The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-07-26
LINCOLN AS A Joker
Col. Thomas II. Nelson Tells How ue
and Gov. Hammond Were " Sold "by
Lincoln.

Col. Thomas II. Nelson Tells How N
and Gov. Hammond Were ~ sold =. q,
Lincoln.
lrhe Express, CTerre Haute, Ind.,) July 1911
AT the old settlers meeting at the Oper
House Col. Thomas II. Nelson told an anus
ing "reminiscences Of his first acauaintanc
with Mr.. Lincoln. In the spring of 1874
Nelson and Judge Abram Hammond, VIII,
was alterward Governor Of Indiana, arrange,
TO go from this city to indianapolis togethe
In the stage coach. This was before tn
epoch of railways, and an entire day IA
usually consumed in the journey. Befor
the dawn OF day the coach arrived in from
OF the Terre ftaute House, and az these gen
tlemen were about to step 10 they discovered
that the entire back seat was occupied by
long, sloomy individual whose head pro
truded from one side of the coach and hi
feet from the other. He was the sole oc
cnpant and was sleeping soundly. Ham
mond slapped him Familiarity on the shoulder
and asked him II he had chartered the stage
for the day. The stranger, now wide awake
said, Certainly not" and at once took the
front seat, after politely asking the gentle
men to take the place of honor and comfort
which they accordingly did. As daylight,
advanced they thought they took in theil
travelling companion at a glance. A queer
odd-looking fellow he was, dressed in a we'll.
worn and i'll fitting suit of bombazine, with.
ont vest or cravat, and twenty. I've. cent
palm hat on the back of his head. His
very prominent features, in repose, seemed
dull and expressionless. Here was rare
chance for fun, and the gentlemen soon
availed themselves of II 1t was not long
after the quizzing commenced before they
discovered that the stranger was greener -
a far
they expected. They got of many Jokes
and "sells." lie took them all
with the utmost innocence and good nature
and Joined in the laugh, although at his own
expense. In fact, he seemed TO be rather
awed in the presence of such eminent
men. AT noon they stopped at a wayside
hostelry for dinner. The rain was falling
and the ground was muddy. The stranger
sprang from the coach, entered the inn, and
returned with plank aud an umbrella, and
the gentlemen, one after another, we're as
dain,ily handed into the honse as IL they
had been ladies', he walking in the rain ana
mud. When dinner was announced the gen
tlemen took their seats and he remained
standing, until Hammond, in a patrOnizing
way, said. sit down, my good fellow, and
eat with u.s." lie appeared to think that II
was about the greatest honor of his life, and
a small chair and held his hat under his
arm during the meal. On being asked IL he
had ever been in as large town as Terre
liaute before he said that several years ago he
had driven an ox-wagon containing family of
movers through Terre lIaute on their way
from Bloomington, Ind, TO Paris, H., for
which he was paid $3.50. He said also that
he had been in Washington City. about
which many surprising things had been
said by the gentlemen, but he didn't known
much about it, as he could not move in the
same circles Of society as his distinguished
travelling companions.
Resuming their journey after dinner, con
versation drifted into discussion of the
comet, subject that was then agitatng the
scientific world, in which the stranger took
the deepest interest. He made many start.
ling suggestions, and asked many questions
showing profound ignorance of the wonder
full phenomenon. Nelson amazed him with
words of learned length and thnndering
sound" talked about the attractions of
gravitation and cohesion, centripetal and
centrifugal forces, etc. After an astounding
display of wordy pyrotechnics the now
da2ed and bewidered stranger asked:
"What is going TO be the upshot of this
comet business %
MIR. Nelson replied that lie was not quite
certain that he differed from most scientists
and philosophers, but that in his private
opinion the world would follow the darned
thing Off The stranger exhibited much
alarm and anxiety at the prospect of such
an appalling catastrophe.
They arrived at indianapolis late in the
afternoon and stopped at Browning's Hotel.
The gentlemen repaired to their rooms to
improve their costumes. In few minutes
Mr., Nelson descended to the portico and de-
serted his long, slOomy fellow-travesr in the
centre of an admiring group of lawyers,
among whom We're Judge Mclean, Judge
Huntington, Mr.. Hannigan, AlbsrtS. White,
and Col. Thompson, who were all amused
and interested in funny story he was tell
Ing He frequently mentioned the names of
Hammond and Nelson and was several times
interrupted by Ioars of laughter. Nelson
called out browning, the landlord, and
asked:
Who is that chap who is creating so
much sport at our expense %
Don't you know him ?" said browning.
That's Abe Lincoln, Of illinois, the greatest
practical joker on the continent p
That was crusher Mr.. Nelson rushed
up stairs and told Hammond, who was still
at his toilet, that they would he the laugh
ing stock of the whole State, that they had
been completely outwitted by our greenhorn
friend, who was no less a parsonage than
that inimitable wag, Abe Lincoln, of Illinois,
who was then convnlsing our legal friends
on the porticO by an account of their jour-
ney. Hammond rapidly gathered up his
buds, pushed them into his carpet sack, and
suddenly left the hotel by the back door,
going down a muddy alley TO the Palmer
House, from which he did not emerge for
aeveral days.
Curiously enough, Hammond was Cover
nor OF the Slate when Lincoln arrived at In
dianapolis on his way to Washington to be
inaugurated President, but remembering our
famous journey, and fearing ridicule, he
dispreetly left the city and did not return
until after Iincolp's departure.
Nelson had many opportunities after the
stage ride to cultivate Mr.. Lncoln's acouaip-
tance and friendship, aud was jealous ad.
vocate OF his nomination and election to the
Presidency. Before leaving his home for
Washington Mr.. Lincoln caused Usher and
Nelson, of this city, to be invited TO accom-
pany him. They agreed to Join him in In
dianapolis. On reaching that city the Presi-
dental party had already arrived, and upon
inquiry they We're informed that the Presi. |
dent elect was In the dining room at supper
Passing through they saw that every seat at |
the numerous tables was occupied, bnt they |
failed to find Mr.. Lincoln. As they were
nearing the door of the Office of the hotel |
long arm reached out to Nelson's shoulder |
and shrili voice exclaimed:
" Hello Nelson; do you think, after all. |
hat the world is going to follow the darned
hing or"