The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-03-08
Mr.. Lincoln as a Reader and
Talker.

Isaac n. Arnold's History of Abra
ham Lincoln and the Overthrow of
Slavery" is just published in Chicago
by Clarke g. CO. Mr. Arnold was
long the intimate friend Of Mr. Lin
coin, and his narrative has fresh and
peculiar interest.
The two books which he read most
were the Bible and Shakespeare. With
these he was very familiar, reading
and studying them habitually and con
stantly. He had great fondness for
poetry and eloquence, and his taste
and judgment in each was exquisite.
Shakespeare was his favorite poet,
Burns stood next. Holiness poem,
"The Last Leaf" was with him a great
favorite The following verse he re-
garded MS equal to anything in the
language:
Tho messy marbles rest
On the lips that he has pressed
In their bloom
And the names he loved 10 hear.
Have been carved for many year
On the tomb
He made n speech ut Burns festi
val in which he spoke at length of
Burus's poems; illustrating what he
said by many quotations, which was
listened to with the greatest pleasure,
but it was unfortunately never report
ed. He was extremely fond of ballads,
and simple, sad and plaintive music
He was most admirable reader.
He read and recited from the Bible
and Shakespeare with great simplicity,
but remarkable expression and effect.
Often when going to and from the
army, on the steamers and in his car
rage, he took copy of Shakespeare.
with him, and not unfrequently read
aloud to his associates.
After conversing upon public affairs,
he would take up his Shakespeare, and
addressing his companions, remark.
What do you say now to a scene from
Macbeth, or Hamlet" and then he
would read aloud, scene after scene,
never seeming to tire of the enjoyment.
On the last Sunday of his life, as he
was coming up the Potomac, from his
visit to City Point and Richmond, he
read many extracts from Shakespeare.
Among other things, he read with an
accent and feeling which no one who
heard him will ever forget, extracts
from Macbeth, and among others, the
following:
Duncan is in his grave;
After LIES fitfu fever he sleeps well.
Treason has done his worst; nor steel, nor
poison
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing
Can touch HIM farther.
After treason had "done his
wor st." the friends who heard him on
that occasion remembered that he read
that passage over twice and with an
absorbed and peculiar manner. Did
he feel mysterious presentiment of
his approaching fate?
His conversation was suggestive,
original, instructive, and playful; and
by its genial humor, fascinating and
attractive beyond comparison. Mirth-
fulness and sadness we've strongly
combined in him. His mirth was ex.
uherant, it sparkled in Jest, story, and
anecdote; and the next moment those
peculiarly sad, pathetic, melancholy
eyes showed a man familiar with sor-
row and acquainted with grief
have listened for hours at his table,
and elsewhere, when he has been sur
rounded by statesmen, military lead
ers and other great men OF the nation,
and ] but repeat the uniyersally-con-
curing verdict of all, in stating that
as conyersationalist he had no equal.
One might meet III company with him
the most distinguished men, of various
pursuits and professions, but after
listening for two or three hours, on
separating, it was what Lincoln said
that would be remembered. His ideas
and his illustrations were those that
would not be forgotten. Men often
called upon him for the pleasure of
listening to him. / have heard the
reply to an invitation to attend the
theatre, "No, am going up to the
White House would rather hear
Lincoln talk for half m hour than at
tend the best theatre in the country"