Lot 343
SUPERB EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF JAMES A. GARFIELD'S SLOW DEMISE
A fantastic eyewitness account of the beginning Garfield's descent into death, 8pp. 4to., written from the Executive Mansion, Aug. 3, 1881 by JOSEPH STANLEY BROWN, Garfield's personal secretary and later the husband of his daughter, Mollie Garfield. He writes to a Mrs. Riddle, possibly the wife of MOC Albert G. Riddle, with whom Garfield had studied law in the early part of his political career. In part: "...Since I rec'd your note of July 10th storm clouds, thick and black, have once more gathered over our President. Happily however science and skill averted the danger and he is once again slowly climbing up the hill toward recovery. The unfavorable change in his condition was brief in duration but it was amply sufficient to bring back again in all their evidences the horror the sickening sensations of the first few days. Fate seemed to taunt and mock us when at the end of three weeks brightened by steady improvement, he suddenly grew worse and the gravest and most dangerous symptoms made their appearance, our hopes which had gown with his strength seemed to turn to very ashes and wormwood...We are now resting secure in the assurances of the surgeons that a similar setback is not likely to occur and that there seems to be no obstacle in the way of a speedy recovery...I find that I unconsciously hold myself in readiness to meet little disasters which it is but natural to feel may lie in the pathway leading to complete recovery. Of Mrs. Garfield and her bearing during this terrible ordeal I need hardly say anything...I have seen her under so much changing, shifting circumstances that it seems as though I were better prepared even than yourself to appreciate her many admirable qualities, she seems an ideal woman, such an exhibition of calm heroism as she has manifested, it will probably never again be my privilege to see. Rudely aroused from her pleasant anticipation of the coming meeting with her husband and children, after an absence of some little time, by the announcement that the President has been shot perhaps to death by an insane ruffian, hurried to a train and rushed over the road at a speed of 50 miles an hour, with an imperfect knowledge of the circumstances of the case...finally reaching home to be surrounded by friends whose faces and voices met her plainly betrayed the doubts and fears which had crowded their minds, under all it seems as though the indomitable will must have yielded, but around it all she never for a moment wavered in her courage...When the faith of many around her was utterly gone hers remained unshaken...You may give medical and scientific explanations until the end of time but you can never make people forget the favorable change in the President's condition dated from the hour that Mrs. Garfield reached his bedside. But of all this, and of her constancy and cheering influence in the darkest moments the papers have repeatedly spoken, still I could not refrain from adding my testimony which comes from the personal observation to that which comes through more voluminous though less reliable channels...". Brown then continues with personal news, adding: "...I am getting acquainted with the people at the Soldiers Home, some I like, others I detest...am exceedingly anxious to have vision realized and will do what I can to bring it about but depends upon President. Mrs. Garfield was very much obliged for Mr. Riddle's letter...". Garfield had been shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, once in the arm and again in the abdomen. Initial medical treatment including brandy and ammonia did little, and Garfield was rushed to the White House for further treatment. Although he was tended to by prominent doctors and surgeons of the time, no causality between germs and infection had been determined, and the wounds inevitably festered due to the probing by unsterile hands and implements in illogical efforts to find the bullet which would likely have, if left alone, allowed the President to survive. Brown's optimistic account of Garfield's progress preceded his demise which followed a few weeks, when his temperature correspondingly rose, thus prompting the doctors to attempt another removal of the bullet in his abdomen. This final botched operation of Brown's so-called "science and skill" ironically sealed the Garfield's fate. Lettersheets bear chipping and some bleaching to left margins, costing a few letters here and there, but the majority remains boldly written and very good. A rare find.
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