Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-23
sSIsa. 4. Wheeler

w las ~. et s2GStHf.
The death Of ex- President Arthur recalls
the fact that but two survivors Of the office
to which ne wa7 elected are living, Hanpi.
bal HamIin, who was elected on tic ticket
with Mr.. LincolD in 1860, aud William 4.
Wheeler, who was counted in in 1876,
On March 4, 1881, both of these men retired
from public life, the former ending his term
as United States Senator from Maine. the
latter ending his fraudulent tern, or Vice.
President. In spite ofhis seventy eight years
Mr.. Hamlin is COM paratively an active man
and struts the streets of Washington OF she
coldest days OF winter without au ovsrcOa.
DIR. Wheeler, on the other hand. ten wears
MIR. Hemlin's junior, has dropped, with
Hayes himself, completely ont CT public sight
and public mind. III fact, Sc deep is bis ob.
scurity that it has been gencrail; believed
he was dead and was 50 stated by many
papers commenting on the death Of General
Arthur.
Mr.. Wheeler waa born in the town Of
Malone, \. y, and has always lived there.
Inc people OF Franklin county nave been
proud OF their representative, and displayed
their confidence by making him their Dis
trlct attorney shortly after he attained his ma
jority, by sending him to both branches osthe
Legislature, 20 Congress for ten years>and
10 the Constitutional Convention Of 1867.
Hc was president pro TEN. of the State Sen.
ate and his abilities as a presiding officer
were so generally recognized thai ne WAS
chosen president Of the last State Constifu.
tlonGi Convention by 100 votes cut Of the
100 on the first b&llo:. Mr. Wheeler was
recognized in ali de!iberative bodies as
master spirit. His abilities were Of q uYo.
nounced order, his nina was analylicol.
For years his hand, unopposed, had shaped
the policy and directed the :nauagsnent Of
The republican party ii his section Of Inc
State. His handsome nome was the Mecca
to which republicans from all over the cOun-
try found their way during the summer and
fall OF 1876, when Mr Wheeler WAS The
nominee for Fice-P President.
For year or two subsequent TO hi. retire
ment from the Vice Presidency and from
active. political life the ex-Vice. President
could have been seen every season driving
home in roomy family 5arouche accom-
panied by his wife and daughter, northward
up the slope Of the mountains TO the sum-
nit OF the great Appalachian divide At Loon
Lake, over and around Old Kate
Mountain, forward iuto S5ayanac Val
ley and so on, making ia the d.
tour the complete circuit Of Qi? White face
and ending the journey at the beautiful lit
tie Mirror Lake or the romantic Lake
Placld. The distance covered in this ouc-
ney was about sixty miles and occupied $50
days, the party usually stopping over night
at Loon Lake house or some other note! on
the way. Later on, FOR several years past,
these drives have been disseminated, and in
their stead Mr.. Wheeler now bowed and
broken, would be seen occasionally. and
then for short trips in the suburbs only. The
sunken eyes and dull, lcaden, opium, -coore2
complexion caused much talk among the
country people, until MS appearances became
so common that it ceased to create food for
comment and gossip.
The details Of the total collapse off figure
in this country'3 politics whose prominence
neec not he reiterated are sad and painful
to narrate. The statesman's physician. the
venerable and respected DR.. Theodore GAY,
is most reticent, and the neghbors and VIII
! layers, however muc: they may discuss it
by their own iiresides and in The village
slore, speak of the case 10 strangers with
the utmost reserve or not at all.
BE the cause what il may. the fact re-
mains that the once strong and aggressive
political leader IS now u wreck of humanity
a mere child, deferred to by none, peevish
impatient, helpless! Before his condition
became matter of secret knowledge in
Malone, the statesman's house was oVerrun
with visitors. Those ;Tho had any point
to gain in which his name might be of SER
vice, hesitated not TO call at bis house for an
audience, and no one left the mansion with
out the recommendation. signature CT
promise of influence sought, which, in most
cases, II i5 but fair to presume, would rover
have been given but for the condition Of
the donor. This was one Of tho first Incl
dents that called the attention of the cx.
Vice Presidents friends and relatives more
closely to him. Since that time his life has
been spent talmostwholly at his own residence,
from which visitors to him are excluded. or
being driven about the country in his car
riage. His relatives studiously keep him
from either public or social usscmblaees
The republican politicians of Northern New
York who were wont to consult him for I'D.
vice and influence have long since ceased
their pigrimages.
The ex-Vice- Presidents family are devo-
voted to him, and are untiringin their efforts
TO provide for the invalid's comfort. He
clings tenaciously to his physician, DIR. Gay,
who lives but half g block distant from him
and who Is in almost constant attendance.
II the latter detels his stated visits but for
an hour, he is sent for at once Not night
passes that the physician does net attend
aud assist the sufferer to procure y sem
! blance Of sleep.