Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-09-12
Lincoln and Dan. Rice.

The veteran Snowman, Dan. Rice. ia
on professional tour through Illinois.
and rural Republican editor there.
whose loyalty has been touched by
some of his ring witticisms, calls him
lone of those bitter and aggressive
Democrats known in ante-beilum davs "A
'ire-eaters.' Though Dams politics
are of very little consequence to him.
self or any body else, it is only fair to
say that he claims to be "and Old line
Whig." Whether it was this devotion
to the dead party which reused Mr..
Lincoln g sympathies, or-what is more
likely-he wanted to draw upon the in
exhaustible fund of fun for which Dan
is SO famous, it is certain they were al
ways warm personal friends. And, sin.
gularly enough, this friendship, which
began probably in Lincoln 8 early DAYS.
was continued by him after he became
President, and: when 1t might be sup
posed the pressure of care and respon.
sibility would drive all circus memories
out of his mind. Whenever Rice Wis.
tied Washington with his show during
the gloomy years from 1861 to 1865, he
was invited to come to the White House
after the evening performance, and usu-
ally the presidential carriage was wait
ing for him, so that he might get there
as soon as possible. Lincoln received
him in his private Office, and all cere-
mony being laid aside. the two would
exchange stories and jokes, live over
bygone scenes in which the humorous
predominated, and have mutually re-.
freshing season of it. On one of these
occasions, when, as usual, orders had
been given to admit nobody, card was
brought up. Lincoln rebuked the SER
want for the unwelcome interference,
and then looking at the card, said,
We'll, Dan, there's no help for it; we
must let him in. He's big bug from
Massachusetts,, and it won't do to deny
him now that he's sent in his name.
But you stay and I'll soon get rid of
him." Accordingly in few minutes q
genuine representative of the highest
responsibility of Boston, made his ap.
pearance, and saluting the President
with profound dignity, announced him.
self as committee appointed to present
a set of resolutions lately passed at
large Republican meeting in his State.
These resolutions, as Lincoln knew,
~ ANOnCI bCNCIO CIltiClSu
Administration policy, at that time too
mild to suit the Massachusetts "Stal.
warts" Listening attentively to the
preliminary remarks of the Boston gen.
tleman, he took the paper; but without
making any reply to the contents or the
comments, said: "Beg pardon, Mr..
-; but before we proceed further let
me introduce to you my particul
friend, Mr.. Dan Rice" Dan stood up
and made his best bow, but the com.
mittee was struck dumb with amaze
ment and indignation. To be intro
duced to q circus clown by the Presi-
dent of the United States was too much
for him. He grew red in the face,
stared first at one and then at the other,
and then at last managing to stammer
out few words of leave taking, de-
parted in haste. As the door closed
upon him, Lincoln turned to Rice with
a hearty laugh, and said: Dan, wasn't
that we'll done? Didn't it take the
wind out of him nicely?" Dan admitted
that it was a perfect success, and the in
terrupted conversation was resumed
with renewed zest.
This anecdote the authenticity of
which is unimpeachable- ought to put
Dan Rice's loyalty far beyond all sus-
picion, and he can afford to defy Re.
publican malice now, henceforth and
forever. Louis Republican