, 1885-04-18
APP0MATTOX.
HOW THE NEWS OF THE SURRENDER
WAS RECEIVED.



lnter-Oc-an - Curbstone crayons.rl
Il was never drunk but once in my life, y
sid my friend. the ex-congressman. ''and
that was the night we received tho newn
that lee had SURRENDERED 10 Grant | was
at Columbus. Ohio, on that day, and q we'll
known Sunday school organizer and myself
went over to Governor Brough's office to
learn II he had any news from Grant The
governor had a telegraph instrument In his
Office. and those OF US on the inside often
went there at night to get the latest war
new<
we met stout old Governor Brough In
the hall, coming toward Us with n quicker
step than was his won't He slowed mp
when he saw US, and 10 our demand for
news said quietly. There is very little, >
he said brusquely and with simulated i'm
patience. but there was an after trsmble to
his voice and a something In his eye that
caused me 70 clutch his arm with one hand
and got ready 70 swing my hat with the
other. The old governor dropped his
brusqueness and said with heavy tender
ness Of tone, There Is very little news. but
IL is overwhelming good
after tantalizing us for a minute he said
plainly that Grant and Leo had had "A little
talk. and that the latter had agreed to
Grants terms OF surrender. There were
around Brough at hat minute six or eight
sober-minded, self-possessed gentlemen, but
after one screech In chorus they were wilder
than any boys 1 ever saw. They danced
and screamed and whooped, and then seiz-
ing the governor, literally carried him back
10 his office for more news.
"When we left the streets they had a Sab
bathday quietness. When we came out after
tho few minutes spent la The capitol they
were alive with people. Men, women and
children seemed to AVE rushed like mad
into the rainy night. The church bells were
changing, and everybody was shouting and
singing. 1t seemed Incredible that In 80
short a time tho whole population should
have received notice OF tho surrender, but
such news Travelled rapidly.
They put Governor Brough on "A pile OF
brick in the middle OF the street, and he
spoke in the rain. Then the members OF the
legislature and Others went TO the Neil
house for a jollification. 1 drank a good
deal in sheer absent-mindedness, as did my
Sunday school friend. After a time Istarted
10 20 upstairs to bed. and was dumbfounded
TO discover that my feet wouldn't take me up
with the usual skipping step. My legs below
the knees doubled up in the most absurd
way, but 1 was determined TO skip, and
kept experimenting until it flashed across
my mind that / was tipsy.H
That was a grand night put in an ex-
army OAttAs 4 wa AHtIo n etAAf Dut 4 WIS
Intoxicated only with the wild spirit Of re-
joicing. l remember that while Governor
Brough was speaking from the brick pile in
the street it began to rain hard. The gov
ernor had taken of his hat, and l stood 50
near that / could hear the drops spattsr on
his bald head, and could see the splashing
glitter in the lamp-light The people shouted
TO the governor TO put ON his hat, but with u
voice husky with emotion he replied, No,
not in such a night He was glad to stand
uncovered on such a night, and In the hum
bleness Of a %drenching thank God for His
goodness to tho land and the people.
"~Instantly every head in that tremendous
crowd was uncovered, and with ems voice
they sung, Praise God from whom all bless
ings how.' lam not an impossible person.
but / never before realized what exalted
meant. can see now that scene in the rain,
tho drops splashlng on "A hundred bald,
venerable heads tears Of gladness In thou
sands OF faces. but Inever expect TO feel
again tho thrill that swept over me when
1000 voices sselled to magnificent volume
the words of the doxology. I never knew
the full meaning Of the words and music
until that night, and | have lived ON a
higher plane and with more faith in human
ity since that experience. Those were times
that brought out all that there was in a
man"