The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-10-29
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Some Stories Concerning His First In
augural Address,

augural Address,
Mr.. Lincoln gave a cordial greeting
TO me when I called on him after his
arrival at Wizards Hotel, and he
indulged in some pleasant "reminiscences
of his Congressional career. Of course
I talked with him about his forthcoming
message. and, after having made me
promise that what he told me should
not get into print, he gave me an ac-
count of it. He had written it at his
Springfield home, and had it put
into type by his friend, the local printer.
A number of sentences had been recon-
strueted several times before they were
entirely satisfactory. and then four
copies had been printed on foolscap
paper. These copies had been locked
up in what Mr.. Lincoln called a grip
sack" and intrusted to his eldest son
Robert. 'When we reached Harris
burg" said Mr.. Lincoln, ''and had
washed up. I asked Bob where
the message was, and was taken
aback by his confession that in the ex-
citement caused by the enthusiastic
reception he believed he had let
waiter take the gripsack. My heart
went up into my mouth. and / started
downstairs, where / was told that if
waiter had taken the gripsack | should
probably find it in the baggage-room.
Going there saw large pile of grip
sacks and other baggage, and thought
fhot dicoouarad v,,ino NV Loxr 6+fad
it, but on opening it there was nothing
inside but few paper collars and a
flask of whisky. A few moments after
ward came across my gripsack, with
the document in it all right, and now
will show it to you, on your honor,
mindr' The inaugural was printed in
clear-sized type, and wherever, Mr..
Lincoln had thought that paragraph
would make an impression upon his
audience he had preceded 1t with a
typographical fist-Viz.: B&
At the Inauguration, when Mr.. Lin
coin came out on the platform in front
of the eastern portico of the Capitol, his
tall, gaunt figure rose above those
around him. His personal friend. Sena-
tor Baker, of Oregon, introduced him to
the assemblage, and as he bowed ac-
acknowledgements of the somewhat faint
cheers which greeted him, the usual
genial smile Lit up his angular counte-
nance. He was evidently perplexed
just then to know what to do with
his new silk hat and large gold-headed
cane. The cane he put under the table,
but the hat appeared to be too good to
place on the rough boards. Senator
Douglass saw the embarrassment of his
old friend, and, rising, took the shining
hat from its bothered owner and held il
during the delivery of the inaugural ad-
dress. Mr.. Lincoln was listened to with
great earnestness. and evidently desired
to convince the multitude before him
rather than to bewilder or dazzle them.
1t was plain that he honestly believed
every word he spoke, especially the con-
cluding paragraphs, one of which Icopy
from the original print.
''BaS~I am loath to close. We are not
enemies, but friends. We must not be
enemies. Though passion may be
strained, it must not break our bonds OF
| affection. gG@The mystic chords OF
memory which stretch from every battle
field and patriot grave to every loved
heart and hearthstone, all over our
broad land, will yet swell the chorus Of
the Union when again touched, as they
surely will be, by the better angels Of
our nature. Zen. Perley Poore, TN ~
Y. Tribune.