man in the crowd about the Hobbies of an even
ing seemed in better health than he, and none
seemed more likely to have a long and honored
life before them.
His looks" said his secretary, Mr.. East,
speaking of him to-day. had no indication of
his real weakness, and nothing of his manner in
public told of the dread that was always upon
him. l remember very we'll the first time the
symptoms of a sudden death showed themselves.
1t was at the Hot Springs, Ark, where we had
been visiting several days. We were playing
whist one evening in the parlor-a game Of
which he was particularly fond-and he was
1--.-- IL ---l- III
when he tried to raise his left hand
from the table. He could not do it, and his face
became ashy-white in a moment. l saw some
thing was the matter, but said nothing, and he
went on playing, saying only a few words until
his hand was out. Then he excused himself and
went to his room. The doctors told him that it
was a slightattack of paralysis, and that he would
soon be all right again, but he never recovered
from the terror that came with that attack.
Every day he dreaded that u would return to
him. He had no fear of sudden death, and often
said he would rather die in that way, without
pain and without the consciousness of coming
dissolution, but he did fear being left helpless
and paralytic, or lying among strangers or alone.
Except that his wife was III another room, /
think he would have been satisfied with the man
ner of his death. Last summer he used to put
his hand to his head, and complain of the pain.
He knew what it meant. and it troubled him.
he felt, also. as every man of brains must when
he finds his thoughts, that used to flow easily,
ologged, and heavy, and hard to hold"
His Appreciation of Political Humor.
New York Tribune.
When the Vice-president was here to attend
General Grants funeral an incident occurred
that illustrated his keen appreciation of the
humor of political life. He was assigned to a
four horse carriage In the procession Immediately
behind the six horse carriage of the President.
He entered it with his private secretary. There
was a long delay, and he grew lonesome. l
stood by the carriage and began chatting with
him, when he said that he would like some one
of the senators to come and occupy the carriage
with him. | volunteed to carry an invitation to
any one that he might designate, and started off
with this injunction: ASK some one who is
and is q Democrat" 1 went down the
line OF senatorial carriages and could
find only one gentleman who answered to the
direction. 1t was Senator Eustis. of Louisiana,
who had just been quoted in an interview in a
savage assault on the President, with whose
views on certain questions the Vice-president
was known also to differ. 1t struck me that
their presence in a carriage together might ex-
cite and l was not willing to bring
tn EN- together without first consulting Mr.. Hen
bricks. l went back and told him that Senator
Eustis was the only Democrat | could find who
was not on the committee and asked if | should
invite him to come into the Vice presidents COM
pany. Hendricks replied affirmatively in an alb
sent minded manner, but as he caught sight of
the smile that was spreading over my face he
reused up and said hastily: "Whof Eustis9 No,
for heavens sake, no. Anybody but Eustis.
The newspapers would never let US hear the last
of it." Senator Blair got the invitation and &C
companied Mr.. Hendricks to Riverside.
MIR. Hendricks's Domestic Life.
New York World.
Vice-president Hendricks leaves a widow who
has almost as many personal ACC uaintances as he
had. Their married life was one of unbroken
happiness, and they were as near inseparable as
husband and wife can be. He was anxious that
she should not leave him a moment during the
last hours of his illness, and it must be a cause
of regret to her as long as she lives that she hap
| pened to be absent from his bedside the moment
he expired. Mrs. Hendricks was the constant
companion of her husband in nearly all his la
| horior1c nolitical % nnainnc Sho luod o. 4 Mach