The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-05-25
4 nc mt niscsnce og MIR. LIncoIn,s Con-
PerSutiOn.


Tothe Editors Of the Erening Post
In addition to what is stated IN my
note published in your issue of Tues
day, Of the circumstances attending
Mr.. Lincoln's recital to mo ofthc poem
catitIed "Oh, why should the spirit
OF mortal be proud?" | should have
mentioned the following incident, but
writing hastily at the table OF friend,
/ could not recall tho exact lines
wished toquotc After wc had discuss.
cd fora brieEtme the merit OF The pocm
referred to above, Mr.. Lincoln said
There are some quaint, queer verses,
written, | think, by Oliver Wendell
Holmes, called The Last Leaf one of
which is to me inexprcssiby touch
ing He then repeated also from
memory, tho poem. The verse he re-
ierrod to occurs in about the middle of
tho poem, and is this;
"The marble rest
Cn tho lips winch ho has pressed
In th.r bloom,
And tho names lac loved to hear
Have been caycl for many year
On the tomb"
AS he finished this verse 10 said in
lis emphatic way "For pure pa,hos,
in NY judgment, there is not. " finer
than these six limos in the English
languagor y
The World, in an able article upon
Mr.. Lincoln, on Monday, says .'llc
lacked taste and sensibity," though
the writor docs not consider this an
imporieotion in hls character think
tho instances | have given you indi.
cato that ho was not wanting IN either
of those attributes, though in tho try
ing and momontous period OF his ad.
lninistrative life their expression may
have been confined to the privilcscl
iow. admitted to the inner circle of icl.
lowship with him.
Whilo am writing, | am reminded
pt conversation that took place be.
tween Us about this time, which may
be Of interest 10 your readers. in Wow
Of Ithc terrible ca|aWity which has over
taken tho nation.
4 late number Of the TriGunG (this
wae tho last Of March, 1861 contain.
cd full account of an elaborate con
spiWcy, matured in Richmond, either
10 assassinato or abduct tho person OF
tho President Five hundred or n
thousand men were said to bo sworn TO
accomplish the doed Several days
eabscqucntto its publication | asked
Dir. Lincoln il ho had seen the state
mant lie snid ho h; d not, nor even
heard oft.
| then, at his request, give him tho
d3taila. We were walking together at
the timc, and rcmcml o dstinct.
~ the conversation. After / had con
cluded no smiled ncrodulously, and
eoil' "Well even If true, do not SOC
what tho rebels would gain by either
killing or getting possession ut mo !
am but single individual and would
no. help thoir cause or make the least
d ilerencc in the progress OF the war
Everything would go right on just tn,
same, Soon after was nominated at
Chicago, be continued, II began to re
cciyc letters threatening my lito Thl
iirst ono or two made me little un.
comfortable, but came ut length tc
look for regular instaImpnt OF thi,
kind correspondence in every week I
mail, and mp to Inauguration day
was in the constant receipt OF sucl
letters, and II is no uncommon thing
even to receive them now; but they
have ceased to give mo any upprchcn
SION | expressed somo surprise nj
this, but hercplicd in his peculiar way
There i nothing like getting used /,
things" Alas that the nation shoulC
to day DO sitting under tho shadow o
tho great crimc-thc consummaton o
those very threaLs--which he had com,
iorcgard so lightly. Very truly, yours
i. d. CARPENTER.