Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-09-26
NEW YORK LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS. |

General Thomas IL. Rugcr, who has
shown Ii Hung Chang so mtuy pleas
ant official attentions during the lat
ter's visit to New York was at one
time governor of Georgia. His name
will not be found in any printed list
of our governors, and yet it is fact
that he once occupied the executive
office at Milledgeville for several
months.
After our reconstruction convention
had completed its labors, general
Meade, then commanding this mill
tary district, requested governor
Charles j. Jenkins to draw warrant
on treasurer Jack Jones for $40 to
pay the expenses of the Trainer of the
new constitution.
This was in January, 1868. Gov
ernor Jenkins replied promptly, say
ing that after careful consideration he
respectfully declined to comply with
the request, us it would be violation
of both the state and federal constitu-
tions.
Within three days time general
Mead notified the governor that he
felt in duty bound to remove him
from office, as his refusal to issue the
warrant was an obstruction of the
reconstruction laws. The general then
issued the following order:
Headquarters Third military dis.
trict, department of Georgia, Alabama
and Florida, Atlanta, Ga. January ID,
1869. General Order No. g.:
IL. Charles }. Jenkins, provisional
governor, and John Jones. provisional
treasurer of the state of Georgia, hav-
ing declined to respect the instruc-
tions OF, and failed to cooperate with
the major-general commanding the
Third military district, are hereby
removed from Office.
80. BY virtue of the authority
granted by the supplem entary recon-
struction act of Congress passed July
10, 1867, the following officers are
detailed for duty in the district of
Georgia: brevet brigadier-general
Thomas H. Ruger, colonel Thirty
third infantry, to be governor of the
state of Georgia; brevet Charles +.
Rockwell, ordnance corps, United
States army, to be treasurer of the
state of Georgia.
80. The above named officers will
proceed without delay to Milledge-
vile, Ga, and enter upon the dis
charge of the duties devolving upon
them, subject to instructions from
these headquarters. By order of
GENERAL MEADE.
General Ruger was at that time
comparatively young man. He was
West Pointer, brave soldier and a
gentleman. His instructions were
distasteful to him, but he was obliged
to obey them. At Milledgville the
general visited the executive Office,
where he found governor Jenkins.
The governor was a statesman of the
old school; an aristocrat of imposing
dignity man of Roman courage and
integrity. He was always stately and
formal, and his nobility OF character
caused both friends and foes to re-
spect him.
The young soldier felt that he was
at disadvantage when he met this
veteran diplomat and constitutional
lawyer, but he tried to discharge his
mission as courteously as possible.
After some preliminary talk, he came
to the point, and presented the order
from general Meade.
As he expected, the governor quietly
declined to vacate his Office.
~ regret to say," remarked Kruger,
"that it now becomes my painful duty
to take possession of the Office and
exercise it's functions.
"Are you authorized to forcibly
eject me?" asked the governor, sternly.
81 am sorry to say that those are
my instructions" was the answer.
"To the extent of Offering me per-
sonal indignity?"
unfortunately, yes, but l trust
you will not make it necessary"
Governor jenkins then informe ed his
visitor that he would retire, and leave
him to act us military governor under
his commission. The two parted with
mutual professions of personal esteem
never to meet aguin.
Governor Jenkins carried about
800, 600 of the states money to New
York, where, he deposited it to pay
the public debt He also carried the
great seal of the state with him, and
returned it after the democrats had re-.
gained control of affair.
General Ruger made very conser-
vative governor. He obeyed orders,
and was glad enough when relieved.
Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, Nathan
iel Hawthorne's daughter, has decided
to devote her life to the work OF a
nurse in hospital for the cure OF
cancer, to be established in the heart
of the quarters of the poor in New
York city. She has been living apart
from her husband, George Parsons
Lathrop, for several months, as nurse
in the cancer hospital at One Hun
dredth AID Sixth street, under the
charge of DR.. W. I. Bull. A month
ago, after her eXperie nee had taught
her what the work was, she stated the
purpose which had been maturing in
uCi Aihte iOi u iohS tAhAN, ~ lhhhO -
small hospital in the East side,
where the poor suffering from cancer
should be treated without cost. Mrs.
Lathrop has been in accord with her
husband in this purpose. She went to
her nurses probation with his consent.
and she has his agreement in respect
to the special hospital. Mrs. Lathrop
and her husband aroused much inter.
est when they became members of the
Roman communion some years ago.
Rose Hawthorne was born for a devo-
tee, and the present phase of her life
is not to be wondered at. Since her
little son died-a boy as lovely as that
"star- headed" Astyanax of Hector and
Andomnche, and full in his infant
glory OF the promies of another Haw-
thorue-Mrs. Lathrop has had small
happiness in life.