The Portland daily press., 1879-04-17
Ree0llecti0ns OF Lincoln.
The Anniversary Of His Death the Ocea.
sion of Wait Whi,man's First Lecture.

suit OF whitish array. His long, beard and
flowing hair are snow.white, but his face has
the ruddy glow of health. After reminding
his audience of the public which preceded the
civil war he recited his recollections of Abra-
ham Lincoln as follows:
In the height of all this chaos. lowering on
the edge at first and then merged in its very
midst. appears a strange and awkward figure.
shall not easily forget the first time ever
saw Abraham Lincoln. Ii was q pleasant af-
ternoon as be arrived here from the West, to
remain few hours and then pass on to his in
tuguration. He came down from Canal street
to the Astor House. The broad spaces, side
walks and streets were crowded with masses OF
people. The omnibuses aud other vehicles had
been turned of, leaving an unusual hush.
Presently two or three shabby hack barouches
made their way with some difficulty through
the crowd and drew up at the Astor House en-
trance. A tall figure stepped out of the GEN.
tire OF these barouches, paused leisurely on the
sidewalk, looked up to the dark granite wallg
and looming architecture Of the grand old ho-
tel, then, after relieving stretch of arms and
legs. turned round for q minute to slowly and
good 'humorealy scan the appearance Of the
vast aud silent crowds. There were no speeches,
no compliments, no welcome, as far as could
hear-not word said. Still much anxiety
was concealed in that quiet. Cautious persons
bad feared some marked insult or indiguity to
the Presldent-elect, for he possessed no person.
al popularity at all in New York City, and very
little political But 1t was evidently tscitly
agreed that If the few political supporters OF
Mr., Lincoln present, would abstain from any
demonstration on their side, the immense ma
Iority. who were anything bat supporters,
would abetaiu on their side also. The result
was sulky, unbroken silence, such as certsin-
~ never before characterized so great q New
York crowd.
Almost in the same neighborhood distinct
y remembered seeing Lafayette on his visit to
America in 1926. I had also personally seen
and be ard how Andrew Jackson, Clay. Web
ster, Hungarian Kossuth, Fillibustsr Walker,
the Prince of Wales en- his visit and other
cele6res, native and foreign, had been welcomed
there at various times, all that indescrioable
human roar and magnetism, unlike any
other sound in the universe, the glad, ex-
ulting thunder-shouts of countless uuloosed
thioats OF men. But on this occasion, not q
voice, not q sound.
From the top of an omnibus, driven one side
and blocked by the curbstone and crowds, I
lad capital view of it all, and especially of
Mr.. Lincolp, bis look and gait, his perfect
composure and GOODNESS, his unusual and nm
pipe hat, pushed back on the head, his dark
brown complexion, scanned and wrinkled, vet
canny looking face, his black. bushy head of
hair, disproportionately long neck and his
hands held behind as he stood observing the
people. He looked with curiosity upon that
immense sea Of faces and the sea of faces re-
turned the look with similar curiosity In
both there was dash Of comedy, almost farce,
such as Shakespeare puts in his blackest trsx-
edies. The crowd that hemmed around con-
sisted, should think, of thirty to, forty thous-
and men, not single one bis personal friend,
while have no doubt ESQ frenzied were the
1ermentS OF the time) many an assassin's knife
end pistol lurked in hip or breast pocket there,
ready as soon as break or riot came.
But no break or riot came. The tall figure
gave aQOthAr rnliavinO nr tuua NJ
and legs, then with moderate pace and sc-
companied by few unknown looking persons,
sscended the portico steps of the Astor House,
disappeared through Its broad entrance and the
dumb show ended.
saw Abraham Lincoln often in the four
years following that date. He changed rap
idly and much during his Presidency, but this
scene and him in it are indelibly stamped upon
my recollection. As sat on the top of my
omnibus and had good view of him the
thought, dim and inchoate then, has since
come out clear enough, that four sorts of genius,
four mighty and primal hands, will be needed
to the complete limning of this mans future
portrait-the eyes and brains and finger touch
OF Pluta.ch and Gschyus and Michael Angelo,
OF the actual murder of President Lincoln,
though 20 much has been written, probably the
facts are yet very indefinite in most persons
minds
The day, April IA, 1866, seems to have been q
moral atmosphere pleasant too The long
storm, so dark, SO fratricidal, full of blood and
doubt and gloom, over and ended at last by the
sunrise OF such an absolute national victory
and utter breakdown of Secession--we almost
doubted our own sensesi Early hsrbsge, early
flowers were ont. / remember where 1 was
stopping at the time there were many lilacs In
foll bloom. By one of those caprices that give
tinge to events without being at all part of
them, 1 find myself always reminded of the
great tragedy Of that day by the sight and
color Of these blossoms.
But must not dwell on accessories. The
deed hsstens. The popular afternoon paper Of
Washington, the little Evening Star, had spat-
the advertisements in q sensational manner in
hundred different PLACES, "rhe President and
his lady will be at the theatre this evening"
Lincoln was fond Of the theatre. have my
sell seen him there several times. remsm-
Der thinking how funny it was that be, In
some respects the leading actor in the stormiest
drama known to real history's stage through
canfuries. should sit there and be so com mpleteiy
Interested and absorbed 10 these human jack
strsws moving about with their silly little ges.
lures, foreign spirit and hstulent text
On this occasion the thestrs WAS crogded:
many ladies IN rich and gay Costumes, officers in
their uniforms. many we'll known cit,zens,
young folks, the usual clusters of gas-li hts,
ths usual magnetism OF SO many people. cheer
fol with perfumes, music of violins and-flut.s-
aud over all and ssturatng all, that vast vague
wouder, victery-the natiOn's victory, the tri.
umph of the Uoiou-fllng the air, the thought,
the sense, with exhilaration more than all
music aud perfumes
The President came betimes and with his
wife witnessed the play from the large stage
boxes OF the second tier, two thrown into one
and profusely draped with the national a az.
There is scene In the play representing q
modern parlor, 10 which two unpreceden ted
Eoglish ladies are informed by an impossible
Yankee that he Is not man Of fortuns and,
therefore, undesirable for marrisge-catching
purposes, after which, the comments being fn-
ished, the dramatic trio maze exit, leaving the
| stage clear for O moment. Through the eerer-
al hum following the stage pause, with the
| change OF positions, came the muffisd sound OF
| pistolsh0t which not one.r rundredth pars OF
the audience heard at the time; and yet mo.
| menCs hush, somehow, surely q vague startled
thrill-and then through the ornamented, dra.
| perled, starred and striped space-way Of thu
Presidents box, sudden figure raises himself
with hands aud feet, stands q moment on the
railing, leaps below to the stage, fails out o.
| position catching his boot-heel IN the copioul
| drapery of the American flag, falls on one knee
quickly RECEIVERS himself, rises as ifnothing had
happened, aud so the fgore, dressed in plain
black brosdclotb, bare-headed, with o full head
OF glossy raven hair and his eyes like some
mad animals, flashing with light aud resolu.
tion, yet with q certain calmness, holds aloft in
one hand large knife, walks along not much
back from the footlights, turns fully towards
the audience his face of statuesque beauty lit
| by those basilisk eyes flashing with desperation
| perhaps insanity, launches out in firm and
steady voice the words "Sic se0lper tyrdpnis, u
| and then walks with neither slow nor very
rapid pace diagonally across to the back of the
stage and disappears as if this terrible scens
had all been rehesrsed by Booth.
| A moments hush-a scream-the cry OF
"Murder"-Mrs. Lincoln leaning out Of the boz
with ashy cheeks and lips, with involuutary
cry, pointing to the retreating figure, HE ha
killed the President" = And still
moments strange, incredulous suspense, aut
then the deluge!-then that mixture of horror
noises, uncertainty-(the sound, somewha
back, Of horses hoofs clattering with speed.
The people burst through chairs and railing
and break them up. That noise adds to th,
queerness OF the scene. There is inex trica
BILE confusion and terror-women faint, quits
feeble persons fall and are trsmpled on, manJ
cries of agony are heard, the broad stage sudden
ly fills to suffocaton with dense and motley
| crowd like some horrible carnival, the audience
rush generally upon Ii (at least the strong mer
do), the actors and actresses are all there in
their plsy.costumes and painted faces with
mortal fright showing through the rouge
some trembling, some in tears The screami
and calls, cosfused talk-redoubled, trebled
two or three manage to pass up water from
the stage to the Presidents box; others try u
Chamber up-&c., So
In the midst of all this the soldiers Of the
Presidents Guard, with Others, suddenl,
drawn to the scene, burst in-som