The Butler weekly times., 1883-02-07
r,neoln 1T an Informal Reception.


had taken their departure. the doors
Of the presidents reception room
would be thrown open to whosoever
might be waiting without. Happen
ing to be there on one of these Occa-
,ions, entered with score of these
expcctants and curious to observe
the character and process OF this m
formal audience gwen to the people,
stationed mvself in corner near
the president, where | could see and
hear all that was gong on. The
notes referred to were jotted down
soon after the interview.
President L,ncoln's appearance is
TOO well known to need particular
description. The tall. thin. wiry
form, which no burdens seemed able
to bend, and no amount of labor to
deprive OF elasticity; the calm, rug
ged, honest face, grave and deeply
melancholy when IN repose, yet
want to be lighted up under the in
fiuence of some humorous sally
these are familiar to the; world. He
was clad plainly, but becomingly, in
black breadcloth suit, nothing in
all his dress betokening disregard OF
convent,onalrty, save, perhaps, his
neat cloth slippers, which were
doubtless worn for comfort. He was
seated beside a PLAN cloth-covered
table, in a commodious armchair
When this visitor had Withdrawn,
an immense specimen of mar pre-
sented himself. Broad-shouldered,
robust with tbews and sinews to
Aatch his great height, and withal an
honest, good-natured countenance-
all seemed to mark HIM as belonging
to the hardy yeomanry OF the West.
He sidled up awkardlv to the presi-
dent, seeming almost afraid to ac-
cost HIM, hut after some hesitation
eontr,ved to say, that being on Wis
it to w ashington, he simply wanted
before leaving to see the president,
and have the honor of shaking hands
with him. He found a kindly re-
ception, and after some Introductory
civilities, MIR. Lincoln ran his eye
curiously over his huge caller, sur
veying him from head to foot, and
then saying with humorous look
and accent it would be hard to de-
scribe, 81 rather think you have Il
little the advantage of me in height
YOU are taller man than I am
81 guess not, Mr.. President" re-
piled the visitor; with the selt-al'ne-
eating air of one who seemed to re-
gard any claim on his part, of pos
sessing an advantage over the Chief
Magistrate, as an offense l,ttlc short
of treason-''the advantage cannot
be on my side
~ es, it is" was the rejoinder. II
have pretty good eye for distances,
and l think | can't be mistaken in
the tact of the advantage being slight
ly with you. measure six feet three
and halt inches IN my stockings,
and you go, think, a little beyond
that
The man still demurred, insisting
very respectfully that the precedence
IN the matter lay on the president $
side.
''It is very easily tested" said the
President, and rising briskly from
his chair and taking book from the
table, he placed it edgewise against
the wall, just higher than his head.
Then turning to his competitor for
the nonce, he bade HIM .''come un-
der" This the man did not do at
once, pausing, with flushed face and
irresolute look, as if not CERTAIN how
tar he might trust the lion iii his
playful mood-his countenance the
while wearing bewilldered, half
trightend, and ye. halt smiling eS-
nression that was really comical to
see.
sCome under, say, repeated the
President, IN more peremptorv
tone, and the visitor slowly COM