Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-07-09
A "REMINISCENCES OF ABRA.
HAM LINCOLN.
Hucidents Of an Excursiou from
Springfield 20 Chicago and Back.
BIT MRS. FRANCIS D. GAGE.

DutlnS tne winner OF 1908, just after the
holidays, it wa my good fortune q thought
it a bad one then) to be one of the excur-
sion party from Springfield, Illinois, to
Chicago and back, the party consisting of
the Illinois Legislature, prominent citizens
and ladies.
It may not be amiss, as showing the
advanced spirit OF the age, to say how I
became one of that company.
/ had made a speech, by permission, in
the Hall of Representatives, on the then
most obnoxious Of all subjects, "Woman's
Rights" It was q courageous thing to
stand alone in such q crowd, and declare
that "all just governments derive their
power from the consent Of the governed"
AID that taxation without representation
was tyranny"
In 1854. no DR.. Tying, Bishop Simpson,
Henry Ward Beecher. Theodore Tlton,
Stuart Mill. or Victor Hugo, had blown
his trumpet in the ear of the world in be-
half of universal suffrage; but the mem
bers and the people heard me respectfully,
for all that. mo disputing the argu-
ment," said the Hon. Mr., Snyder, Speaker
of the House, though we doubt the ex-
pediency."
I received a complimentary ticket to the
excursion, and made one Of the party.
Little did I think, in my ignorance and
inexperience, that the law-makers Of the
country could so abuse their privileges. or
the confidence Of the supplemented con-
~stituents who had placed them in office,
as did some Of these. The ladies had a
car mostly to themselves, which their hus-
bands and their friends invaded and for
sock at will.
At every stopping place, the people who
had been notified Of our coming were as
sembled. aud speeches were made from
the platforms. Noise and mirth grew
fast and furious as we few over the wide,
barren, t~reeless plains. Certain dark,
shining substances began to be elected
forcibly from the windows, which, as they
landed upon the frozen ground and few
into fragments, excited strong suspicious
that the party were not at all strict tenn
perance men.
The object Of the excursion, as we were
told. was to put the Legislature into q good
humor, and induce them to grant some
great boon to the city Of Chicago, said
city finding the champagne and oysters.
What the speeches were that were made
upon those platforms the ladies had no
means Of knowing, for our car was far
behind the one appropriated for the leaders
and takers; but from the wild shrieks
and yells that went echoing over the prai-
ries, we were led to suppose that there
was fun and low wit, il not decency and
sense. All the way
"The speeches loud and louder grew,
The bottles fast and faster few"
How the majority managed to attend a
dinner party that night will be to the end
Of time q mystery. But they did, and q
round Of revelings all the next day, and
the next night the grand finale, the supper
and ball given by the city fathers. l saw
nothing Of all this, being quietly housed
with some near relatives, who were not of
thsse. But on the morrow. taking ad-
vantage Of my return ticket, I was again
was again on the train, and in hearing Of
the reveling Lawmakers!
Oh! what a sight to see. my country
men! Some were brought on board,
come staggered on board, some rolled on
board, some made out to walk straight,
but hiccoughed as they came, looking up
at the wintry sky with red eyes, yawning
horribly. These were the noisy rowdies
Of the upward trip, now used up, and
ready to coil themselves in the corners Of
the seats, and snore of the debauch.
Some Of the distressed wives got their
husbands next the wall, and kept them
there, while, with wells drawn down, they
listened to, and tried to hush, the broken
voice as it burst forth in b~acchanalian
song or. profane ribaldry. Those who
were staid and sober going mp, were the
noisy ones coming down. Even the
moderate drinker could not endure q three
days siege.
At every stopping place going up the
name Of Lincoln was heard in the call for
speakers, and the loudest and widest
mirth was when he answered the call.
When some shout rent the air with un-
common enthusiasm, and the sound Of ap-
plause followed on our track. lifted above
the Gathering Of wheels and shrieks Of the
engine some one would say, "Abe has
been telling one Of his good yarns! What
a fellow he is! He carries the people of
their feet" Coming down, there seemed
but one call at every station: Lincoln"
Lincoln" sounded on the air and hoated
in at the windows. The crowds at the
stations had doubled their numbers as we
returned, and would not be put of. Halt
the best speakers that we had started with
had given out-with fatigue or something
else-and could not address the multi.
tudes; and the tall, gaunt form Of the
"Railsplitter' was seen swaying to and
fro from almost every platform; and
while the applause was greater, If possible,
it seemed everywhere more courteous and
subdued.
A member said to his wife, "Abe is
talking temperance. How he does lash
the wine-drinking rascals! There are not
ten duly sober men in the whole crowd ;
not one but himself but has drunk some.
No persuasion. no influence which could
be brought to bear has induced him to
touch anything but cold water; and.
while all the rest are sick. tired out, and
wholly used up, he is as fresh as when we
started-the noblest Illinoisian Of US all"
In this revival Of the temperance cause
I rejoice that I was there; rejoice that,
treasured in my memory. I have this REM
iniscence Of a great and good man.
No mi thought Of Abraham Lincoln at
that day as a leader Of the nation. Other
men Of that party stood far in advance Of
him in public estimation as astute politi-
clans and logical ~reasoners, bidding fair to
reach the highest goal Of national power
and honor. Where are they nowi The
champagne bottle did Its work. More
than one Of the brightest lights Of that
excursion party and Of the grand Prairie
State "sieep the sleep that knows no wax.
ing;" while many another, who would
not, like Abraham Lincoln, put aside the
tempter. have fallen from their high places,
and are only spoken of with contempt
and pity, as "ruined by drink"
ISsBcrs ON FRUIT TRsEs.-The Maine
Farmer complains bitterly Of the rayages
Of the ~curculio on plum trees. 1t says:
Semmes can almost be forgiven for his
piracies, because he left a great many
ships untouched, but with regard to the