The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-11-24
A Visit to the Home Of our Pres.
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Avlsis to the Home Of our Pres.
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Springfield has many beautiful residence,
but no one is invested with 50 much ,nte
rest and attracts SO much publ: attention
as the unpretending, brown frame house
formerly occupied by our chief magistrate
Like its former occupant, there is nothin,
about Il that would Of Itself awaken mucl
interest, but asan Illustration Of the intense
iy republican character of our institutions, i
lis very striking. There II stands in It's e1
treme simplicity Of design and finish, sayin
to every Amer ican 1citizen, q''you need nc
Hive in 4 pAlacs to be President" As a
exponent Of the character ofits owner..too
i it is significant. 1T indicates an sbsence 0
low ambition and ostentation, and speak
eloquently of that simplicity which il fount
Iin connection with sturdy honesty. and tru,
greatness. But It is Of the man rather thar
of his house that We would.speak.
The old maxim Of judging man by hi'
neighbor's report, is generally safe. and Mr.
Lincoln, according to this Judgment, stands
much above his political compeers. Never,
perhaps, did American statesman sust ain 80
irrerr oachable . character among those
most intimately acquainted with him. Meet
ing those.w were lIong accustomed to see
him daily in, the various walks Of life, I had
ample opportunity to.learn what was really
the public estimation of his character, and 1t
was not a slight gratifcation'to know that
homely term "Honest old Abe" was not a
mere political invention for political, effect,
but the simple expression of public opinion
respecting him. His influence too. At home.
was always on the side Of morality and re'i-
gion, though not being church member, he
of course did not, in all things, conform to |
the views Of spiritually minded christians.
A s,ngle incident, shows how little he was
affected by being raised to so giddy a height,
and how. he, retained all his native simplicity
amid the glare and artificial life Of the me-
tropois Ny informant, long 4 resident Of
Springfield, and intimately acquainted in
the family of Mr.. Lincoln. paid him a visit
at Washington, and was received with all
the cordiality usually extended to an honor
ed friend of equal social position. Being as
usual much pressed with business, the Pres.
ident appointed the next afternoon for ride. |
with his friend, in order to haye an uninter-
rupted interview with him. The next day
as they were descending the steps Of the
White House to enter the carriage in wait,
ing. delegation was me. coming to see the
President. Mr.. Lincoln at once addressed
them. saying "Gentlemen. you really must
excuse me. Hare is Elder NJ, Baptist
minister. an old, neighbor of mine, who has
come all the way from Springfield 10 see me,
and have engaged to ride with him this af-
lternoon; and SO the ,delega ton left. and the
President had his drive with his esteemed
friend, chatting familiar as was his wont,
and evidently enjoying with as great a zest
as of old the society of one he had known in
less prosperous years, and seemingly forget
ting that he was President of earth's might
lest nation, and was even then controlling
earth's mightiest armies and navy.
And such is the universal testimony re-
specting him; to the newsboy and to the
statesman, always genial; affable, natural,
wholly destitute Of that ridiculous pompos.
ity distinguishing so many Of his Southern
revilers. This is the man whom this great
nation agaia delights to honor; and it augurs
well for US as people, that the high as we'll
as the low----the rich as well as the poor. the
learned as well as the ignorant, prefer in
their chief magistrate those sterling qualities
that dignity and adorn humanity, rather
than those more showy accomplishments so
often found where there IS little judgment
and less moral worth. F.,
Chicago, October 18th, 1864.
Chicago Christian Times Sg
a WORD TO IMsHxES.-Ths gallant Gen.