Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-04-24
Reesllsssleas Or Llseeln.


address i he city Of New ynsk. az
recitisg ths public cosditions wkieh PC.
ceded fhe late war befwsen ihe Slsies
| Esss the Sollowingrscolle estiousof A5sa.
ham Lincoln -
Ia the height Of slI shis chaos, hover.
ing On the edge at tirst and then meEged
Ia iis very midst, appears q slranee anz|
6Mkwasd 6guEe. 4 sk1il not easiiy 81.
1t tke 1v3 lime ever saw Abfsiis
Efncsln S &as ) pte1aes 2I<eEAoes
e. b snrrived here from tie Wesf, la
rsmaiu D Ssw h0uEs and then pass on 20
his Inauguration. He'eame down from
Canal street to The Astor House. The
hroadspaces. side walks and stEeeis were
crowded with masses Of people. The
omnibuses and other vehicles had bceu
turned OF. leaving an unusual hush.
Presently two or three shabby hack be-
rouches made their way with some dif-
iieuity through the crowd and drew u
At the Astor House entrance. "A tall
6gure stepped out Of the centre oifhese
bar0uches, paused leisurely on The side
walk, looked up at the dark granite
walls and looming architecture Of the
grand old hotel, then, after relIeving
stretch Of the arms and legs, turned
round for minute to slowly and good
humoFedly scan the appearance ol the
vast and silent crowds. There were no
speeches, no comments, no welcome, as
far a. I could hear-not word said.
Still, much anxiety was concealed in
that quiet. Cautious persons hadieared
some marked insult or indignity to the
President-elect, for he possessed no per-
sonal popularity at all in New York
City, and very Little political. Bot Il
was evidently taeitly agreed that IL the
few political supporters Of Mr.. Lincoln
present would entirely abstain from any
demonstration on their side, the im-
mense majority, who were anything bot
supporters, would abstain on their side
also. The result was q sulky. unbIo-
ken silence, such as eertsinly never be-
fore characterized so great New York
crowd.
Almost in the same neighborhood I
distinctly remembered seeing Lafayette
on his visit TO America in 1925. / had
also personally seen and heard how An
drew Jackson, Clay, Webster. Hunga-
rian Kossuth, Filibuster Walker, the
Prince Of Wales on has visit and other
cele6res, native and foreign, had been
welcomed there at various times-all
that Understandable human sn3ar and mas
netism, unlike any othess<ound In The
universe, the glad, exulting thunder
shouts Of countless unloosed threats Of
men. But on this occasion not q voice,
not sound. s
From the top Of an omnibus driven
up one side and blocked by the curb
stone and crowds) I had capital view
Of il all and especially Of Mr.. Lincoln,
bis look and gait, his perfect composure
and coolness, bis unusual and uDcouth
height, hls dress Of complete black,
stovepipe hat pushed back on the head,
bis dark brown complexion, scanned and
wTinkled yet canny-looking face, bis
black, bushy head Of HAIR, dispropor-
iionately long neck and his hands held
behind as he stood observing the peo-
pie. He looked with curiosity upon
that immense sea Of faces and the sea
Of faces returned the look with similar
curiosity. In both there was Q dash Of
comedy, almost farce, such as Shakes
peare puts IN bis blaekest tragedies.
The crowd that hemmed around consis-
ted, ] should think, Of thirty or forty
thousand men, not o single oae hls per-
sonal friend, while I have no doubt ESQ
frenzied were the ferments Of the timel
many an assassin's knife and pistol
lurked in hip or breast-pocket there,
ready as soon as break and riot came.
But no break or riot came. The tall
figure gave another relieving stretch or
two Of arms and legs. then with moder-
ate pace and accompanied by q few un-
known-looking persons ascended the
portico steps Of the Astor House, dissp-
peared through The broad entrance and
the dump show ended. s....-.~, y
I saw Abraham Lincoln often in The
four years following that date. He
changed rapidly and much during his
Presidency, but this scene and him in
Il are indelibly stamped upon my, recol-
lection. As sat on the top Of my ON
nibus and had good view Of hin, the
thought, dim and inchcate then, has
since come out clear enough that four
sorts Of genius. four mighty and primal
hands, VIII be needed to the complete
Iimning Of this mans future portrait
the eyes and brains and inger-touch OF
Plutarch and Eschyius and Michael
Angelo, assisted by Rabelais.
Of The actual murder of President
Lincoln, though 20 much has been writ
ten. probably The facts are yet very in
definite IN most persons minds.
The day. April II, 1865. seems to
have been spleassnt one throughout the
whole land. the moral atmosphere plea
SAINT too. The long storm, 50 dark, 50
fratricidaI. full Of blood and doabt and
gloom, over and ended oil last BY The
sunrise OF such an absolute national VIC
tory and utter breakdown Of Secession
--we almost doubted our 5swn senses I
Early heEbage. early Aoxers we're out.
/ remember where wan stopping at The
time there were many Iilacs in full
bloom. By one Of these capfiees that
give tinge % events without being 1t all
q part of them I i;nd myself alwsys re-
minded of The great tragedy &C that day
BY the eight and color ii these bios
Bat must aol dwell on accessories.
a