, 1889-08-15
JAcKsoN,s RUGGED NATURE.
His Battle for Life and Patient Suffering
TIL the Last

TIL the Last.
Andrew jackson was blessed with a
rugged constitution, or he must have
succumbed many years before to disease
that preyed on him for thirty-one years.
He suffered from a wound received in
1906, which often produced hemorrhages
and chronic diarrhea- The medical
treatment in vogue by the best physi-
clans of the time prescribed bleeding for
the hemorrhage and calomel for impair
cd Digestion course that is now looked
on rs homicidal Yet he stood the raw
ages of disease, the loss Of blood, and
corrosions Of poison for a third Of n CEN
fury.
During the last two years of his life
dropsical symptoms developed, one lung
was gone, and the other diseased. He
chewed tobacco necessarily, though it
aggravated Indigestion and gave him the
most agonizing pain in the head. He
sat motionless and silent for long days,
absorbed In stoical endurance of pain,
and no suffering ever drew q groan from
his lips. Many children Of the family
connection played about the Hermitage
and he would not have their noisy sport
stopped. Once n little nephew ran
against him in his play. The sick mar
fell back, white as death, breathless with
agony. When he could speak he drew
the boy to him and said, with plying
tenderness:
"Oh, my lear boy, you don't know
how much pain you have given your
uncle"
He was anxious about what posterity
would think of him, and his own doctor
told him he would be condemned for
prescribing people for their opinions.
He answered with his old time energy:
calhoun and the Nullifers should
not nave been prescribed; l would have
had them hung, sir, rs high as Hannah,
and posterity would have pronounced it
the best act of my life"
He was pestered by office seekers and
hero worshipers to the day of his death.
June 8, 1916, he called his family about
him and said good-by TO Zach one. my
dear children" he said, edo not grieve
for me. l have suffered much bodily
pain, but my sufTerings afe as nothing
to the blessed ~Saviour's." He spoke
clearly for fully half an hour, and con
cluded with; "My dear children and
friends and servants, l hope and trust to
meet you all in heaven, both black and
white" The last phrase he repeated
with tenderest solicitude-"both black
and white"
At half past o his son took his hand
and whispered in his ear: "Father, how
do you feel' Do you know me?'
Yes, ! know you. Iwould know you
all If Icould see. Bring my spectacles."
When they were put on; "Where is my
daughter and Marian? God will take
care of you for me. am my Gods. /
belong to him. / go but n short time
before you, and / want to meet you all,
white and black, In heaven"
Every one about the bed and the black
~ervants on the piazza burst into tears
and sobbed. He half raised himself and
spoke again:
"What Is the matter with my dear
children Oh, do not cry. Be good chill
dren, and we will all meet in heaven"
These were his last words. A half
hour later he breathed his last in the
arms of Maj. Lewis, who laid the body
down and closed the eyes. The express
sion of pain fell like n mask from the
serene face, and the natural look of the
old warrior returned in death.-Chicago
Tribune