Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-07-24
The 8. q. Ghrnaitlt.
The Room Where President
Lincoln Died.
From the Chicago Jourhall
THE PREsIDENT's DFATH-ROON.

I bACl - AAO 5BOA III O44 COuhAA BClAd -
around which so many and such sacred
and thrillings associations cluster a
the room where our lamented Presi
dent breathed his last. 1t is a Meccs
j to which thousands have already made
a pilgrimage, and, if preserved, as w
hope it will be, thousands yet unborn
will come to stand around the sacred
spot. A few words in regard to thil
Y room may not be unin teresting TO those
who have never visited it.
The house, as probably sll are aware
is Immediately opposite the theatre
where the assassination occurred.
IL is an unprctenious two-story brick
building. Ascending four or Ave steps
you enter the hall at the right hand
side of the house. Immediately at you
left is the door opening into the FROM
parlor; little further on is another
into the back parlor, and at the ex
treme end of the hall Is the door ad
mitting you to the room in which the
President died. This room is about
twelve by sixteen, and is not, as ha;
been represented, shabby and unsight
ly. 1t is plainly but respectfully fur
nished, with nothing about it to give
occasion to the unkind remarks that
have been made.
To this room, however, it has become
almost impossible TO gain admission,
for reasons which We will now state
The house is owned and occupied by
Mr.. Peterson, who is a respectable Ger.
man. He is a merchsnt tailor, and o
man of moderate means. On the night
of the assassination he kindly threw
open his house, and rendered every
assistance in his power till Mr.. Lincoln
was removed.
As matter of course, hundreds, and
indeed thousands, crowded in to see
the room. This continued for days,
and even weeks, until the family were
worn down and sick with labor and ex-
citement; and, even after this. they
hired help to attend TO the constant
application for admission. At length
that which was at first pleasure, be-
came an unsupportable burden, inso-
much that they were compelled to
close their door and refuse admission
to all. The people then began to COM
plain and say: "He was the peoples
man, and the people have have right
to see where he died" Mr. and Mrs.
Peterson, finding that the people were
dissatisfied, consulted with their
friends, and were advised to open the
room to visitors, and, as 8 remunera-
ton for their trouble, to charge q small
fee. Accordingly, they told their
daughter that if she desired she might
attend the door, show visitors the
room, and have the proceeds.
ThisWorked satisfactorily for while;
but soon there WAS another murmur.-
The people said: Peterson is sYari.
cious and inhuman; for he is making
g speculation out of the Presidents
death" When assured of this dissatis-
faction, he closed his door again. Now
the family felt, and still feel, very
much embarrassed. They would gladly
admit all, but any one can see at
glance that it would be utterly impiac-
ticable. They have been afflicted, too,
by numerous abuses that have from
time 10 time appeared in the papers
For example, an impertinent reporter
for one of the Boston journals. having
gained admission, and being kindly
shown everything of interest, upon
leaving, offered Mrs. Peterson the mag
unanimous sum of thirteen cents. She,
as a woman of good sense would have
done, indignantly refused to accept it.
To retaliate and wreak his vengeance on
Mrs. Peterson for her just rebuke for
his contemplate niggsrdliness, he, in
his report, represented her as being 3
great, fat, greasy Dutch woman, whose
daughters would be taken for strapping
house servants"
Another called; said he: 81 am an
artist. l am just finishing q painting
of the death-room of Mr.. Lincoln,
which I have sold for FIVE thousand
dollars, and wish to see if it is correct,
or if 1 can make any improvement"
She informed him that she would be
happy to crafty him, but that they had
Of necessity been compelled to refuse
admission to ali. He insisted, and
finally almost demanded admission. At
length, said Mrs. Peterson to him, "see-
ing, sir. that you are making such a
ine thing of your painting, selling it
for FIVE thousand dollars, perhaps you
would be willing to compensate my lit
lie daughter if she should show you the |
'oom." To this he replied: at is a |
hard thing if an American citizen can
not gain admission to Mr.. Lincoln's |
bathroom without paying for it. But
f nothing else will do, here are twenty
i've cents, which will more than pay
Tou for your trouble" To express her
contempt at this insolence and little
less of soul, she modestly closed the
ioor, and left him on the step to in
lulge in his own reflections. For this
he family had again to be ADVERTISED
n the public prints, and charged with
rying to speculate on the Presidents
leath." Such things are outrageous,
nd ought not to be tolersted-It is
very ungenerous, for no one
an fail 10 see how exceedingly annoy
ng it must be to have this constant ap.
llication for admission. -
Even at this late date of two years
nd more, they informed me there had
light persons that morning before me
pphed for admission. To all these
alls of the bell they had TO. respond.
1t was only through the aid Of influ-
initial names that succeeded in gain
ng admittance.
Now / think the Government ought
o do one of two things-either COM
'ensate the family for their tronble of
dmitting all who come, or purchase
he property and make it free, like
Vashington's death-room at Mount
Yernon, to all who may visit it. To do
ass than this viii neither satisfy the
eople or show becoming respect for
be memory of Mr.. Lincoln. |,
The room is kept as nearly like it {
Tas at the time of the sad occurrence
s is possible. The family keep in their
the pillow on which he /
led, which is all stained with his life
lood also two pillow-cases, on one of !
Ihich are portions of the brain that i
xuded from the wound-the other. is {
eeply saturated with blood. have {
o words to tell how strangely solemn I
felt as 1 stood within that room, for
yer hallowed by the death and blood {
f martyr. Imagination was all alive. q
thought of the wild excitement of the 6
roup that surrounded his bed-of c
hose strong men weeping like children G
t the loss of a father-of the distract
d wife-of the fatherless heart-broken t
oys-of the physician watching the (
bling pulse, and of the last death {