The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-12-15
PEN PORTRAITS OF Mr.. AND MRS.
LINCOLN

PEN PORTRAITS OF Mr.. AND MRS.
LINCOLN.
Though descriptions of Lincoln's fea-
tuers. OF his family and deWling have abound
ed since his nomination TO the position to
which he has just been elected, our readers
viii not be displeased with the following
sketches by Springfield correspondent Of
the N. Y. World:
The visitor is ushered into moderately
wide hall, from either side of which doors
lead to the rooms of the mansion. The one
in which visitors are usually received, con-
tains library of laws and miscellaneous
books, and upon the opposite side is the
drawing room, simply yet elegantly furnish
ed. and commanding an outlook upon the
garden, which, though bleak enough at this
season of the year, must, in the summer,
be extremely beautiful. Everything about
the house betokens the residence of the
well-to do, comfortable citizen of the West.
Mr.. Lincoln, himself has been so often
described, so Often crayoDed, painted, pen
cil-sketched, and photographed, that his per-
sonnet ought by this time to be tolerably
familiar to that many headed monster, the
general public. One cannot lay his hand
upon his bosom and say that Old Abe is a
handsome man but there be those, and ju
dicious observers, too. who would hesitate
before pronouneing him ugly. His face is
quick and mobile in expression, his eyes,
dark and lustrous, set deeply in his head.
and like Webster's speak before his lips are
opened. His cheek bones are high and
prominent; the lower portion of his face
thin and drawn into hard wrinkles. The
deep lines around his mouth zre probably
as good certificate as he would desire of
that strenuous. toll through which he has
made his way up to fame. His greet stature
six feet three inches-givss him an as
pect of lankness and thinness which does
grave injustice 10 his really stalwart, com
manding proportions.
He has general reputation, wherever he
is known. of beng as tough as whipcord."
The qualifications for legal eminence at the
West were, in the early days, partly muscu
lar. II not infreq uenily occurred, tina; the
presiding Judge found it necessary to dismiss
the court for time, in order to fog refracto
rywitnesses, or impress upon boisterous
counselors the fact that if respect was not due
to the judicial acumen OF the court. at least
its ability in rough-and- tumble fight was
not to be disputed. Ii is not probable that
Old AIDE evei' found it necessary 70 cap his
arguments by IhraShing the opposing coun-
sell but had he ever done SO, all L can say
is, | would much rather not have been that
counsel.
Legends of his prowess, in the days when
he adorned the pursuit of f1atboat naviga-
ton, are yet current among his early com
pan;ons. Probably, to his physical cour-
age aud daring he was indebted for his &C
cession to leadership during the early Indian
troubles upon the frontier. His capacity
as leader was often tried. during those short
campaigns in the wilderness, and WAS never
found wanting, II he carries to the execu-
tiv chair the pluck and daring which ena-
bled him to hold his own against the ram
pant f1atboatmen, with whom. from time to
time, even the most peacable of the craft
would now and then come INTO hostile col
Iisions if he takes either the adroit fnesse
and executive decision which enabled him
to evade an ambush of Indians in the Black
Hawk war, and to beat the eusky warriors
at their own system of fighting, whenever
they revealed themselves, he will make just
such President as the present crisis de-
mands.
The future lady of the White House is,
perforce, parsonage to whom just now the
liveliest interest attaches. That she will
adorn and grace the exalted position to which
she bids fair to succeed, none who have had
the fortune to see her can doubt. She is yet
apparently upon the advantageous side of
forty, with face upon which dignity and
sweetess are blended, and an air of cuItiva-
ton and refinement to which familiarity
with the courtly drawing rooms of London.
or the sristocratic saloon of Paris, would
hardly lend an added grace. She is admit
rably calculated to preside over our Repub
liam court. If one were permitted SO far to
describe her personal appearance as to meet
halfway the respectful curiosity which is
generally felt upon the subject, the descrip
ton would be /: that she is slightly above
the medium stature, with brown eyes, clear
cut features, delicate, mobile expression !;
rather distinguished in appearance than
beautiful, conveying to the mind generally
an impression of self possession. stateliness.
and elegance distrust my own opinion
upon subjects of this kind /; but concur in
the belief prevalent hereabout. that she will
make a. admirable leader of the stately
danes and lovely demoiseles of the nation
al capital as the most fastidious social mar
tinet could desire.