The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-20

srom Chicago. u is penetrated ~ the Chicago
and Alton Railroad and the Great Western Railroad,
which latter connects but an hours ride east Of
here with the great Illinois Central Railroad The
city IL romap.icaIy situated upon an undulating
SPOT hemIned in from the Fat prairie north south
east and west OF i, by adeep and beautiful wood
Hand. Near by winds the Sangamon river, branch
Of the Illinois, forty miles distant
Political events in the nation have recently
turned all eyes towards Springfield he home Of
Me next President OF the United States. II al
human signs and calculations do not fad, the cleo
tons 20 come OF the 9th Of this month in Penn
syvania and In llama will be handsomely favora-
kle to the republicans. Such are the advices
received here. All parties concede that as those
States 20 at that time SO goes the great national
contest in November. In view OF these facts,
already the traveller as he ap proaches Springfield,
il pointed to a fine double two story wooden dwell
ing house, painted stone colo., with green blinds
situated in the southwestery part of the city, as
SAe residence of Abraham Lincoln. To see this
looming man" with my own eyes, and to li4ten to
him with my own ears, was the principal
object of my visit here. Much has been said about
him, especially concerning his personal appear
Ance his intellectual capacity, his general know
ledge Of the theory Of government and especially
Of his ability TO administer the government if per
chance he should be elected President Having
seen Mr.. Lincoln, and taken considerable pains to
post myself up on these and other points, submit
The result of my Investigations to the American
people through the columns Of the HERALD.
take it for granted that the reader is already
sufficiently well satisfied in regard to the physical
development and muscular qualities Of Mr.. Lin.
Yok.a 1f h,u sarati
splittipgn history. He alludes with becoming mo.
desty to the fact that when he first reached the
Territory OF Indiana-for it was NO! then a
State, believe-he was poor boy, and sought
such honest employment as the times afforded,
ard as would command the best pay and render
The greatest advantage to the frontier settlement
which he proposed to, and did afterwards, aid in
rearing. He speaks of it now with the same feel
ngs Of pride and satisfaction that successful jour
nalist, in his advanced age, covered with the
honors which honesty, economy and industry al
ways bring, would allude to the time when lie
first entered an apprentice in the printing office
as roller boy or, in the more common accepta-
ton Of the term, as printers devil OF course,
many OF the incidents Of Mr.. Lincoln's early life,
which are now so profusely poured out upon him,
he had forgotten himself, so closely has he applied
himself for many years past to the study and prac.
tice Of law. There Is hardly a day passes that
does not bring with it some new reminder
Of his old friends and his early strug-
gle with life. 1t was only last Friday
that was first introduced to Mr.. Lincoln in the
executive department of the State Capitol of Iii.
nois-a beautiful edifce 10 the centre of this city.
During our interview, having aluded myself jo-
coseiy, to his rail splitting notorety he said, eyes,
sir here Is a stick received day or two since
from Josiah Crawford, Of Gentryvile, Indiana. He
writes that il is part Of Of the rails that
cat for bin in 1928, when was boy sixteen years
old He has sent il to me to have manufactured
into cane, accompanied with many kind expires.
sions.n The quality Of the wood is white or burr
oak, and the stick will make very handsome cane
when il is mounted properly, as Mr.. Lincoln intends
it shall be, out of respect TO his early friend Mr.
Crawford. mention this as one Of the many Incl.
dents that are constantly being brought to his mind
by early friends who knew him well.
The reader will understand some what the feel.
iDgs of Mr. Crawford, alluded TO above, towards
Mr.. Lincoln by the following anecdote, which is
related Of the latter by democratic member of
Congress from Indiana, and which illustrates now,
Is well as IT did when it occurred, in 1923 or ~,
marked trait in his character onscientiousness.
Young Lincoln was then fourteen or fifteen years
Of age. Books were exceedingly scarce. "Dil-
worth's Spelling Book, the Bible and 4Esop's Fa-
bles" were the standard works on the frontier in
those days. Next to these Lincoln, with some Diff
Guilty, obtained pilgrims Progress Life Of
Franklin "weems Washington" and "Riley's
Narrative, and read them over and over gain and
became so absorbed in the life Of Washington tina.
be made every effort TO obtain q more extended
history of the Father OF his Country At
last he learned that a Mr.. Josiah Craw-
FORD 1.-THE same man alluded 10 aboye),
who lived not far from the residence OF young
Lincoln, had copy Of Ramsays Life of Wash.
ington.' He sought out Mr.. Crawford, who loan
ed him the book. Lincoln soon read 1t through.
Before returning Il TO It's owner, however, II acct.
dentally became saturated with water, and was
nearly spoiled. Lincoln, upon hearing Of the &c.
cident, was much annoyed. What TO do he did
not know. He could not purchase another book,
fof two reasons-first, because he had no money;
secondly, because another copy OF the same work
was nowhere to be found in that region al that
time. After much annoyance, young Lincoln told
Mr.. Crawford that he desired 10 work for bin un.
Ill he paid him for the cost Of the book. Crawford
refused; but the boy insis'ed, and the former final
ly said TO him Well, Abraham, u you
think you ought TO pay me for the book,
and you choose TO do 80, you can top my
field Of corn, and viii square accounts with you"
agreed responded The conscientious lad and
af,er three days hard labor, Abraham cut the tops
from the entire Geld Of corn, which were used as
FODDER for Mr.. Crawfords cattle, and he thus be-
came possessor OF the book, which. although con-
siderably damaged, was still readable and highly
treasured by the new owner. This little incident
not only illustrates noble trait Of character in
young Lincoln, but, unquestio1ably, will never be
eraced from the memory Of Mr. Crawford. In the
course OF conversation with Mr.. Lincoln | alluded
70 this circumstance, informing him who related Il
N Waahinr-tr.n ahnrtix aftnr Tie Clicarn mamma