The Doctor had long been suffering from his throat, and all these annoyances had the effect of increasing the painful symptoms to such a degree that when we finally got into the city of Mexico on Saturday, March 1st, it was necessary to call a physician.  Dr. Talmage had brought with him a number of letters of introduction from Washington to people in the City of Mexico, but the Mexican minister had written ahead of us, and on the day we arrived people left their cards and extended invitations that promised to keep us socially busy every day of our week’s visit.

The Doctor was ailing a little, I thought, but not seriously.  He had a slight cold.  Although he had planned to preach only in the Presbyterian Church a week from our arrival, the people of the other Protestant denominations urged him with such importunity that he agreed to preach for them on the first Sunday, the day after our arrival.  This was an unexpected strain on Dr. Talmage after a very trying journey; but he never could refuse to preach, no matter how great his fatigue.  On the following Tuesday a luncheon was given Dr. Talmage by General Porfirio Diaz, the President of the Mexican Republic, at his palace in Chapultepec.  The Doctor enjoyed a long audience with the aged statesman, during which the mutual interests and prospects of the two countries were freely discussed, President Diaz manifesting himself, as always, a friend and admirer of our government and people.  During the afternoon a cold wind had come up, and the drive home increased the Doctor’s indisposition, so that he was obliged to confine himself to his room.  Still he was up and about, and we felt no alarm whatever.  On Thursday night, he complained of a pain at the base of his brain, and at about four in the morning I was awakened by him:—­

“Eleanor,” he said, “I seem to be very ill; I believe I am dying.”  The shock was very great, it was such a rare thing for him to be ill.  We sent for the best American physician in the city of Mexico, Dr. Shields, who diagnosed the Doctor’s case as grippe.  He at once allayed my fears, assuring me that it would not be serious.

Dr. Talmage had promised to lecture on Friday, March 7th, and we had some trouble to prevent him from keeping this engagement.  Dr. Shields insisted that Dr. Talmage should not leave his room, declaring that the exertion would be too much for him.  Not until Dr. Shields had assured Dr. Talmage that the people could be notified by special handbills and the newspapers would he consent to break the engagement.

On Friday night Dr. Talmage grew worse; and finally he asked to be taken home, personally making arrangements with Dr. Shields to travel with us as far as the Mexican border, as my knowledge of Spanish was very limited.  Eventually it became necessary for Dr. Shields to go all the way with us.  In the great sorrow that the people of Mexico felt over the sudden illness of Dr. Talmage, their regret at his cancelled engagements was swallowed up, and there was one great wave of sympathy which touched us not a little.