Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-20
EX-PREsIDENr ARTHUR.
some Gossip About His Reported Sick
ness.

some Gossip About His Reported Sick
NEW YORK, March 19.--Thereis good
deal Of talk about ex-President ,Arthur's
condition, but he is by no means as sick
a man as some Of the papers make out he
Isl. 1t is probably true that he has not
been well man at any time since he re-
turned from Washington, and his bodily
ailments have finally had their effectupon
his Usually streng nerve centres.l But
this need not necessarily mean that death
Is approaching. Gen. ArthuTisouly about
81 years old, and under the usual cOndi-
ions would have the constitutional
strength tO0VercOme almost any ordinary
disease, but in taking account of his stock
OF vitality it must be remem-
bered that the ex-President has for twen-
tyyfYe Years been very high liver. Per-
haps no man in the country has enjoyed
the fruits of the table and the companion
ship OF interesting people more lavishly
than he has. With all his trading in poll
tics and manipulation of men, he was a
welcome guest IN many of the best Cir
Giles of New Y ork society long before he
became the Executive of the nation.
While handling politics he made close
friends of individuals who did not rank
with bankers and other wealthy men, as
we'll as with those who did, yet, when he
became the Executive of the nation, he
rose to the dignity of the position and
warded offmany of the men who had here
tofore been conspicuous figures of not
only his political but also his social life.
Since his return many or these mel have
not helped to make his life pleasant.
HIS STAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
- ~
He spent his salary in giving those men,
Orable entertainments that we're broader
in scope and more entfcing in character
than any that had ever been given in the
Executive Mansion by any OF the Presi-
dents. His life for more.than three years
was, a romance of pleasure, as well as OF
useful work. The failure of his party to
give him the chance of another four years
of fame made him moody and distrustful.
He thought it his due, and forgot in his
chagFin that he not only did not work for
the place, but permitted no one who could
speak with authority 10 labor for him.
When he returned 10 New York he
sought the seelusion Of has own house. and
few OF his old companions have gathered
about him. The socialc circles that cuurted
him before and after he was President
have been denied the pleasure of his soci-
etV.a Disease followed disappointment.
His stomach, which had so often held the
choicest yiands known to humanity, first
rebeIled. Both the digestive organs and
liver failed to do their work. Finally mel
ancholy took hold of this once strong man,
and is now lighting to make him its VIC
tim.
ADDED TO THESE COMPLICATIONS
came the lack of the financial resources
proper to maintain his position as ex-
President of the nation. Some of his clos
est friends say that for financial reasons
he Stunned bis old expensive society and
undertook to live within himself. They
think that this quiet life is, perhaps, as
much responsible for his present condI-
tion as anything else. OF highly sensi-
tive nature, educated to the best the land
can afford, the ex-President returned to
the city he had 80 long honored, and in q
great measure governed, to find himself
comparatively apOor man, and by the
natural demands Of the Presidential office
he had so well filled lost many of his old
associates. Added to this was the feeling
that his party had failed 10 honor him by
a denomination, and that his State had
not treated him properly in neglecting to
elect him to the Senatorship in place OF
Mr.. EYarts.