Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-10-27
A Rem,nl.eence Of Abraham Lincoln.

pornnt scene in tho life of Abraham Lin
coin, of which / was an eyewitness. 1t
was on the occasion of the visit of about
twenty Indian chiefs 10 the Executive
Mansion, delegated by their respective
tribes to treat personally with the Great
Father in tho adjustment of their affairs.
They were habited in their attire Of feath-
ers and paint, and each one was impressed
with the greatness Of the occasion, the most
eventrul, probably, of their lives. Their
interpreter placed them in the form of
crescent in the spacious East room, on the
floor, as they would have been Ill at ease
on chairs. Thus they sat on the carpet in
decorous silence and awaited the arrival of
the Chief Magistrate.
A number of people had been Invited to
be present at tho interview, among whom
were officers civil and military and foreign
diplomats, accompanied by their wives in
fashionable toilet. Several of the latter,
whose feet had not long left the asphalt OF
the Boulevards of Paris, looked on the cop
per colored men-two or three using eye
glasses-with peculiar interest the objects
of It, however, sat under tho close obser-
vation with calm dignity, as calm as If
they had been in the habit of sitting amidst
the gaudy splendors of an East roopl, and
of being looked upon, every day, by dis
tinguished men and handsome women
the absence of any manifestation Of sur
prise being a characteristic OF Indian ma
ture.
AT length Abraham Lincoln came into
the room and stood before the dusky cres-
cent, while group of well-known men
gathered behind him, 10 hear what was
about 10 take place, space being made by
ushers about the chiefs, the President and
the immediate group behind him. The in
terpre,er occupied place near Lincoln, to
turn the aboriginal language into English
as it fell from the lip. The ceremony be-
gan by personal presentation Of each chief
to the Great Father, each one going up to
the powerful white chief and shaking
hands-not extending the hand afler the
Caucasian manner, but holding II high and
dropping it softly down into the Presi-
dents palm. The names were furnished
rs they cnme forward by the Interpreter
White Bear, Big Wolf, Red Fox, and so on.
The face OF Lincoln was plainly seen by
most ofthe people present, for ii was high
er than that of any other. When he came
into the room, 1t was, as usual, pale, and
tlnged with the sadness which was its prin-
cipal characteristic in repose. He folded
his hands before him, and stood rather
awkwardly as be waited for the interview
to begin. After max ing his compliments
and shaking hands, each Indian returned
to his seat on the carpet in the crescent Of
his brethren. When all had performed the
ceremony, each one in turn made his
speech to the President, standing up for
the purpose, and sitting down when done,
in parliamentary fashion, probably through
instructions from the interpreter. The first
one who essayed to talk grew nervous, and
in a hurried way asked for chair in the
spirit of wrecked mariner who seeks for
plank. When it was furnished him, he
took his seat and resumed the entangled
thread of his discourse. AS this tritling in-
cident took place, smile passed over the
faces OF the spectators, and was reflected in
that of Lincoln. This smile, indeed, deep
ened into an audible laugh in the rear; but
when the ear of the President caught 1t, his
face Immediately Strengthened into serious
ness and sympathy with the disconnected
Indian. He did not at once begin, and the
interpreter said:
"Mr. President, White Bear asks for
time TO collect his thoughts"
The President bowed, and another smile
went round at the plight Of the perturbed
Indian, but did not appear in the face Of
Lincoln.
Soon, White Bear rose TO his feet, went
at It again, and afler fashion got through
with what he wanted TO say, at which there
was murmur OF applause.
The burden of their speeches was The
same. They had all come such long dis
tance, and so quickly, that they felt as il
they were birds. To see the Great Father
had been the wish of their lives. They
were poor, and required help. They had
always respected their treaties, and were
tho friends of the white man. They want
ed TO be prosperous and rich like their
white brother. Big Wolf, particularly, en-
lareed on this theme. He said that he
would like to have horses and carriages,
sausages such as he ate in the hotel in
| Washington, and a fine wigwam-"like
| this" added he, as he designated the high
| ly ornamented apartment in which he
stood. At this, the President could not re-
strain the desire to share in the general
smile.
Red Fox was the attorney and orator oI
the delegation. He dwelt on the gratlfica.
ton he experienced at seeing the Great Fa'
ther. II was the proudest and most i'm
| portant event of his existence. Had hl
been familiar with the Neapolitan proverb
"See Naples and then die," he woulC
doubtless have paraphrased it to suit thu
occasion. There was, however, cloud II
the otherwise clear sky of his enjoyment
He had an apprehension that when he re
turned to his people in the far West, they
might not believe that he had seen thu
Great Father and talked to him face to fac
as it was his great privilege TO do then ant
there. Hence ne would like to return L
his people laden down with presents, =
"shining all over like looking-glass, p
to prove TO them the friendly relation
which existed between himself and th
Great Father.
There was no resisting this, and ther,
was some good-humored laughing, but tn
faces of all the Indians remained seriou
and reserved.
'Mr. President" said the interpreter
"the chiefs would be glad 10 hear you talk
To which Lincoln intimated that h
would endeavor to do so.
"My red BRETHREN" said Lincoln, Tar
anxious to be prosperous and have horse
and carriages like tho pale fSces. pro
pose TO tell them how thew NAV Get Them