Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-03-08


lisions all that day. lie was never sick
during the whole Of our long acquain-
tance being man Of slow circulation,
and Of most regular habits, capable of
subsisting upon morsel, he was wiry and
indurated beyond the best of our Western
men, and even with Booths bullet in his
brain he lived ten hours. His life, in gen.
eral, was smooth and unrufled. He had
no predjudices against any class, prefering
the Germans to any other of the foreign
element, yet tolerating-as l (Herndon)
never could--even the Irish."
Did he ever drink?"
"Only in Indiana, when he took whis-
cine as ague medicine. After his nomi-
nation for the Presidency il was suggested
to him that the Visiting Committee would
require some hospitality. Very well!'
he said, amy food that is proper author
ize to be purchased
But these gentlemen will expect some
liquors.
"' can't permit in strangers what do
not do myself No liquors, Billy | there's
the tavern - .lsf ts Lla
OF miscellaneous books Mr.. Lincoln's
favorites were Shak, peare and Pope. He
never read Byron, and OF co,emporary
American poets preferred the patriotic
selections chiefly. Milton he knew by
heart, and was a good literary reader of
the Bible. His friends were selected with
regard to their sincerity chiefly; he loved
not cliques, and those who knew him best
were younger than he. He was cautious
in friendships no hero-worshiper, and for
Mr.. Douglas, his most prominent antago-
mist, had much less admiration than repul-
sion. Douglas was uneasily arrogant in
Lincoln's presence; the latter. never SEN
Ssitive nor furried. SO grew by his impur-
liability that when he reached the White
House, Mr.. Douglas was !, IS surprised
than anybody else. The great Senatorial
campaign, in which they figured together,
is remembered by every Springfelder.
Douglas, with his powerful voice and facile
energy. went into il under full stream.
Lincoln began luciily and cautiously.
When they came out Of it Douglas was
worn down with rage and hoarseness, and
/. Lincoln was fresher than ever. He pre-
pared all the speeches of this campaign
by silent meditation, sitting or lying alone,
studying thefies on the ceiling. The best
evidence of his superiority in this debate
is the fact that the Republicans circulated
both sets of speeches as campaign doc
ument in 1860, and Mr.. Douglas friends
refused 10 do so.
The most remarkable episode Of II Hern-
don's conversaiion-which am repeating
. by memory, only-relates 10 Mr.. Lincoin's
! Presidential aspirations. In common with
most people, l had concluded that this
great honor came to Mr.. Lincoln, without
paving, as unexpected as il was unsolicited,
and 10 him staggering piece of luck, like
a lottery prize. This estimate is charm
ing one, but it is not a true one. When
the Douglas and Lincoln contest was end
ed, the defeated man said to his partner !:
IS Billy, knew should miss the place
when | competed for il. This defeat will
make me President"
He refused in the interim. any PROPOSE
tion looking to his acceptance Of a lesser
J office, and this with the concurrence of his
J friends and family. At the same time he
took no immediate means to precipitate
!, his opportunity. rather, Ike man destin-
ed, sat more closely TO study and vigilance,
read all the issues as they developed, and
) waited for his call. T1t8a9&mB
1t came, at last, in a special invitation
to visit New York ard speak in the Coop
er Institute. He felt intuitively that this
was the Rubicon, and, with human thrill,
paused and hesitated.
; 1t is possible that, at this moment, had
any close friend whispered stay" the Re-
public might be dead and Abraham Lin
coin living. a uoii
Go, Mr.. Lincoln" said Herndon.
! make your best effort. Speak with your
usual lucidity and thoroughness."
Home said T" CO. also.
He appeared in New York, as all of you
remember, and his success there drew the
attention Of the country to his name. The
West can originate men the East must
pass them, and the firm Of Lincoln and
Herndon died. in reality, when the Con-
vention met at Chicago. He had by this
time reached the highest usefulness in his
State, Of which his nature was capable.
The best lawyer in il, the hero of de-
L.t-