The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-03-09
HIGHER THAN THE PRESIDENT.
Amusing Scene mt One of president Lincoln's
Receptions.

Receptions.
The Rev. G. Van Santvoord de
scribes in the Century A Reception
by President Lincoln" at which he
was a spectator, and of which the fol-
lowing are characteristic paragraphs:
About twice week, after the official
and other privileged visitors had taken
their departure, the doors of the Pres
ident's reception-room wouldIbe thrown
open to whomsoever might be waiting
without. Happening to be there on
one of these occasions, l entered with
about sc re of these expectants; and
cess of this informal audience given to
the people, stationed myself in cor
ner near the President, where l could
see and hear all that was going on.
President Lincoln's appearance is
too well known to need particular de
scription. He was clad plainly, but
becomingly, in black broadcloth
suit, nothing in all his dress betoken-
ing disregard of conventionality, save,
perhaps, his neat cloth slippers, which
were doubtless worn for comfort. lie
was seated beside a plain, cloth-cov-
cred table, in commodious arm
chair x X 4 Y
When this visitor had withdrawn an
immense specimen of man presented
himself. Broad-shouldered, robust,
with thews and sinews to match his
great height, and withal an honest,
good-natured conference.-the seemed
to mark him as belonging to the hardy
yeomanry of the West. He sided up
awkwardly to the President, seeming
almost afraid to accost him, but after
some hesitation contrived to say that
being on visit to Washington, he
simply wanted before leaving to see
the President, and have the honor of
shaking hands with him. He found a
kindly reception, and after some intro
ductory civilities, Mr. Lincoln ran his
eye curiously over his huge caller,
surveying him from head to foot, and
then saying, with a humorous look and
accent it would be hard to describe:
81 rather think you have little the
advantage of me in height you are
taller man than | am
81 guess not, Mr.. President" replied
the visitor, with the self-abnegatng
air of one who seemed to regard any
claim on his part of possessing an
advantage over the Chief Magistrate as
an offense little short of treason, 1.-THE
advantage cannot be on my side
Eyes, it is" was the rejoinder; 81
have pretty good eye for distances, and
/ think l can't be mistaken in the fact
of the advantage being slightly with
you. l measure six feet three and a
half inches in my stockings, and you
go, | think, little beyond that"
The man still demurred. insisting
very respectfully that the precedence
in the matter lay on the Presidents
side.
at is very easily tested" said the
President, and rising briskly from his
chair and taking book from the table
he place it edgewisc against the wall,
just higher than his head. Then, turn
ing to his doubling competitor for the
nonce, he babe him "come under"
This the man did not do at once, pau5-
ing, with flushed face and irres )lute
look, as if not certain how far he might
venture TO trust the lion in his playful
mood-lis cOUntenance the while
wearing bewildered, half-frightened
and yet half-smiling expression that
was really comical to see.
"Come under, say" repeated the
President in more peremptory tone,
and then the visitor slowly complied.
"Now straighten yourself up, and
move your head in this way" suiting
the action to the word. This being
done, Mr.. Lincoln added "Now you
hold the book, and be sure not to let it
slip down hair-brealth, and | will
try" Planting himself accordingly
underneath the book, and moving his
head from right to left, it was found
that he fell triAc short of the others
measurement. There" said he, sit
is as l told you. l knew | couldn't be
mistaken. ! rarely fail in taking a
mans true altitude by the eye"
Eyes, but Mr.. President said the
man, his courage amid the merriment
of the company beginning to return,
"you have slippers on and l boots land
that maaes difference"