Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-24
LIncoIn,. NnmInn,inn.

LEIuW W. W. 0lOuuiIu 'AuIAuAm lsluCulus
At the county seat OF Champaign county,
in the eighth Judicial district, there was print
ed at that time weekly newspaper, Of good
standing and circulation, called the Central
Illinois Gazette. 1t was owned and nominal
ly managed by an eccentric and illterate cuun-
try doctor, who never wrote for it. Its sole
editor aud real manager was a young man
from New York, who had barely a speaking
acquaintance with Mr.. Lincoln, though, like
most OF his neiRhbors, profoundly respecting
and even enthusiastically admiring him. In
April, 1882 MIR. Lincoln was at the Doane
house, in Champaign, the railway half" of
the county seat, in attendance on business be.
fore the court. He had been to the post-oflice
quite early one morning, returning, with a
hat half full OF letters, to chair in the hotel
Office. lie came in absorbed gloomy, neither
speaking to nor even noticing any one as he
entered. He rested his feet on the big stove
in the middle OF the room and began TO open
and read his letters.
There had been sharp dispute in the Ga.
zette Office the previous day between the doc.
tor and the editor as to the precise political
course to be pursued by that journal. As the
young man now came out from his breakfast
in the hotel diniug-room, with his mind yet
full of the subject OF the quarrel, he saw the
well known face aud form OF Mr.. Liucoln, and
hAuubull ItaulNbu W htlhAtas hAul hutl hhh ulb
advice But something in the dark, strong
face arrested him, and he waited 1t was
worth any mans while to study such face
a. that. Mr. Lincoln tore open a letter of
more than ordinary length and began to read.
It was closely written in grabbed, black
hand writing, but it must have contained mat
ter for thought. lie read it half through,
dropped it in his hat, and sat there as il look
ing at something a thousand miles away His
heavy features, deeply furrowed with wrin
klos and sallow with fatigue Of heart and
brain, seemed labby aud lifeless for few
moments. Then, aud swiftly AZ if the keeper
Of the lighthouse had kndled the great fire
within, the eyes and the whole face began to
light up and glow with all the radiance OF the
hidden life that had 80 long been living there.
The young watcher had never before seen
anything like that upon the face of any living
being aud he reyerently forebore to speak.
He was thrilled and spebouud by something
Of the force Of a personality which had so
often sway ed muitltudes TO the will of the
orator.
The greatest man | ever saw or heard Of"
he exclaimed to himself a. he quietly slipped
out Of the hotel. Ia = few minutes he was
in his own office, aud the doctor WAS there
before him.
Doctor" he said, i've made up my mind
lbi hubu VIC arc bbluE Abt fthiutuN.
"You don't say 30 Who is itY'
Abraham Llncoln Of Illinois"
What Old Abe Nonsense! We might
60 for him for Vice President. He'd never
do for any moren that. Seward and Lincoln
wouldn't be a bad ticket. But old Abe! Who
put that into your head z"
He did. It's no use doctor. He's the
man. You've got to tend Office to day. I'm
of for Springfield, the next train, to get ma
terial for a campaign editorial"
Tho doctor yielded, as usual. The young
editor went to Springfield and returned with
the material The article was written, aud
early in May it was printed. Hundreds OF
copies were industrously sent out all over the
state, to be quoted, commented upon, approx
ed and ridiculed and the work of nominal
iug President, so far as Illinois was con-
cerned, had been well begun before the nom
nee had been spoken TO on the subject At
the same time letter from the same hand
and to the same general effect vas printed in
journal in the city of New York. Echoes
came speedily from every direction, repeating
the enthusiastic outburst of the Champaign
county editor. It looked as If some kind Of
a tide might be rising but it was too early
| yet for reasonable calculation. Ordinarily,
early mention" is sure death to nomination;
but it was well for Mr.. Lincoln that his can
| didacy began at so early day, for even his
enemies and the crisis itself worked steadily
| in his behalf