The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-04-13

The Way Abraham Lincoln Appeared to u
Visitor In 1850.

Visitor In 1850.
lReminiscence by Judge Park, OF Jolietl
My last interview with this extraor-
binary man was in Springfield in June,
1860, and but two or three weeks
after he had been placed before the
American people as candidate for the
highest honor, as L account it, in all
this world. Being in that city en- route
to Jacksonville and compelled to lie
over for few hours, sauntered from
the depot to the State House, and the
weather being hot betook myself to
the shades of the library, then COM
municating with the Office of Secretary
of State. Hardly had L got settled in
my retreat before "Uncle Jesse" spied
me out as he was pacing his morning
rounds-"Uncle JESSE" L say, the gen.
ial Auditor whom some ill-mannered
men sometimes called Mr.. Dubois, al
though his true name was Uncle jesse"
Arresting me on the spot, he informed
me that Mr.. Lincoln probably he called
him "Old Abe") was then in his room
and for the first time since his nomina-
ton alone, adding on his own RESPONSE
bility, of course, that he would be glad
to see me. / had then no alternative
but to go forward and pay my respects,
although l confess / was at first little
panic stricken with the sudden pros
pect of a royal audience. Following
Uncle Jesse entered his room, which
was indeed void of visitors, save one
elderly gentleman from st. Louis, who
was en- route for Jacksonville, like my
self; preacher 1 conjectured from his
appearance and dress, which contrasted
amazingly with that of the other man.
AS / entered Mr.. Lincoln instantly
recognized me, came forward and took
me by the hand with the old rough
heartiness of manner, little empha-
sized, thought, by the altered circum-
stances. But what figure!
There stood before me, on that sum-
mer's morning, the most distinguished
and interesting American of the age,
and how do you suppose he was cos
tuned for his part? The day, have
said, was hot, and it was evident that
he had flanked the meteorological con-
ditions with minimum of clothes; n
straw hat manifestly the worse for wear
In hand no cravat, no collar and no vest,
as L will depose to the best of my re-
membrance; a common, cheap linen
coat, short for him, of course, limp and
wrinkled by perspiration; his neither
garments none too long for his long legs,
and his feet in slippers of no great
market value. Thus royalty ar
rayed 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 bear its standard in
the impending battle. We soon set
tied down to a familiar chat, in which
it was impossible for me to feel the
least embarrassment or restraint AS
evidently 1 had not come to instruct
him in regard 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 particu-
larly Presidential in their character.
The Missouri gentleman sat apart and
listened with manifest amazement, for
Lincoln, you know, was of Quaker
stock, and sometimes used the plain
language. The interview was short,
perhaps twenty minutes, and thought
he seemed to enjoy his little respite
from the relentless pressure of crowds,
professions, committees, delegations,
professional politicians and importu-
nate office-seekers and office-brokers,
that had necessarily pursued him since
his nomination.