Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-11


The gossipy correspondent Of the Bos-
ton acknowledgement that paper
the following readable account Of daily
life at the White House:
Mr.. Lincoln Is an early riser, and he
thus is able to devote two or three hours
each morning to his voluminous private
correspondence, besides glsncing at city
paper. At nine he breakfasts-ihenE walks
over to the War Office to read such war
kilograms ss they give him, occasionally
some are withheld and to have 8 chat
with General Hslleok on the military sit
uation, in which he takes great interest.
Returning 10 the White House, he goes
through with his mornings mail, in COM
psny with private secretary. Some let
tera are indorsed and sent 10 the Depart
ments-others are entrusted TO the seore.
tsry, who makes q minute Of the reply
which be is to make-snd others the Pres
ident retains, that he may answer them
himself. Every letter receives attention,
and all which are entitled to reply re-
ceiVe one, no matter how they are Worded,
or now iuelegant the chirography may
be.
Tuesday snd Fridays are CAbinst days,
but on other days visitors at the White
Horse are requested to wait in the ante
chamber, and send in their cards, Some
times, before the President has finished
reading bis mail, Louis will have q hand
ful Of pastebosrd, and from the cards laid
before him Mr.. Lincoln has visitors usher
ed in, giving precedence to aequaintsnces.
Three or four hours do they pour in, in
rapid succession, nine out Of ten asking
Offices, snd patiently does the President
listen to their applications. Cure and
anxiety have furrowed his rather homely
features, yet occasionally he is remind
ed Of an snecdote," and good-humored
glances beam from his clear gray eyes,
while his ringing laugh shows that he is
not fused up" yet. The simple and
natural manner in which he delivers his
thoughts makes him appear 10 those visit
ing him like an eernest, sfsotionate
friend. Hs makes little parade on his le-
gal science, and rarely INDUCES in speou-
lstive propositions, but states his ideas In
plain Angio-Saxon, illuminated by many
lively imsges and pleasing illusions,
which seem to foW As IL in obediense to
a resistless impulse Of his nature. Some
newspaper writer attempts to deny that
the President tells stories. Why 1t is
rarely that any one Is in his company for
fifteen minutes without hearing q good
tale, appropriate to the subject talked
about Many a metaphysical argument
does he demolish by simply telling an an
eedote, which exactly oVerturns the verbal
/ structure.
About four o'clock the President de-
clines seeing any more company, and
often accompanies his wife in her carriage,
to take drive. He is fond Of horsebsck
exercise, and when passing the Summer ct
tke Soldiers Home, used generally to 70
to and fro in the saddle.
The President dimes at six, and 1t is
rare that some personal friends do not
grace the round dining table, where he
throws off the cares Of Office, and reminds
those who have been in Kentucky Of the
cld-schoOl gentlemen who used to dispense
generous hospitality there. From the din.
ner-table the party retire to the crimson
drawing room, where coffee is served, and
where the President passes the evening,
unless some dignitary has a special inter
view. Such, am informed, is the almost
unvarying daily life OF Abraham Lincoln,
whose administration will rank next In
Importance to that Of Washington in oul
national annals.
The Presidents wife lin the opinion Of
Mrs. Journal, Reader) ought not to be
left unmentiOned, although there Is little
Of interest to chronicle in the daily
round Of serving, reading and visiting
hospitals, which occupies the time Of Mrs.
Lincoln. She may have made mistakes
who does not2-in her invitstions, and
thereby have provoked envious criticisms.
Neither do those Of the Democratic era sd-
NIT that there can be any courtesy dis
played here nowadays. But I am sure
that sinco the time that Mrs. Madison pre-
sided at the White House, it has not been
graoed by lady so well fitted by nature
and by education to dispense its hospitali-
ties as is Mrs. Lincoln. Her hospitality is
only squalled by her charity, and her
graceful department by her goodness Of
heart.