Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and letters of Charles Sumner: volume 3

[596] fortunate to have such a senator, he too was fortunate in the State which called him to the public service and kept him there. Various testimonies were given during his absence showing how he held the heart of the people,—among them a resolution of the Republican State convention in 1858, and the degree of Doctor of Laws conferred in 1859 by Harvard College, the announcement being received in the church where the exercises were held, ‘with loud and tremendous cheers.’

Sumner had, indeed, recovered. Though his malady came again under great strain and increasing years, and finally proved fatal, he went through for eleven years an amount of work and responsibility which required confirmed health. Whether his recovery was due to time and change of scene, or to the heroic treatment to which he was subjected in Paris, cannot be known. His friends at home—C. F. Adams, F. W. Bird, the Sewards and Fishes, and, above all, Howe, who protested most earnestly—were sceptical as to that treatment, and besought him to desist from submitting to it again. So also did English friends, as Roebuck and Parkes. That scepticism was shared by eminent physicians, so far as the application of fire was concerned. Even Dr. Hayward, who advised with some qualifications the treatment, afterwards questioned its efficacy.¹ Dr. Brown-Sequard himself, so far as known, never resorted to it again. It is rejected generally by the medical profession, and is hardly resorted to this side of Japan. One lacking Sumner's good constitution and determined spirit could not have borne it. This, however, should be said, that Sumner to the last retained confidence in the physician who applied it.

George Sumner was, during the entire period of his brother's disability, always ready to be of service to him. He was at home with his mother in Boston, or engaged in lecturing in different parts of the country. During Charles's absence in Europe he wrote frequent letters, urging continued abstinence, until a cure was perfected, from public life and from thoughts concerning it, and constantly insisting upon more exercise in the open air and less addiction to books and engravings.

During his absence Sumner received letters from many friends at home,—Dr. Howe, Mr.Adams and Mrs. C. F. Adams, S. P. Chase, Mr.Seward and Mrs. Seward, John Jay, A. G. Browne, A. B. Johnson, and E. L. Pierce; and there were occasional letters from many