The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-28
FIFTY YEARS OF HISTORY.
Famous Men Whom John Russell Young
Has Known and Called Friends.
"reminiscences that Bring Us Face to Face with
Lincoln, Grant, Dickens, Stanton. Seward,
Chase, Bismarck and Glasdtone.
Washington Letter in New York World.


the United States minister to China. is visiting
in Washington. at the residence of his brother,
James Rankin Young the executive clerk of the
Senate. Since his return from China Mr..
Young has been very i'll Of maarial fever, con-
tracted in the East, a dangerous disease, of an
insidious type. Elk Minister Young happily is
rapidly recovering from the effects of the fever.
He is now convalescent and when called upon
him at his brothers house, this morning he re-
Aeived me in the library in the congenal COM
pany of his books. Mr.. Young with character
istic modesty, expressed the fear, in answer to
my question, that his "reminiscences of the dis
t.nguished men he had met would not be OK in
terest for publication. / have tried, with per-
haps not wholly satisfactory results. to do JUS
tice to the conversation that followed:
personal recollectons," I said, "are always
interesting. In the course of your career you
must have known and met many distinguished
men"
YES" replied Mr.. Young, ''my first knowl
edge of public men came about when was prl-
yate secretary Of the late John w. Forney. He
was secretary of the United States Senate in
1861. had been a boy in his Office and was
taken to Washington by him. Mr.. Forney was
a of many rare and high qualities, and l
always think of him with the greatest affection
and regard. Ny position with Mr. Forney gave
me an opportunity Of meeting-he being a
dominant character in public life-the men who
controlled the country during the civil war; and.
of course with q boys sympathy and interest,"
formed impressions that have never forgotten"
did you see much of Mr. Lincoln"
"Nlr. Lincoln knew fairly well-at least as
well as one in my position could know man
like Mr. Lincoln"
what are your impressions of him9"
''Mr. Lincoln. as remember him, was man
OF singularly plaintive character. He was tall
and lank, had high tenor voice and was awk-
ward in his appearance But there was some
thing in his face that was touching, almost pa
thetc. L remember, on one occasion, when
was writing for the Chronicle, Mr.. Forney's
Washington paper, that the news came of the
capture of Charleston. 1t was o'clock in the
morning. It occurred to me that the President
might be glad to hear the news, so went to the
White House The Irishman who kept the gate,
Edward, told me that the President had retired.
/ said that if Mr.. Lincoln had not received the
good news it might please him to hear it, and
Edward went up stairs and woke him. Mr.. Lin
coin came down to the large par!or IN his night
gown. He sat and rubbed his foot and listened
and told him the news We'll. he said, your
news is dated the 22d. | have dispatches dated
the 24th and then the Commandment was going
on quite zealously' OF course I felt, aud
pressed to him great regret at having disturbed
him: but the gentle, quiet way in which he re-
ceived me showed that ne appreciated my inten-
lions in coming to him. / saw Lincoln often up
10 within perhaps ten days before he was shot,
and formed high regard for his character, as
all men did,"
WAS Mr.. Lincoln the famous story-teller
that people have reportedW
'Mr. Lincoln had way of illustration good
deal like talking in parallels, touching an argu
ment or event by some curious recollection from
local life in Illinois But | never heard him tell
ANYTHING in the wav of story that went beyond
the limits of the strictest propriety. He was a
very great man, with great fund OF common
sense I remember once asking Mr. Greeley,
who had served in Congress with him. what he
thought of Mr.. Lincolns real character. He re-
piled, Lincoln Is half statesman and half horse
jockey 1t was Mr.. Greeleys half-jesting way
of saying that Mr. Lincoln was shrewd able
politician, selfcontained knowing exactly what
he was doing and how to do it, and never for a
moment losing control of himself nor permitting
himself to be unduly swayed by political in
huences around him. He was his own master
ali the time l presume we shall only know
Lincoln as he was, when his life by Mr.. Nicolay
and Colonel Hay is written.
'"Tha celebration at Gettysburg was on Gem
etery HILL / was sent to report it for the Press.
sat behind blr. Lincoln. Mr.. Everett delivered
the grafton. / remember the great orator had a
way of raising and dropping his handkerchief as
he spoke lie spoke for two hours, and was
very impressive. with his white hair and venera
ble figure. He was great orator but it was
like bit Of Greek scuipture--be autful, but as
cold as ice. 1t was perfect art, but without feel
ing. The art and beauty of it captured your
imagination and judgment. Mr.. Everett went
over the campaign with resonant, clear, splendid
Rhetoric There was not word, sentence
or thought that could be corrected. You felt
that every gesture had been carefully studied
out beforehand. 1t was like great actor play
ing great part.
MIR. Lincoln rose, walked to the edge of the
platform, took out his glasses and put them on.
He was awkward. He bowed to the assemblage
in his homey manner and took out of his coat
pocket page of foolscap In front of Mr.. Lin
coin was photographer with his camera, en-
deavoring to take a picture of the scene. We
all supposed that Mr.. Lincoln would make rather
a long Speech half hour at least. He took
the single sheet of fooscap, held it almost to his
nose, and, in his high tenor voice. without the
least attempt for effect, delivered that most ex.
traordinary address which belongs to the classics
of literature. The photographer was bustling
about, preparing to take the Presidents picture
while he was speaking but Mr.. Lincoln finished
before the photographer was ready. l remem.
Der it was beautiful October day, and there
were four or five thousand people present. Very
few heard what Mr. Lincoln said, and it is a
eurious thing that his remarkable words should
have made no particular impression at the time.
The noticeable thing was the anxiety of all on
the platform that the photographer should be
able to get his picture. | remember were all
very much disappointed at his failure, and were
more interested in his adventure than in the ad-
dress"
AZ suppose you knew Mr. Stanton2'
"Yes, knew Secretary Stanton intimately.
The impression Stanton made upon people was
OF being OF very harsh and irritable nature. l
have heard him say harsh things. but personally
] never had a friend so gentle, kind and consid-
crate as Mr.. Stanton. always felt in his COM
pany that he had the tender, gentle nature, al
most, of woman. Going up to the War De-
partment one evening, as he was finishing his
work for the day, said
" Mr., Stanton, you must have some relief
from this arduous care. What compensation
have YOU from the tedious, driving work of this
pficer
Well he replied, I have two resources
the novels of Dickens and the works Of Sir Ar
thur Helps. / find relaxation and comfort in
both He spoke especially of the works of
Helps.
1.-THE last time saw Stanton was two weeks
before he died. Mr.. Stanton was very ILL., hut
gentle aud kind. l remained with him the best
part Of the afternoon Mr. Stanton said many
things of interest about men dead and living; but