Autograph Letter Signed, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, September 23, 1881, to Mrs. B. W. Edwards, Laceyville, Pennsylvania

octavo, 4 pages, accompanied by original pictorial mailing envelope, in very good, clean and legible condition.
"…so far this week Philada has been one of the most profound sorrow on the account of the death of our beloved President, in fact, while upon the streets there is nothing visible, either in the surrounding or countenance of the people, but a sadly gloom aspect. The buildings are draped without regard to the expense and even apple women have small mourning badges upon their baskets, indicating their true knowledge of the sad situation and in many places your eyes are met with the following sentences:
Beloved in Life! Lamented in death! Immortal in history!
Nevertheless we may adopt as our motto, the words of our Immortal Garfield, what he gave comfort and true devotion toward in the death of our Lamented Lincoln.
God reigns! And the government at Washington still lives…"
The remainder of the letter is about Dr. Ely's advanced medical studies ("in order that I may the better qualify myself for future usefulness in my very difficult and perplexing professional calling") and the health of his correspondent, whom he had examined and diagnosed as suffering from "Endo-Metritis" ("the disease is met with continually in females at this time. I have seen four cases in private practice with one of the Professors since I came to Philada; who took me in his carriage in order to have me compare my case with his and the four are identical with your condition…"
Richard H. Ely was then 50 years old, had practiced medicine in the small town of Laceyville for many years after graduation from the Pennsylvania Medical College and a year's service as a private in the Union Army during the Civil War.
The unguarded President Garfield was shot by a deranged office-seeker at a Washington train station on July 2. He lingered in a sickbed until his death on September 19. The country was in mourning throughout the week after his death while his body lay in state in the Capitol. In Philadelphia, memorial services were held in churches throughout the city, while even those who had not attended felt the sense of gloom described by Dr. Ely. (Inventory #: 31227)