-than which no happier are known in this country-from this beautiful lakeside, full of all that makes a country life happy, to give me your blessing and farewell. You do not know how much I leave behind me of friendship and confidence and home-like happiness; but I know I am indebted to this whole people for acts of kindness, of neighborly friendship, of political trust, of public support, that few men have ever enjoyed at the hands of any people. You are a part of this great community of northern Ohio which for so many years has had no political desire but the gool of

the country, no wish but the promotion of liberty and justice,-has had no scheme but the building up of all that was worthy and true in our republic. If I were to search over all the world, I could not find a better model of political spirit, of aspirations for the true and right, than I have found in this community, during the eighteen years its people have honored me with their confidence. I thank the citizens of the county for their kindness, and especially my neighbors of Mentor, who have demanded so little of me and have done so much to make my home a refuge and a joy. What

awaits me I cannot now speak of, but I shall carry to the discharge of the duties that lie before me, to the problems and dangers I may meet, a sense of your confidence and love, which will always be answered by my gratitude. Neighbors, friends, and constituents, Farewell!"

Four days after this cheery yet half pathetic adieu, the veteran statesman and brave soldier stood with uncovered head, in the presence of a vast and brilliant multitude beneath the dome of the nation's capitol, and there, with hand upraised, and

and there had lately been arranged, in connection with this visit to Williamstown, a somewhat extended trip through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, in which he was to be accompanied by Mrs. Garfield and two or three of their children, several members of the cabinet, with their wives, and other particular friends. All the arrangements for this joyous pleasure trip had been carefully completed, and every one of the party was anticipating a delightful ten days' jaunt. Those who were to start from Washington

reverently kissing the Bible, took solemn oath, as President of the United States, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution thereof. The cares, harassments and contests of this high office, mingled with family affliction, thronged in full measure upon him, and it was not until the burning sun of July rendered existence fairly uncomfortable that he sought change and relief.

For some time past, he had cherished the expectation of being present at the commencement exercises of his alma mater, Williams College, in Williamstown, Mass.,

were to take a special car attached to the limited express train for New York, at half-past nine o'clock, Saturday morning. They were to be joined at New York by Mrs. Garfield and two or three others of the president's family, who had been sojourning at Long Branch, N. J., on account of Mrs. Garfield's ill health, from which, however, she was happily recovering. The president had looked forward to this trip with eagerness and delight, and in view of it had been in the best of spirits, notwithstanding the political infelicities which beset him. beset him. The night before, he and Sec

retary Blaine had been engaged together, until a late hour, in conference upon public business. The president, nevertheless, arose early the next morning, and, after finishing up some executive business, breakfasted with his son, and gave final directions to the private secretary, who was to remain at his usual post.

He took a carriage with Secretary Blaine, to drive to the station of the Baltimore and Potomac railroad, corner of Sixth and B streets, just off Pennsylvania avenue. They drove to the B street entrance, which admits chiefly to the ladies' room, a pleasant carpeted apartment, furnished with fixed wooden settees, so arranged as to leave a broad passage way directly from the outer door to the opposite side of the room. Two doors open from the side of the room opposite the outer door into the large waiting room for gentlemen, and it was necessary to pass around

the ends of the benches, either to the right or left, to reach one of these doors. In the ladies' room there had been observed a nervous, short, thick-set man, restless in his movements, passing back and forth,-his conduct striking enough to attract the attention of the woman in charge. George, the well known colored coachman of the distinguished party, drove to the steps, and the door of the coach was opened. The president was not in any hurry to get out. A porter took the luggage through the room. The president, seeing a depot official near by, asked him how much time he had before the train left. "You have ten minutes, sir," was the reply.

The president made no haste to leave the carriage, but sat talking with Secretary Blaine, in the most informal and chatty way. They did not expect to see one another for some weeks, for it was Mr.