Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24

Veterans KecOllecfiGns of Early
Days-Why He DOesn't Write a Book.

Hannibal Hamlin is now IS years old and
he told me one evening not long ago, writes a
gOssiper in the Le,cist0n Journal, that he
thought his health never was so good; in his
younger days he frequently had severe and
painful headaches, which did not trouble him
at all now.
Mr. Hamlin said he had received many fiatter-
lng offers from publishers who desire him. to
write a book. ''Whether shall ever do it or
not, said he Il do not know Sometimes |
think VIII. have read no political history
OF nv own times in which | could not supply
many deficiencies and make many corrections.
Two things deter NE from writing book One
is | realize that my memory is failing me, and
fear may do somebody injustice: another
is my dread of the large amount of labor which
would be necessary to confirm my statements
of fact. 1t is possible that may write book.
but hardly probable. If I do it will be
because | need the revenue book might
yield me-
Upon being carried back by some casual re-
mari. to his bOyhOod days, Mr. Hamln told me
how he accounted for his having grown up at
variance politically with the other members of
his family. said he: when we lived in Paris
father took the Portland Gazette and the Eastern
argus, both weekly papers. think the mail
came once week then. l used to 60 to the
post office for the mail and bring home both of
these papers Father was a whig. and he used
to sit down in the evening and read the Gazette
through first. While he was reading the Gazette
used to read the Argus. did this week after
week, and suppose the Argus gave me a demo-
cratic can't
My brother Elijah was very strong whig
but he and l always got along well together
because we agreed never to talk politics and
kept our agreement. | ran for Congress in this
district, and he voted against me three times.
when he ran for governor, voted against him.
10. 1856 we came together in the republican
party, and I'll tell you when and where it was
They held mass meeting here in Bangor
and Elijah presided. He introduced me to
the audience, and | began my speech in this
way:
Brother! We meet to-day for the first time
in our lives on the same political platform. l
give to you the right hand of fellowship
Didn't they howl, thought"
And the venerable statesman's ewes flashed as
he recalled the exciting event. He said he could
repeat large part OF that speech.
1.-The campaign of 1856" he added, twas by
far the most exciting of any in which partici-
pated. | made 80 speeches in that campaign.
If L mad known it before it was over / would
have made one more"
How many times did you speak in the last
campaign"
Twenty, believe"
''Did the work tire you?"
Not bit. got excited sometimes, though,
I tell YOU"
Mr.. Hamlin remarked that he once had taste
of newspaper work. and, on the whole. enjoyed
1t. Said he: "When Horatio King (who after
Naiu ucCdiIt IoStiIdSleE anu
the JeterSOni0rs at Paris both of US were under
twenty-one years of age. | remained in part
nership with him six months and worked for
him SIX months more. l set type and helped
work OF the paper on the old hand press. We
had to spread the ink on with balls made of
buckskin. 1t was very laborious. sold out
my share OF the Jete-sOnidn tor $500. made a
pretty good speculation and the money, know,
helped me materially in my law studies''
MI Hamlin remarked that he looks back upon
the i've years he spent in the Maine legislature
as the happiest part of his political career.
Hannibal Hamlin has no stronger trait than
his disposition to keep with the boys" as ne
puts IT. He always has marched in the process
sion. Capt. Llewellyn Morse, of Bangor. re-
lates an incident which happened in 1868. Capt
Morse raised and commanded Bangor COM
pany. OF which MIR. Hamlin. then Vice President
OF the United States, was made an honorary
member. The company was ordered to kittery
TO man the Notifications there, and Vice Pres-
dent Hamn insisted on going and carrying a
musket with the boys" And when there he
insisted on doing guard duty.
The eX-Vice President lives in square three
storied house, rOomy. but modest on an ele-
waited site in the heart of Bangor. His private
affairs occupy but little of his time, and he says
his only trouhlp il the lack nf 70 A.,