Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-03
A "REMINISCENCES OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN.

A4NNOLNs
There was an interesting though unimpor-
tant scene in the life of Abraham Lincoln,
Of which was an eyewitness. 1t was ON
the occasion OF the visit of about twenty In.
dian chiefs to the Executive Mansion, dele
gated by their respective tribes to treat per-
sonally with the Great Father in the adius.
ment Of their affairs. They we're habited in
their attire Of feathers and paint, and each
one was impressed with the greatness Of the
occasion, the most eventful, probably, of
their lives. The interpreter placed them in
the form Of crescent in the spacious East
room, on the floor, as they would have been
i'll at ease on chairs. Thus they sat on the
carpet in decorous silence aud waited the ar
rival oil the chief magistrate.
A number of people had been invited to
be present at the interview, among whom,
were officers civil and military aud 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-wlth peculiar interest the objects
of it, however, sat under the close observa-
ton with calm dignity asifthey had been in the
habit OF sitting amidst the gaudy splendors
Of an East room, and of being looked upon,
every day, by distinguished men aud hand
some women; the absence of any manifes-
tation Of surprise being a characteristic Of
Indian nature.
At length Abraham Lincoln came into the
room and stood before tho dusky crescent
while group of wel.known men gathered
behind him, to hear what was about to take
place, space being made by ushers about the
chiefs, the president, and immediate
group behind him. The interpreter
occupied place near Lincoln, to
turn the aboriginal language into Eng
fish as it fell from the lip. The GER
emony began 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 after
the Caucasian manner, but holding it high
and dropping it softly down into the presi.
dental palm. The names were furnished as
they came forward by the interpreted
Bear, Big Wolf, Red Fox, and so on.
The face Of Lincoln was plainly seen by
most Of the people present, for it was higher
than that Of any other When he came into
the room, it was, as usual pale, and tnged
with the sadnes which was its principal
characteristic in repose. He folded his hands
before him, and stood rather awkwardly as
he waited for the interview to begin. After
making his compliments and shaking hands,
each Indian returned to his seat on the car
pet in the crescent of his brethren. When
all had performed the ceremony, each one in
turn made his speech to the President, stand
ing up for the purpose, aud sitting down
when done, in parliamentary fashion, prob
ably through instructions from the interpreter
The first one who essayed to talk grew ner-
vous, and in 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 trihing in-
cldent took place, smile passed over the
faces Of the spectators and was reflected 10
in that of Lincoln. This smile, indeed, deep.
ened into an audible laugh 10 the rear but
when the ear of the President caught it, his
face Immediately Strengthened into serious.
ness aud sympathy with the disconnected In
dian. 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 after fashion got through with
what he wanted to say, at which there was
a murmur of applause,
The burden of their speeches was the
same. They had all come such long dis.
lance, 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 the friends
Of the white man. They wanted to be pros
porous and rich like their white brother
Big Wolf, particularly, enlarged on THU
theme. lie said that he would like to have
horses and carriages, sausages such as he ate
in the hotel in Washington, and fine wig
wan "like this" added he, as he designated
| the nlBulJ OIuuIcutth ap1iNihoub III "hiSl
he stood. At this, the President could mol
restrain the desire to share in the genera
smile.
Red Fox was attorney and orator Of the
delegation. lie dwelt on the qualification
he experienced at seeing the Great Father
1t was the proudest aud most important event
of his existence. Had he been familiar with
the Neapolitan prOverb, See Naples aud
then die" he would doubtless have par
APPRAISED it to suit the occasion. There was
however, cloud in the in the otherwise
clear sky of his enjoyment. lie had an aP
prehension that when he returned to his peo'
pie in the Far West, they might not believe
that he had seen the Great Father and talked
to him face to face as it was his privilege to
do then and there. Hence he would like tC
return to his people laden down with pres
ents, -"shining all over Ikea Ooking.glass,
to prove to them the friendly relations which
existed between himself and the Great Father
There was no resisting this. and there wa'
some good-humored laughing, but the faces
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