The Wilmingtonian., 1885-07-04

Lincoln was private in the volunteer
forces commanded by my father in the
Black Hawk War of 1912. He was always
man of note among his associates, in the
Indian campaign as well as in subsequent
political campaigns, es pecially in the con-
Senator.
My father was an ardeut personal and
political friend of Douglas and in his circle
it was looked upon as presumptuous and
ridiculous for Abe Lincoln to compete with
the Little Giant" for the Senator of the
United States.
Lincoln and his Illinois competitor,
Stephen A. Douglas, formed striking
contrast. The latter was low in stature,
rotund in figure, with short neck, big
bullet head AMI chubby face. His lips
were forced into fixed smile, characteristic
of the popular and well satisfied public man
of period when political success depended
largely upon what a man said, how he said
it and how he appeared in personal in.
tercourse with the people; and not as now
much upon what newspapers say.of him and
for him.
Lincoln was tall and thin; his long bones
we're united by large joints, and he had
long neck and an angular face and head.
Many likenesses represent his face well
enough, but none that | have even seen
do justice to the awkwardhess and ungain-
Illness of his fgue. His feet, hanging losely
70 I.
his hands were more conspicuous even
than his feet, due perhaps to the fact that
ceremony at time compelled him to clothe
them in white kid gloves, which always
lifted loosely. But in the height of con.
versation and in the depth of reflection his
hand now and then ran over and supported his
head, giving his hair habitually disordered
aspect.
never saw him when he appeared to me
) anything but great man, and very ugly
one. His expression in repose was sad
-s'1dd and duif, BUT his svsT-rgcuTFiIg tUmoF, al
short intervals, flashed forth with the
brilliancy of an electric light. l never
observed but two well defined expressions
in his countenance; one that of a pure.
thoughtful, honest man, absorbed by a
sense of duty and responsibility; the otLel
that of humorist so full of fun that he
could not keep it all in.
His power of analysis was wonderful. He
strengthened every case he stated and NJ
anecdote or joke ever lost force or effect from
his telling. lie invariably carried tht
listener with him to the very climax, and
when that was reached in relating humor.
Gus story lie laughed all over. His large
mouth assumed an unexpected and comca
shape, the skin on his nose gathered intc
wrinkles and mis- small eyes, though partly
closed emitted Infectious rays of fun.
1t was not only the aptness of his stories
but his way of telling them and his owl
unfeigned enjoyment that gave them zest
even among the gravest men and upon the
most serious occasions.
Nevertheless, Lnculn-a good listener
was not good couversationallst. When
he talked he told a story or argued case
But it should he l9membered that durins
the entire four years of his presidency, from
the Spring of 1861 until his death in Apri
1868 civil war prevailed.
1t bore heaviest upon him, and biz
mind was bent daily, hourly even, upor
the weighty matter of his high Office: SC
that as he might have expressed it, he wa
either lifting with all his might at the but
end of the log or sitting upon it, whiting
for rest and recreation.
PHRASE THAT MIGHT BE HISTORICAL.
Lincoln was as nearly master of himse
as it is possible for man clothed will
great authority and engaged in the affairs q
public life to become He lad no ba
habits, and il he was not wholly free frou
the passions of human nature, it is quit
certain that passion but rarely if eve
governed his action.
fine deviated from tic straight c6urs
ofjustee it was usually from mdulgenc
for the minor faults or weakness of hi
fellow men. | observed but one crayiu
that he could not overcome; that was 70
second term of the presidency. lie wa
fully conscious of the grip this desire La
upon him and once said in the way of apol
Ogy for it, mo man knows what that gnav
ing is till he has had H."
During the Spring of 1881 was in charg
of the appointment branch of the Adiutau
Generals Department. Upon one occasion
when | was at the White House in tn
course Of duty, the President, after dspo,
ing of the matter in hand, said, You al
in charge Of the Appointment office Ihav
here bushe basketful of applications fo
offices in the army. have tried to examin
titum all, but they have increased SO rapid
that | have got behind and may hay
neglected some. will send then all {
your office. Overhaul them, lay those tha
require further action before the Secretary G
War, and file the others"
The bushel basketful OF applications cam
and were ovcrhauled. They were dotte
with notes, comments and queries by tn
President, Que slip of paper-which
handed back to the President with til
remark that | supposed lie would not cal
to have it placed upon the official iilt
bore memorandum in his own hand-wri
ing as follows:
On this day Mrs.-called upon IN,
She is the wife of Major, Of tue regula