The Washington herald., 1915-09-02
HISTORY BUILDERS.
Written expressly for The Washington HeraldD
BY DIR. f. j. EDWARDS.
The Last Days of an American Presi-
dent

| In the course of an afternoons con-
versation with Judge William Folsom, a
prominent citizen of Henniker, N H., n
| town near Concord, he related to- me
many anecdotes, the facts of which had
come within his personal observation
which were associated with Franklin
Pierce. the fourteenth President of the
United States Gen. Pierce was born in
the adjoining town of HillsborO, and the
house which was his birthplace is still
standing and is kept in good repair
Judge Folsom had many opportunities
when a young man of seeing and hearing
Gen. Pierce. and he was occasionally
brought into pleasant compaHionship
with him.
Il am glad to say that I discern evil
dences that the present generation is be-
ginning to appreciate what the admins
tration of President Pierce meant to the
tnited states. for il achieved many
things. although at the time it was over
shadowed by the tremendous slavery is
sue" said Judge Folsom. VERY few
people now know that il was due to
President Pierce that We acquired from
Mexico that great tract OF land which
was named in the Biographies the
Gadsen purchase 1t was under Pierce
that the first step was taken for survey
OF a railroad which would connect the
Atlantic with the Pacific President
Pierce himself. after he retired to pri-
vate life at his home in Concord was
confident that the time would come when
justice would be done to his admnistra-
ton.
I'm personal characteristics he was a
man of the utmost cha rn. He was II
handsome man. and every |
that he mad" was graceful |
and diGnificd without being affected. He |
bore up wonderfully when grievously |
afflicted. His son. lad of l. years of |
age, was killed in railroad accident |
about two months before Pierce was in
auGurated as President. With wonderful
will force he mastered himself. although |
the death Of his son who was an only
rhild-was Il blow from which he never
really recovered He lost "A devoted wife
a few years after h" retired to private
life. He was himself somewhat failing in
lth at the time. He was the youngest
man who up to his time had been elected
having been only ~ wears of age. and
ne should have been in full vigOr when.
n his Goth year, he was overcome by
Mortal disease.
Now | will tell YOU tho beautiful and
,athctic story of his dcathbcd as 1t was
'elated to me by his physician. 1t was
n early autumn 1N69 that the physician
me morning said to him: Gen. Pierce. it
: my duty to tell you that you cannot
ccover. l am telling YOU this SO that
'ou can arrange your affairs and prepare
oUrsclr for the end
''ThcreupOu the cx-Prcsident said:
Doctor. have made arrangements for
many years for what | knew was in
vitabl" and | hay" long been prepared
or it That WIS tn" only comment he
made \ day or two later the doctor
allied and found that the cx-Pr"sident
ad passed awav Those who wcr" near
is bedside said that h" closed his eyes
ims"lf. brought {" his lips IN" smile
hirh was So characteristics of him. and
hen With utmost 'umrnsurr gently
:, uth'I hIs last
80 .u.N'. T'p In Elvsris An rights
Trt'fNtI
T"m"rr"w I'r EiNnrds vii t. Q How
Inukuu Ir,Ir" Won y JurN