The weekly union record., 1865-05-06
Uncle Abe. II

A correspondent of the San Francisco Bul-
letin hs, been contributing personal sketches
of our late lamen,ed President We make an
extract:
When I commenced writing these communi.
cations, l intended, as the caption of them,
Personal "Reminiscences" indicates, 10 make
them more particularly than have made them
of personal character. Since | have CON-
menced, l have convinced myself OF the impro-
priety of doing so. Others who have Known
him IN different phases OF bis life will, il is
probable. portray him in bis attractive lights
and shades in wider compass than q public
newspaper can afford. Especially it is hoped
that Colonel Hay, bis Private Secretary. a
gentleman of literary attainments, will favor
bis countrymen with such touches OF the great
Presidents private life in the White House as
may becomingly be made public. 1t only
remains for me to revert to his social disposition
as exhibited on the circuit.
He was slways Uncle Abe" with US. Al
ways the of. hand, glowing, genial, earnest and
hearty Uncle Abe." Always the tall, bending,
ungsinly Uncle A be- in the threadbare swal-
low tail coat Always Uncle Abe" with bis
clean.sbaveu face, hollow cheeks, long mouth,
large hands and big heart. Always Uncle
Abe" the favorite OF bench and bar. juries and
court officers, clients and spectators, citizens
and strangers, rich and poor. His practice
was large, but, as | have said before. not lucra
tive. He stood pre- eminenty head and shou
ders in ability as almost 10 physical proportions
as jury lawyer, above any other practitioner
among us Sometimes, 10 civil cases. be
received large fees, of course; but generally
small ones, and frequently none at all, for de.
Tending some poor wretch arraigned for crime
Cases that no other attorney would take if fees
were not forthcoming, he would. if be was
convinced Of the justice, or even doubt, of the
case. The poor knew it, and perhaps imposed
occasionally. upon bis generous nature. If
they did, and be ascertaiued the fact be never
betrayed any annoyance, but defended his own
act with pleasantly. Attorneys might some
times attempt to take unfair advantage of an
important technIcality of the law against him,
or distort the favorable evidence of his witness;
but, if he did, his apt joke counteracted the
influence the attempt might otherwise have
made, and brought the laugh Of the Court and
spectators heavily against them. Dry cases
were often tried and then, especially on hot
Summer afternoons. jurors, and even the Court,
who was somewhat corpulent would browse
but, as his long figure rose wben his turn came
TO address them, they would rouse themselves
TO listen; and, as be closed his argument, jurors
and spectators, hoarse with repeated and con-
tnued peals of laughter, would whisper audibly
TO him 10 "go on"
At the festive gathering, commonly whist
party, at the close of the term, be was generally
present. More than ouce, on such occasions,
have | received him at my own residence. He
would enter the rooms. whether ladies were
present or not, without an appearance of cere.
mony, and with the same expression of off hand,
natural aud joyous good nature that character
lied his entrance into the Court room, an Office
or store. There were few in that part of the
country who did not play at cards, but he was
one of the few. There were few who did not
indulge in the glass-at least in wine-and he
was one of that few, also. Others would sit at
tables and play and sip. He would pass round
from table to table. with a Jest here. story
there until, as Judge Powell, with his infinite
humor and Judge Purple, with bis fine wit
unable to resist the influence, joined him, the
party, one after another, would be diverted
from The cards, and night Of other enjoyment
would commence "reminiscences of the old
settlers of the State amusing sketches of
some that became popular-of the eccentric /
Governors Reynolds and Ford. for instance
stores concerulnG the Black Hawk war and its
heroes. Of whom Lincoln was one; of the |
reception Of Stephen A. Douglas in the State, |
at Winchester, by Murray Mcconnell; OF
Judges still on the bench, excluding Judge
Davis, who would be present, ard including
Judge Peters of the Peoria district, who would
be absent; of lawyers still on the ciIcuit,
whether present or not. With such material
would then pass away the hours until long after
midnight.
There are many besides the writer, in San
Francisco, who knew Lincoln in social life.
To such, the past in which Lincoln was con-
cerned must seem as q delightful and splendid
dream. One who had known him at the fire.
side, told me, on the day of the obseqnies, that
he could hardly yet realize that the old Hi
noisian had been PresideDt-much less that be
had been so great and popular a one. He
could hardly realize that Lincoln was not still
on the circuit. And so it is still xth others.