The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-07-12

editors of the Utica Morning Herald
whose interesting letters from Europe
and the Holy Land, year or two ago
will be remembered by our readers
| during a Western tower was indu
ced to visit Mr.. Lincoln at his home
How he found cold Abe" ..and what
he thinks of him, he thus records;
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, June 2lst, 1860.
have an instructive aversion to dog
giug the footsteps of distinguished men,
nothing was further from my thoughts
four days ago than visit to Abraham
Lincoln. Nothing seemed more i'm.
possible than that should ever-be-
fore or after his election to the Pr esi-
dency-join the great mob of those who
should ''pay him their respects" But
meeting an intimate personal and polit
zeal friend of Mr.. Lincoln, "a few days
since, he said, "You New Workers don't
know our standard-bearer. You think
him mere rough diamond-a slam
whanging Western Stump-speaker, who
lacks the case and polish Of a well
bred gentleman. | want you should
go and see him-to come to contact
with the man-to talk with his neigh,
bors-and then go home and tell the
people, achy we in the West so much
love and honor HIM" | confess / had
an intense desire to see the man, and
rea Oily surrendered to the arguments
of my friend.
Armed with a strong letter of rec
concentration was soon en- route fol
Springfield. Leaving Chicago by the
illinois Central Railroad, / passed over
country unsurpassed in fertility of
soil, and smiling Ill the promise Of a
bounteOus harvest. AS | went South,
| found the corn almost ready to tassel
out, and the wheat ready for the sickle.
Indeed. many fields were already out.
Ten hours of dusty riding in a sun
that had all the fierceness Of dog days,
brought me to Springfield, common
place, sprawling sort of town, covering
abo ut ten times as much ground as it
ought, and remarkable chiefly for hay-
ing no visible center Of business. AT
ter vainly searching for bach, and
Tally settling down to the conclusion
that all the world hereabouts were ped
estrians, | set out to visit the future
President Of these United States, in
the truly democratic style of going a.
foot and unattended by any guilds save
my own wits. had little difficulty in
finding the place of my destination.
a modest looking two-frame house,
with the name "a Lincoln on the
door plate, todd me that my pilgrim
age was ended. [ was met at the
door by servent, who ushered me in>
to the parlor, and carried my note to
Mr.. Lincoln, who was up stars. The
house was neatl y without being extrav,
agantly furnished. An air OF quiet re-
inement pervaded the place. You
would have known instantly that she
who presides over that modest house
hold was trne type of the Americas,
lady. There were flowers upon the la
bic: there were pictures upon the walls.
The adOrnments were few but
chaStely appropriate; everything was
IN its place, and ministered to the gel
efal effect. The hand OF the domestic.
artist was everywhere visible. The
thought that involuntariiy blossom
ed into speech was; "What pleasant
tome Abe Lincnln has %
Presently l heard footsteps on the
stairs, and tall, arrowy, angular gen
tleman profusion Of wiry hair Tying
around loose" about his head, and a
pair Of eyes that seemed to say make
yourself at home," and a forehead re-
markably broad and capacious, and
arms that were somewhat too long aud
lank for statue Of Apollo, made his
The lips were full Of
character the nose strongly aqui line,
the cheek bones high and prominent,
and the whole face indicative at once
of goodness and resoluteness. In re-
pose, it had somethsng Of rigidity, bat
when i'll play, it was one of the most
eloquent l have ever seen. None of
his pictures do him the slightest JUS
tice. His presence is commanding
his manner winning to marked de-
gree. After you have been FIVE min,
uteS in his company you cease to think
t,iat he is either homely or awkward.
You recognize in him a high toned,
chivalrous minded gentle
man, fully posted in all the essential
oil social life, and sustained by
the intallible monitor OF common sense.
He approached, extended his hand q
gave mine a grasp such as only warm
hearted man knows how to give. He
sat down beside me on the sofa aud
commenced talking about political az
fairs in my own State with knowledge
OF details which surprised me. | found
that he was more cOnversant with some
of our party performances IN Oneida
county than / could havs desired, and
made some pointed illusions to the
great Congressional struggle which
resulted in the election of Mr.. Conkiin
in 1858. | asked him if he was not
very much bored with calls and cor
respondence.-He replied that he liked
to see his friends, and as to the letters
he took good care not to answer them!
He referred playfully to the various Eat
on his hfe;" and the poor sue
cess that attended some of them. His
greatest grievance was the artists; he
tried in vain to recognize himself in
some abraham Lincoln's" of the pic
torials.
I asked him if he continued his pros
fessional business since his nomina
ton. He said he had attempted it,
but pitied his clients. He had been
arguing case the day before, but
said the demands of his position made
him an Indifferent lawyer. He spoke
with great freedom of corruption in
high places. He regarded it as the
bane of our American politics; and he
said he should not respect, either as a
man or as politician, one who bribed
or was bribed. He said he was glad
to know the people of Illinois had not
yet learned the art of being venial. The
whole expense of his campaign with