The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-30
LINC0LN'S NEAR FRIEND.
Milton Hays Interesting Reminis-
cences of the Martyr President.
MIR. Lincoln a COsmopolitan-IIis Religious
Belief-Herndon'sI naceuracies-The
Influence of Mrs. Lincoln,
Gath's New York Letter.

near friend, and to abound in "reminiscences
Of him. Mr.. Hay was a singular man,
originally fine-looking, suppose, and still
of a pleasing, generous face, though his skin
had the dark tan color so often found in the
bottoms of the Mississippi Valley, especially
among persons of Kentucky descent, as l
understood he was. An opportunity &C.
CURED while returning to this city from
Saratoga to have some talk with Mr.. Hay.
He is probably not over fifty-fve years of
age, though he may be sixty since he had
with him very handsome daughter and a
big son. He never wears a neck-tie.
Although careless about his exterior ap-
parel, he progresses folks with the idea of
a gentleman at once, and his address is of
that kind, gentle nature which lends par
ticular charm to true Democrats of Illinois,
and beyond it to men who came into the
West in its youth and made it what it is.
Mr. Hay, did Mr.. Lincoln ever refer, with
sadness or fondness to his origin in the State
of Kentucky and take pride in that State"
NO Lincoln was cosmopolitan. Hard
and rough as his early life had been, he could
make himself at home among men anywhere
and it is singular fact" said Mr.. Hay, that
in Illinois he did not receive his best well
come and earliest appreciation from men of
ment that went into the north of Illinois 1
think he felt that to some extent. The folks
i'll the middle and north of our State who
spread from Ohio, New York and New Eng
land, appeared to take hold of Lincoln as if
he was one of their own"
is it true, as Mr. Herndon says, that Lin
coin was for part of his life rather an unbe-
lever or skeptic?'
Eyes, guess that is true" said Mr. Hay;
almost all serious men pass through con-
dition of belief to skepticism or vice versa
Unbelief is merely the passion to believe
something else. 1 think that Lincoln had
formed views different from those he had
been brought up in, and perhaps different
from those he died in because | do not see
how he could have made some of the speeches
he made as his presidency proceeded unless
he had been believing man, and in that
case he must have changed Perhaps the
great responsibilities thrown upon him made
him grope his way toward a supreme re-
sponsibility."
Said to Mr.. Hay: "Has not Mr. Herndon
disseminated great many views as Mr.. Lin
coins which are merely his own theories and
vagaries?
"Yes; that is the belief that Lincoln's
friends have. You see Herndon was a man
that Lincoln picked up He was poor, for
lorn fellow, who got on the right side of Lin
coin, and that was one of Lincoln's abound
ing traits that if any person moved his sym
paInleS he would go rlSDJ 10 Jnelr rel1et III
was Herndon's poverty and hard luck that
made Lincoln take to him. Now you must
remember that Mr.. Lincoln had but little
local practice in the city of Springfield. He
went on what are called the circuits, follow
ing the judges around through the counties.
1t was not of much consequence for him to
have had an office in Springfield He took
Herndon into partnership, and put him in
the office at Springfield to build up local
practice if he could, under the name of the
firm of Lincoln & Herndon He did not give
any of the depth of his intimacy or character
| to Mr.. Herndon. He was tolerant and kind
| to him, but he did nor go there to pour out
his soul and communicate his thoughts"
Said l: Mr. Hay, did not Herndon have
some grievance against LincolnY'
Eyes; there is just where you find so many
statements undertaking Lincoln from that
source. After Lincoln became President
Herndon went on to Washington City and
asked for some office. | do not recollect
what it is, if 1 ever did know. Lincoln
wanted to do something for Herndon, but
not to give him anything which would ex-
pose his weakness In the public service 1t
probably gave him more concern than it was
worth to find some spot that Herndon could
adorn. When he settled on what he would
give him Herndon, whose expectations had
been raised very high, became dissatisfied and
returned to Springfield, and was very sour on
Lincoln. After Lincoln died he said that he
udu buried MS grievance, Dub he continued
to collect and to contribute matter to Lin
coins biography which is of very little sub
stantial character. In short, about the only
great thing that ever happened Herndon was
being taken up by Lincoln. He has gone
away from Springfield"
"What influence had Mr.. Lincoln's wife
upon himY'
"She may have had some influence upon
him, but not in the way she claimed. 1
think she made his home tolerably disagree
able, and hence he took politics and public
matters for occupation. If his domestic life
had been entirely happy, dare say he would
have stayed home and not busted himself
with distant concerns In that way she may
have been of use to Lincoln"
did she lament his death sincerelv?"
81 think it was blow to her, because she
saw that it was a final conclusion to her
career. In that respect, at least, it made a
profound impression upon her"
"Was she an extravagant woman?'
"She was not an extravagant woman before
sine went to Washington. After that time [
have no more knowledge than you have be-
cause did not go to see Mr.. Lincoln. When
she lived in Springfield she was rather on the
saving side of things. She held herself in
general to be OF more consequence than Mr..
Lincoln. and I suppose that in this worlds
eye she was raised amidst more luxuries or
better comfort. She was of rather hard ma
ture not soft, easily moved or thoughtful
about what she should do or say. She had
very high temper, and it did not grow much
better with time. She was respectfully con-
nected at Springfield"
"What author did Lincoln most read?"
Burns was his favorite author for many
years. | have never seen that mentioned
anywhere. Mr. Lincoln did not read many
books, but those he fancied took strong pos
session of him. He could quote Burns by
the hour. l have been with him in that
little Office and heard him recite with the
greatest admiration and zest Bnrns's ballads
and quaint things, That was one of the
sources of his wisdom and his wit. AS
years passed on he did not quote Burns SO
much. He had then taken up Shakespeare
and became deeplY Interested in him and