The Cecil Whig., 1885-07-04
LINCOLN AT HIS BEST.
Many Interesting Recollections by Jas. &.
Fry, Provost Marshal General.
A Fresh Budget of MatchIcss Stories of the
Reverenced Story Teller, etc.

~
Reverenced Story Teller, etc.
From Rhilddeiphia Sunday Press. Jrhc .SM.
Lincoln was private in the volun-
teer forces commanded by my father
in the Black Hawk War of 1872. He
was always a man of note among his
associates, in the Indian campaign as
well as in subsequent political cam
paigns, especially in the contest with
Douglas for the United States Senate.
My father was an ardent personal and
political friend of Douglas, and in his
circle it was looked upon as presump-
tuous and ridiculous for Abe Lincoln
to compete with the Little Giant" for
the Senate Of the United States.
Lincoln and his Illinois competitor,
Stephen A. Douglas, formed a striking
contrast. The latter was low in stature
rotund in figure, with short neck, a
big bullet head and a chubby face. His
lips were forced into a fixed smile,
characteristic of the popular and well
satisfied public man of a period when
political success depended largely upon
what man said, how he said it and
how he appeared in personal intercourse
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 were 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 ever seen do justice
to the awkwardness and ungainliness Of
his figure. His feet, hanging loosely
to his ankles, were prominent objects;
but his hands were more conspicuous
even than his feet, due perhaps to the
fact that ceremony at times compelled
him to clothe them in white kid gloves,
which always fitted loosely. But in
the height of conversation and in the
depth of reflection his hand now and
then ran over or supported his head,
giving his hair habitually a disordered
aspect.
never saw him when he appeared
to me anything but a great man, and a
very ugly one. His expression in re-
pose was sad and dull ; but his ever
recurring humor, at short intervals,
flashed forth with the brilliancy Of an
electric light. l never observed but
two we'll defined expressions in his
countcnance one that of a pure,
thoughtful, honest man, absorbed by
sense of duty and responsibility; the
other 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 no anecdote or joke ever lost
force or effect from his telling. He
invariably carried the listner with him
to the very climax, and when that was
reached in relating a humorous story
he laughed all over. His large mouth
assumed an unexpected and Comical
shape, the skin on his nose gathered
into wrinkles and his 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 own unfeigned enjoyment that gave
them zest, even among the gravest men
and upon the most serious occasions.
Nevertheless, Lincoln-a good list
ener-was not a good conversatiOnalist.
When he talked he told a story or ar
gued a case. But it should be remem-
bered that during the entire four years
of his presidency, from the Spring of
1861 until his death IN April, 1865,
civil war prevailed. 1t bore heaviest
upon him, and his mind was bent daily,
hourly even, upon the weighty matters
of his high office so that, as he might
have expressed it he was either lifting
with all his might at the butt end of the
log or sitting upon it, whiting for rest
and recreation.
a PHRASE THAT MIGHT BE HISTORICAL
| Lincoln was as nearly master of him
self as it is possible for man clothed
with great authority and engaged il
the affairs of public life to become. He
had no bad habits, and if he was no
wholly free from the passions of human
nature, it is quite certain that passion
but rarely if ever governed his action
If he deviated from the straight course
of justice it was usually from indulgence
for the minor faults or weaknesses O
his fellow men. l observed but one
craving that he could not overcome
that was for a second term of the pres.
idency. He was fully conscious of tht
grip this desire had upon him, anC
once said in the way of apology for i
"no man knows what that eWa5,Ine. i
till he has had it."
During the Spring of 1881 l was il
charge Of the appointment branch 0
the Adjutant Generals Department
Upon one occasion, when | was at tn,
White House in the course of duty tht
President, after disposing of the mat
ter in hand, said, "You are in charg
of the Appointment office. Ihave herr
bushel basketful of applications 70
offices in the army. | have tried It
examine them all, but they have IN
creased SO rapidly that | have got be
hind and may have neglected some.
2 will send them all to your office. Over