Evening journal., 1910-02-26

objected by Mr.. Edwards during near
orty years of more or less intimate ac-
eaders since the Civil War. Each an
scdOte or incident rs fresh from Mr. Ed
wards notebook, and, either IN Whole , or
IN part. IL constitutes NEW NEWS OF
YESTERDAY, garnered from the men
Who made the news-the historv-or from
equally authoritative sources, As I'M m
crest sort to American history, tnese
articles have distinctive value all theH
jwn.
It IS pretty generally known that John
G. Milburn, i'm whose Buffa'o home Presi-
dent Mckinley breahed his last was
born In England; and those OF us whose
memories reach back vividly to the last
days Of President Garfield may recall that
they were spent in cottage belonging to
an Englishman-a truly curious comet
dence connected with the deaths of two
Presidents violently removed. But the
manner in which President Garfield, in his
last days became the guest Of an English
man ] do not believe has ever been told
hitherto.
TN the hot August Of 1881. Garfield,
upon his bed Of suffering in Washington,
pined for the sea air." said Thomas l..
James, Postmaster General in Garfield
cabinet and my authority for this ancc-
dote "He spoke particularly of Long
Branch. He had visited that summer re-
sort and was fond OF ba hing there. And
because his mind kept reverting to Long
/ Branch and tho sea, there soon appeared
reports IA the newspapers that the striclS-
en- Presidents physicians were consulting
as TO whether or not he would be able TO
sand the trip TO Long Branch. and, once
he was there. what conveniences Of at
tendance and quiet, combined with a
vista Of the sea from window. could be
obtained for him.
In the midst of all this consultation
and talk, the Secretary of Stac, MT
Blaine received "a telegram from Mr..
Chas. G. Francbyn offering his summer
cottage at Eberon, near Long Branch,
for the use of the President. his family,
his physic ans and his nurses. And Mr..
Francklyn went on TO say that an adja-
cent cottage could be fitted up easily as
temporary quarters for Garheld's cobi
net. who were in constant attendance
upon him
" Who IS this Mr.. FranckynT Mr.
/ Blaine asked, The name seems familiar
but ] know nothing about him personally
" Mr. Francklyn,' was the reply is the
| representative in America of the Cunard
steamship Company. lie is a cousin of S r
Edward Cunard, and his wife Is a daugh-
ter of the partner OF Governor sprague
Of Rhode Island.
Thoroughly satisfied with this answer.
Mr.. Blaine submitted Mr.. Franckyn's
cordial invitation to Mrs. Ga-ie d. She
reconected the cottage. having had it
pointed out to her year or two earlier
when visiting in Long Branch She said
that Il seemed to her an ideal place to
take her husband So, I'm the course OF the
day Mr. Francklyn was not ned that his
invitation had been most gratefully ac-
cepted. and that as soon as the necessary
arrangements could be made with the rail-
road company. the President would be
taken to Elberon.
"Somc days later, when the President
and those who attended him arrived at
Elberon. they found that every detail
necessary for the comfort of the patient
and every one of his party had been pro-
vlded by Mr. Francklyn. Nothing had
been overlooked. Telegraph service, swift
communication with the drug stores,
horse and carriage service, adequate ar
rangements with the markets--all these
things and many more had been arranged
for. and an adjacent cottage had been ft-
ted up 10 serve as a temporary office for
the cabinet.
80. through the kindness Of heart and
thoughtfulness of an Englishman, the
last great desire Of the dying President
10 see the sea again and inhale its frag-
rance-was gratined. But though Mr..
Fraicklyn made the end Of life for Gar
field far more comfortable than it would
otherwise have been, do you know that the
United States Government IN no way
whatever expressed the slightest sense OF
gratitude or communicated TO Mr.. Franck-
lyn one hint Of thanks for the great ser
vice he rendered. What he did was ig-
nored as completely as though it had not
been done. Mrs. Garfield. however pri-
vately expressed her deep sense Of grati-
tude TO Mr.. Francklyn. But that thanks.
and the knowledge that Gsrhelds eyes
were ever gratefully turned towards the
sea while yet they saw. constituted Mr..
Francklyn.s sole reward for all the trouble
to which he went to ease the last DAYS
OF tho head Of a nation to which he was
alien.
Copyright. 1910. by E. J. Edwards)
On Monday Mr.. Edwards will tell
"How Tilden Returned a Political
Favor"