Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-06-08
Ghuite Mistellang.
tFrem the New York independent
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS AND REcoLLEcrIoNs.
No. II.
BY +. d. CARPENTER.

| AL Ille llulD UlN communication 10 YOU,
published in the Independent Of April 27th
was written, L did not anticipate that it would
be succeeded by others through the same
channel. but that article has been so wide
ly copied, and the unparalleled interest
with which everything relating to our late
beloved President is pow read, together
with the urgent solicitations OF friends,
have induced me To- consent to continue my
"Reminiscences" for the qualification OF
your readers, though | must confess to q
much less familiarity with the pen than the
pencil.
The terrible events Of the last month
have had the effect to bring out with start
ling distinctness in my memory, as the
chemical process develops the image on the
Photographic plate, almost every event and
circumstance of my "six months in the
White House" 1t has been my habit for
many years to note down briefly the lead
ing events of my daily life, and reference to
these notes is, Of course, great help in re-
freshing aud strengthening the recollection;
so that the difficulty encounter in attempt
ing to write for publication is not for want
of material, but to make selection from
the somewhat miscellaneous mass Of matter
floating in my mind. 3.
In my former communication the Incl
| uGTlS T6ldI6u WcT6 tnOSliy VI u pa
thetic character. With the multitude of
cases convicted of military offenses and
crimes, together with those constantly APP
pealing for relief or redress from hardships
imposed by the war, of course, scenes like
those described were of frequent occurrence.
| desire, however, in these sketches to pre-
sent as true picture as possible of Mr..
| Lncon's daily life and character, and, while
enlarging upon the weight of the burdens
which pressed him down, the sadness and
pathos Of his nature, | would not forget, or
have others forget that other side Of him
more popularity known and better under
stood-his shrewdness and love of humor,
as expressed in his storytelling propensity.
1t has been well said by profound critic
of Shakespeare, and it occurs to me as very
appropriate in this connection, that 'the
spirit which held the woe Of Lear and the
tragedy of Hamlet would have broken had
it not also had the humor of the Merry
Wives of Windsor and the merrment of
Midsummer Nights Dream" This is as
true Of MIR. Lincoln as it was of Shaks-
peare. The capacity to tell and enjoy
good anecdete no doubt prolonged his life.
| have often heard this asserted by one of
his most intimate friends And the public
impression of him in this respect was not
exaggerated. Mr.. Beecher once observed
to me of his own wealth of illustration that
he ''thoughtin in figures" or, in ether words,
| that an argument hahitnalIy took on that
form in his mind. This was pre,emjnently
true of Mr.. Lincoln. The points" of his
argument were driven home in this way. as
they could be in no other. 10 the social
circle this characteristic had full play. |
never knew him to sit down with friend
! for five minutes chat, without being ''re
minded OF something about somebody al
luled to in the course of the conversation.
La corner of his desk he kept COPY of
some humorous work, and it was frequently
his habit, when greatly fatigued, annoyed,
or depressed to take this up and read
chapter, with great relief.
The Saturday evening before he left
| Washington to go to the front, just previous
to the capture of Richmond, | was with
him from seven O'Clock till nearly twelve
| 1t had been very hard day with him
/ The pressure of oflice-seekers was greater at
this juncture than | ever knew it to be, and
he was almost worn out. Among the call
ers that evening was party composed of IA
Senator, Representative, an ex Lieuten
ant-Governor efa Western State, and sew
eral private citizens. They had business of
great Importance, involving the necessity of
the Presidents examination of vouminous
documents. Pushing everything aside, he
the Nasby papers?' "No, l have not, was
the answer; who is Nasty ?" There is a
chap out in Ohio" returned the President,
who has been writing series of letters in
the newspapers over the signature of Petro-
| leum V. Nasby. Some one sent me a
pamphlet collection of them the other day.
| am going to write to Petroleum to come
down here, and intend to tell him if he
will communicate his talent to me, will
soap places with him |" Thereupon he
arose, went to drawer in his desk, and,
taking out the LETTERS" he sat down and
read one to the company, finding in their
enjoyment of it the temporary excitement
and relief which another man would havs
found in glass of grog! The instant he
had ceased, the book was thrown aside, his
countenance relapsed into its habitual scri-
Gus expression, and the business WIS enter
ed upon with the utmost earnestness.
just here, may say with propriety, and
| feel that it is due to Mr. Llncoln's mem
ory to state, that, during the entire period
of my stay in Washington, after witnessing
his intercourse with almost all classes Of
people, including Governors, Senators,
members Of Congress, officers of the army,
anu lamlllAT iTituuS, Il cauHut TccOHcCl ~
have ever heard him relate circumstance
to any one Of them all that would have been
out of place uttered in ladies' drawing
room | am aware that a different impress
sion prevails founded it may be in some
instanc upon facts, but where there is one
fact of the kind am persuaded that there
are forty faseheods, at least AT any rate,
what | have stated is voluntary testimony,
from a standpoint, submit, entitled to
respectful consideration.
Among his stories freshest in my mind
IN which he related to me shortly after it,
occn. .rrence, belongs to the history of the
famous interview ON board the River Queer
at Hampton Roads, between himself and
Secretary Seward, and the Rebel Peace
Commissioners. 1t was reported at tht
| time that the President told a little story
on that occasion, and the inquiry wen
around among the newspapers, What wa
it?" The New York Herald published
what purported to be version OF Il, bu
the ''polnt" was entirely lost, and Il attract
ed no attention. Being in. Washington
few days subsequent to the interview will
.. the Commissioners (my previous sojourl
> there having terminated about the list o
/; i..t Auonst \ I askad Mr. Iincsn one da