The Irish standard., 1901-09-21

months. The surgeons and physicians
gave him the best attention that the
medical science of that day had fitted
them for; they searched diligently for
the bullet, but, as the post-mortem de,
veloped, they searched in the wrong
direction and never found it. There
were no X-rays twenty years ago; and
antiseptics and other aids of surgeons
were practically or perhaps wholly I'M
known. Day by day the country alter
mated between hope and fear. Favor,
able reports were issued, only to be
followed by unfavorable ones. For a
long while the wounded man lay in
the White House, to which he had
been taken Immediately after the
shooting; but the terrific heat Of the
summer caused the medical men to
grant his oft-repeated request to be
taken to within sight of the sea, and
on Sept. 6 he was taken to Elberon,
N. j. Nine days later blood poisoning
developed, and, after a few hours of
Inconsistencies, he died peacefully on
Sept. 10, His body was taken back to
Washington by special train and lay
in state in the rotunda of the capitol
for two days. A long special train
took the body to Cleveland, O., where
it was buried beside Lake Erie on
Sept. 26.
The attorneys for Guiteau, the as
sassin, advanced the plea of insanity,
and a hard fight for his life was made
in a trial that was remarkable in
many ways. But the verdict was
death, and Guiteau was hanged in
Washington city.
The memorial services in honor of
Garfield, held in the hall of the House
OF Representatives on Feb. 81, 1882,
were the most splendidly solemn that
the history Of the United States has
so far recorded. Mr.. Blaine was the
orator; the audience was comprised of
President Arthur, the cabinet, all the
members Of the diplomatic corps, dis
tinguished men from all over the coun-
try, and people from all walks of life.
Mr.. Blaine's Grafton was a master
piece. He followed the life of his sub
ject closely from boyhood to the grave,
Illuminating the biography with bril-
liant anecdotes that were at once dig
niffed and full of the character Of Gar
field; and his peroration was such a
burst Of poetry, such symphony of
phrase, as has seldom been heard.
"Great in life, he was surprisingly
great in death. For no cause, in the
very frenzy Of wantonness and wick
edness, by the red hand of murder, he
was thrust from the full tide of this
worlds interest, from its hopes, its
aspirations, its victories, into the Wis
ible presence Of death-and he did not
quail. Not alone for one short mo-
ment, in which, stunned and dazed,
he could give up life, hardly aware of
it's REIMBURSEMENT; but through days
of deadly languor, through weeks of
agony, that was not less agony be-
cause silently borne, with clear sight
and calm courage he looked into his
open grave. What blight and ruin met
his anguished eyes, whose lips may
tell-what brilliant, broken plans, what
'baff1ed, high ambitions, what sunder.
Ing of strong, warm, manhood's friend
ship, what bitter rending of sweet
household ties!
Behind him proud, expectant ma
ton, great host of sustaining friends
a cherished and happy mother, wear
ing the full, rich honors Of her early
toll and tears; the wife of his youth
whose whole life lay in his; the little
boys not yet emerged from. childhood's
day of frolic; the fair young daughter
the sturdy sons just springing into
closest companionship. claiming every
day, and every day rewarding, a faith
er's love and care; and in his heart
the eager, rejoicing power to meet al.
demands. And his soul was moi
shaken. His countrymen were thrilled
with instant, profound and universal
sympathy. Masterful in his mortal
weakness, he became the center of a
nations love, enshrined in the prayers
of world. But all the love and all
the sympathy could not share with
him his suffering. He trod the wine
press alone. With unfaltering front
he faced death. With unfailing ten
derness he took leave Of life. Above
the demoniac hiss of the assassin's
bullet he heard the voice of God. With
simple resignation he bowed to the
divine decree.
CAS- the end drew near his early
craving for the sea returned. The
stately mansion of power had been to
him the wearisome hospital Of pain
and he begged to be taken from his
prison walls, from its oppressive
Sitting air, from its homelessness and
Its hopelessness. Gently, silently, the
love of n great people bore the pale
sufferer to the longed-for healing of
the sea, to live or die, as God should
will, within sight of the heaving bill.
lows. within sound of its manifold
voices. With wan, fevered face, ten
derby lifted to the cooling breeze, he
looked out wistfully on the oceans
changing wonders; on its fair sails