The Portland daily press., 1883-02-28
rHE PRESS.
After the Nomination.
The Way Abraham Lincoln Appeared to
Visitor in 1900
TRemipisceuce bv .1udce Park Of Joliet.l

[Reminiscence by Judge Park OF Jeliet'l
My last interview with this extraordinary
man was in Springfield in June, 1860, and
but two or three weeks after he had been
placed before the Americanspeople as can
didate for the highest honor,.as l account 1t,
in all this world. Being in that city en-
route to Jacksonville and compelled to lie
over for few hours, I sauntered from the
depot to the State house and the weather
being not partook myself to the shades of
the library, then communicating with the
office of Secretary Of State. Hardly had 1
got settled In my retreat before "Uncle
Jesse" spied me out as he was pacing his
morning rounds-"Uncle JESSE" say, the
genial auditor whom some ill-mannered
men sometimes called Mr.. Dubois, although
his true name was ''Uncle jesse" Arrest
ing me on the spot he informed me that
Mr.. Lincoln (probahly he called him sold
Abe") was then in his room and, for the
first time since his nomination, alone, ad-
ding, on his own responsibility of course,
that he would be glad to see me. had
then no alternative but to go forward and
paw nv respects, although | confess / was
at first little panic-stricken with the sud-
den prospect of royal audience. Following
Uncle Jesse l entered his room, which was
indeed void of visitors, save one elderly gem
tleman from st. Louis, who was en- route
for Jacksonville, like myself: preacher /
conjectured from his appearance and dress,
which contrastsdE with that OF the
other man. As / entered Mr.. Lincoln in
nturIsir recognized came forward and
took me by the hand with the old rough
heartiness of manner little emphasized.
thought, by the altered circumstances.
But what fgure
There stood before me, on that summer S
morning, the most distinguished and inter
esting American of the age, and how do you
suppose he was costumed for his part?
The day, have said, was hot, and it was
evident that he had flanked the meteorologi-
cal conditions with minimum of clothes; a
straw hat manifestly the worse for wear in
hand; no cravat, no collar and no vest, as
will depose TO the best of my remembrance !;
common, cheap linen coat, short for him,
of course, limp and wrinkled by perspira.
tion; his neither garments none too long
for his protracted legs, and his feet in
slippers of no great market value. Thus
royalty affayed was the man whom the
great new party which had recently taken
the field to contest for the control of the
national administration, had singled out to
utdr ilS SUanudIu III U06 Impending DdlIle.
We soon settled down to a familiar chat, in
which ii vas impossible for me TO feel the
least embarrassment or restraint. As evil
deHtly had not come to instruct him in re-
gard to the policy upon which he ought TO
conduct the government when elected, he
naturally dropped into his old rut of "little
stories," of which he told two or three not
particularly presidential in their character
The Missouri gentleman sat apart, and
listened with manifest amazement, for Lin
coin, you know, was of Quaker stock, and
sometimes used the plain language. The
interview was short, perhaps not exceeding
40 minutes, and thought he seemed to en-
joy his little respite from the relentless
pressure of crowds, professions, committees,
delegations, professional politicians and inn
Fortunate Office seekers and Office brokers,
that had necessarily pursued him since his
nomination.
never saw him again. / was never near
him again, until one sad night, five years af-
forwards when. surrounded by agrief-strick-
en- and weeping crowd, stood with uncov-
cred head, as funeral car, draped heavily
with the badges of mourning, moved slowly
by, bearing CHASTITY burden. It was the
murdered corpse of the best beloved and the
most deeply lamented of all the nations
chiefs, the strong hands folded, the sweet
voice still, borne to his last resting place.