Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-24
TIE rATIoxAL BEREAVEMENT.
INTERRSTING "REMINISCENCES OF THE
LATE PRESID ENT
ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS.
THE FEELING IN THE SOUTH.
Comments Of the Press.

30, So, &.
- We s1tj1'n vasilu ex'rsc.s fcm "a exchanges,
re'a'v. to the awful tragedy which las oveETfe'u-
ed the nA.ioa with grio!
rEz 1A-z Pars,DzS--IG7EG-srI;e EEMT: IsoZNoEs
OF RIs IEE.
F5r- ve,rs ago P.esidsn. Lincoln, Wien present
az the raising OF the National dag al Independence
Hall, Philadelphia, uttered thee words:
81 have often inquired of myself what great principle
OF idea il was that kept this cOniederacy so long together
IL was something in the Declaration OF independence CIV
ing liberty not only 10 the people Of this country but hope
20 the world for all future time. II was that which gave
romse that in dns time the weights should be lifted from
The shoulders of al men and that all should have equal
thance Now, my friends, can this country
he saved upon that basis II il viii consider my
self Of the happest men IN The word can Le,p 70
save IT, But if this country cannot be saved without
giving up hat principle was about to say, would
rather be asassnated upon the spot rather than TO sur
render it,
MrF B. Carpent r, the well known painter Of " The
Emancipation Proclamation before the Cabinet has
written a note in reference to poem much admired by
Mr. Lincoln. he says have been urged by seve,ai
friends 10 send you the ncosed poem, written down by
myself from Mr. Lincons lips and although it may not
he new TO all Of your readers the events OF the last week
give il now peculiar interest -, 49,.
The circumstances under which this copy was written
are these was with the President alone one evening
in his room. during the time ! was painting my large
picture at the White House last year. He presently
bew aside his pen and papers and began 10 talk to IN,
b. Of Shakespeare. he sent little Tad his son, TO the II
brry 10 bring copy Of the plays and then read to me
seyera Of his favorte passages showing genuine ap
strain he aid the book aside and leaning oack IN MS
chair, said . s,.. 49, al,
ne for years which first shown 70 me when young
man by friend and which afterwards saw and cu'
from q newspaper and learned by heart would he
continued give great deal 70 know who wrote H. ou'
lpf0 n.
Then half closing his eyes he repeated to me the lines
which iuclose TO you Greatly pleased ana Interested
IA him would like If opportunity occurred, 10
,c tber down from his lips. He said he would some
tine ry TO give them to me. few days atterward De
aied me 20 accompany him TO the temp ofafy stuuo o
Mr. Swayne the sculptor, who was making oust OF nun
. ~. Treasury Department While he was sitting ioi
he INST was suddenly remin ied f the poem and said
a. him that then would lie good time 70 dictate II 10 me
tI i'd and sitting upon books at his feet, as
nearly rs remember wrote the lines GOWN one ny
one from his lips. ,
VIE s'e'' F. B. CARPENTER.
on WHY SHOULD THE SPIRIT or XoRrAL BE PROUD
r, why should the spirit of mortal be proud
7 Ike a swift Heeting m,te0r, fast-dying cloud,
fash If the lightning a break OF the wave,
He passsth from. life to his rest in the grave.
The leaves Of the oak and the willow shall fade,
Re scattered around and together be laid
And the youny and the old, and the low ana The nigh
/ shall rloulder to dust and together snail He
I The infant aud mother attended and loved;
/ rrLe mother III At iafant's affection who proved
? rLe ashland that mother and infant who blessed,
Eacb ali are away to their dwellings OF Rest.
Tho hand of the king that the sceptre hath borne;
5be brow of the priest that the mitre hath worn
D rho ave of the sage and the heart Of the brave
Are hidden and lost in the depths OF the grave
.r,. .o.sort whose lot was to SOW. and to reap;
T,b brdsman who climbed with hi goats up the steep
TLo beegar who wandered in search Of his bread,
Have fAded away like the grass that we tread
so the multitude goes like the flower or the weed
That withers away TO let others succeed
90 the multitude comes even those we behold
To repeat every tale that has often been told.
For we are the same our fathers nave been
We see the same sights our fathers nave seen
We drink the same stream and view the same sun
And run the same course our flthers have rum
Tie thong hts We are thinking our fathers would lhlhE
From the death we are shrinking cur fathers "Ouiu
shrink .
To the life we are clingng they also would cling
But il speeds for as all, like bird on the wing
Thev loved; but the story we cannot unfold;
They scorned but the heart of the hlughty Is cold
They gr eyed but wall from their:slumb will come
They loved but the tongue Of their gsdness is uumo
They died aye they died; we things that are now,
That walk on the turf that lies over their brow,
And make in their dwelling a transient abode,
Nest the things that they met their pilgrimage road
, Yea hope and dependency, pleasure and pain,
We mjpge together in sunshine and rain;
And the smile and the tear the song and the drge,
still follow each other, like surge upon surge.
,Tis the wink Of an eye It's the draft Of breath.
From the blossom Of health 10 Inc paieneSs oil destn
From the rilded saloon 70 the bier and the shroud
az wbv sbonId the spirit of mortal bs proud