Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-06-03
New Anecdotes about the Martyred
President.

Washington Cor. Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
Now that the religious convictions of
Mr.. Lincoln are being 80 generally dis
cussed everybody seems disposed to bring
up every trihe in evidence pro or con
Having my mite to offer in prsof that he
was not an unbeliever in Christianity,
take this opportunity of doing so, though,
as will be seen, it is only mite.
Soon after the war began, while calling
on Mrs. Speed, of Louisville, KY, mother
of Mr. James Speed, ex-Attorney- -Gener-
al, noticed cabinet sized photograph
of Mr.. Lincoln hanging in the parlor. Be
meath the photograph was written, " 10
Mrs. Martha Speed, from whom Ireceived
an Oxford Bible thirty years ago." 1t was
signed "Abraham Lincoln, President of
the United States" and on inquiry Mrs
Speed told me it was sent to her almost
imnediately after his Inauguration. This
shows that Mr.. Lincoln not only consid
cred the present one of value, but one de-
serving of being suitably acknowledged
at a time when his mind was deeply dis
turbed by the distracted condition of the
country following his first election, and
when his remembering a gift bestowed SO
many years back was in itself remarka
ble circumstance.
Writing of this suggests many little an
ecdotes connected with this great and
good man which I heard at the time of
their occurrence from intimate friends OF
his own, some, if not all, of which, so far
as | can learn, have never been published
One of Mr.. Lincoln's Kentucky friends,
for whom he cherished warm attach
ment, used frequently to give notes of in
PRODUCTION to deserving persons who
wished to see the President, whether on
business or simply to pay their respects
to him in visit of courtesy To notes of
this friend he always paid special atten-
tion. On one occasion two ladies were
thus introduced. $50 you know B."
said the President after shaking hands
with them :" did he ever tell you I
helped him to his wife ?" The ladies
knew nothing of it, so the match maker
proceeded to give detailed account of
the affair in his liveliest manner. "You
see," said he, "B- never could get a
chance to pop the question because the
lady's father was always in the room !; so
at last l told him I'd manage it for him,
and the next time he called went with
him. / knew that the old man and often
talked politics with him, but as both of US
were Wings the talk was never very
lively. That time, to help B, /
turned Democrat, and the old man got so
excited that B and the daughter man
aged to slip out on the back porch and do
the thing up at once" This story, re-
Iating an occurrence dating back some
twenty odd years, the teller seemed to
enjoy as much as at the time when his
temporary change of politics hastened
what has. proved an exceedingly happy
marriage.
Once during the second year of the
war it was said that certain foreign
minister complained tG the President of a
man with hand-organ who disturbed
him at all hours by grinding music in
front of his residence. I1lten you what
to do" said Mr.. Lincoln, "speak to Stan
ton about it, and tell him to send Baker
after the man. Baker will steal the organ
and throw its owner into the Old Capitol
and you'll never be troubled with his
noise again" This referred jestingly to
the many complaints of arbitrary arrests
being made in this city, and the Baker
the corps of detectives.
Mr.. Lincoln gave the following account
of the first announcement of the emanci
patton proclamation in the Cabinet meet.
ing. He said he read it through, and
there was dead silence. Presently Mr.
Chase spoke. He said he liked all but sc
and so, instancing clause, then some ont
else made an objection, and then another
until lall had said something. Then tn,
President said ; g Gentlemen, this reminds
me of the story of the man who had beer
away from home, and when ne was com
ing back was met by one of his farm
hands who greeted him after this fashion
Master, the little pigs are dead, and tn,
old sow's dead too, but didn't like to tel
you all at once" In answer to some re
marks which were made to him when Mr.
Chase was proposed as a candidate for th,