Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-12-14

WAOHllNOlVlN
CENTENNIAL.
wv. Dudley Mabry in Self Culture" for
December.l
One hundred years ago the sprtof the j
immortal Washington took leave of this
world Although he had nearly COM
pletsd his siXty-eighth year of life,
every indication promised him yet many
years more in which 10 enjoy the re-
spect and affection Of his grateful
countrymen. Nature had endowed him
with superb physique and sound con
sttution. In his prime he stood six feet
and one inch in height. weighed from
30 to 220 pounds, ard possessed thee
agility of Il panther and the strength of
a lion Temperate diet outdoor exercise
and labor, and regularity of habit had
developed and preserved his physical
powers to a remarkable degree. They
had never been Impaired to the slightest
extent by any vicious habit. No vice
had ever been able 10 fix its gnawing
tooth upon the fibre 81 his nhexibe
character. He had therefore come near
| ten erect of form. }isitii the glow of
| health upon his cheeks with natural
| force undated and eye unaimmed In-
/ aided he WAS able to mount his spirited
| horse and ride for hours without f;a-f
tigue. Men BY many years his Juniors
found II no easy task 70 keep pace With
him on foot.
How Incredible, therefore. it seemed.
/ 4, *
morning in his accustpfles health and
! spirits that he had bur one more night
1 % ike. The morning MAS damp and
ehill I.eaden clouds hung heavily in
fthe cola December air. After breakfast
4 proyemsnts IN front Of this home called
began to fail, which turned first @ sect
4 into the house with fsinpness upon his:
checks and snow clinging Is his vener%
1 able hair He was asked if he would
l5thatit was not necessary, as his great
coat had kept him dry His method
OF rest leas 4 change of work liz there
dinrsr was called. After t,ilirssr he8
1.-TWO O'clock in the afJeineon he COM
plainea Of chiliiness and r;is.ssa. bat,
lsrontinusd his labor. liz the evening h@
came q the sli,per-table as usual. but
lons drank n cup of TIA.
After supper he retIad to the parlol.
and, IS MAS his custom spant the even.
l ing til nine 8 clock in coz vsrsation with
his Wife and other ,nenbers Of thu
.ihausehola At that hour he was in the
habit Of going to bed. but on this night
he retired 10 his library with Col Tobias
/ Lear, a gentleman 81 efitca9ion and re-
fnement wEo had bern for many years
4 with General WASHINGTON, first az his
4 private secretary and afterwart as su-.
4 perintendent of his private affairs. They
remained together until near midnight
4 During which time the soreness in his
throat and his hoarsensss grew MORSE.
To a suggestion Of CD l.e;.s; he replied,
No. You know / neSti take anything
4 for Il cold: let ii 60 as II came. When
HE retired to his bedroom his Wife up
4 braided him for remaining up 50 late
lsssieeiaIlN when he WAS not Weli. He
4 returned this memorable reply cams
as soon rs my business was arc,.a-
4 plished You know tina. through Il long
i iifosit has been my unvaried rtle never
4 10 put off I'LL tomorrow tho 9nties 9bieh
should be performed today 1lllaSs
words become onnlausly slsnlth.lisi
4 when Ne consider that during his sn0rt
i Illness he said 10 those about him thar
The had felt from the beginning that he
4 should not get well.
4 He went to bed, not to Sleep. hat II
4 spend the remainder OF the night IL
l5feverish rrstiessness. His wife wanted,
4 tn call the servants and send for a
4; doctor. bur he would not consent lest
y She herself should take cold: neither
would he permit the rest of any one to
be disturbed till morning. When day
II light came Il messenger MAS sent In
4 haste for DR.. Graik. for many YEARS a
bosom friend OF Washington and, IN
Il the revolutionary war assistant dlree-
tor general in tila hpspita! department
Meantime the overseer was called la.
EWho opened VEIN and let ont d sna!3
quantity of blooti But this brought tfe
sufferer no RELIEF DIR. Graik soon arr
4 rived and did alt. for the distinguished
lpatient that affection could prompt and
skill accomplish but without avaiL
: Doctors Dick, Of Alexandria, and Brown
Iof Port Tobacco, werescalled IN consul
tation. All day the struggle continued.
Ebut III spite Of all that could be done
the disease steadily gained upon us vic
tim. Before the sun Went down AL hope
had gone. Washington, though il erea,
pain, uttered no word of complaint, bur
endured with patience the sulfsrings
that We're to be unto death.
owing 10 swollen and inflamed condi-
ton of his throat, any effort 10 speak
was attended with great pain. while IL
was very difficult fol, him TO make him
, self understood. He Therefore spoke
but little. What few words he did utter
Mere listened 10 eagerly and We're treas
ured up in the grateful memories OF
those TO whom they We're spoken. One
Of his old servants, while gently
smoothing out his pillow. asked him
some question, TO which he repiied, Il
am very Ill. To DR.. Craik he said 4
am dying, sir; but am not afraid te
die He was the most self-possessed
person in the room. frequently he ex-
pressed regret that he should be tbs
cause of trouble and anxiety TO others.
Il His mind MAS clear and he knew thar
the end was at hand. He called his
wife TO him and told her TO 90 70 his
isesk, look in his private drawer, and
bring him two papers she would fine