Morris tribune., 1886-11-03

RecOIlections OF Twenty.Three Years Of Life In
the White House Gathered from Talk With I.
f. perdat,

D no0uhAuOtAUHn Va AO"A" vs. 81"
the White House Gathered from Talk with I.
+. Perdel.
Philadelphia Letter:-He spoke of
the martyred Lincoln and bending
over said fervently: "He had all
those simple ways, my friend. that
make great men," He was Thomas
F, Pendel, t.incoln's bodygiiafd, aid
how serving his t%eiity-third year In
the White House.
While he spoke he sat in the parlor
of Mrs. Martha G. KimbaIps, house,
47os Kingetssihg Avenue. Mr.. Pen
del on Saturday surveyed Philadel-
Phia a bit from Mr. KimbalPs car
riage and called at George W.. Child's
Office. Mr.. Childs was delighted
and gave the veteran guard OF the
nations chief magistrates q hearty
welcome. He had known him long.
Mr.. Wanamaker grasped his hand and
said: "You must see my Sunday
school, PendeI," which he did.
Mr.. Pendels first service for the
government was rendered during the
Mexican war. He towers through
mass of years. tall, erect and swarthy.
His hair is still black. His eye is bright
and piercing though his step Tags just
little. He is best described by d
lady's exclamation when she caught
sight 6f him: "HoW much he looks
like Lincoln" They were almost in
separable.
$50 you want to hear about Lin
coin" he said to his interviewer, as
he rubbed his eyes to aid memory of
two decades ago II might as we'll
lead up to the great mans end by
saying that on Nov. 3, 1864, Sergeant
Cronan, Andrew Smith, Alfonso Duan
and myself were assigned to duty at
the White House. am the only sur
vivor. We were taken to Mr. Lin
coins room, given instructions,
and went on duty. The real
inwardness of the matter was
that the president had received
many threatening letters, and at that
time precaution was necessary.
Everybody had to be watched, even
women. tell you, SIR with his eyes
lighting up, chose fiery Southern
women are dangerous: had been at
the White House but d short time
when the President chose me as his
guard | walked with him every
where. AS a coincidence, one day,
when we were on the street, said:
MIR. President, Senator Holland IS a
good man. "A very good man. he
replied. The Senator afterward be-
came a member of the Presidents
Cabinet and also father-in-law of the
Presidents son, Robert Lincoln. One
day he said to me as we were coming |
out of Secretary Stanton's house,
well, PendletOn'-he and Mrs. Lin
coin always called me that / have !
received a good many threatening let
ters, but Pm not afraid But, Mr.. |
President, said l, many a brave man
has lost his life because he did not |
fear.' That's SO, he replied, that's
So.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND TAD.
'Again, to show you how frank he
was, asked MIN how tall he was. He
laughed and said: am just six foot |
threein my stocking feet. The devotion
between Mr.. Lincoln and his little son
Tad, who always called him Papa
day. was something for a study.
Whenever the President returned to
the White House, no matter how brief
had been his absence, he would pick
that boy Ip In his arms; mug H EilEif and and
carry him up stairs to his room with
him. Inever shall forget how Tad in
terested himself in my behalf.
"The President was at his desk |
when Tad opened the door and said,
j Good morning, Papa-day, will you do
me a favor?' My son, you know |
WILL he answered. Well, then, sir,
just sign that The President
read the document, looked at the boy |
proudly, half amused, and picking up
his pen, inscribed his name. This IS
the document" said the old man
huskily, as &c held out bit of faded
paper that shook because his hand |
trembled:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. 81, 1864
Pendel is duly appointed an usher in the
place of Edward McManus, now dis
missed. A. Lincoln.
"The boy was only 13 years DID,"
continued Mr.. Pendel. "He was very
ond of me. He would meet me on
the stairway and say: Tom Pen,
you 60 upstairs and ask mamma may
| 90 to the theatre and tell her you'll
take care of me- would go and say,
Mrs. Lincoln, Tad wants to 60 to the
theatre, may hep No, l don't think
he had BETTER she would say. I'll
20 with him and take good care of
him. Will you be sure to do it,
Pendleton? Well, then, / guess he
may CO.
at was my duty to stand in front
Of the Presidents desk when he was
receiving business visitors. OF all the
requests!-and he would listen to
every body. One day two Southern
women came and said: Mr.. Presi-
dent, won't you give us pass to Rich
mond? No, l WON'T was his plain
answer. They sat down sullenly, and
after awhile the President called them
up and said: Yes, l will give you a.
pass to Richmond writing one on
his knee at the time. 4 would rather
have you there, because if you stay
here you'll just inform the Confeder-
acy of what we are doing. A young
officer who wanted to be transferred
to Hancock's corps submitted the
necessary papers to him. When
ut length he called for the Presidents
decision he inquired very bluntly,
We'll have you looked at the papers?'
Yes said the President. We'll is
there anything more you want?'
Hancock says you are q gallant
officer, sir, said Mr.. Lincoln sternly,
looking him in the eye, but you are
not q sober officer That settled it.
THE NIGHT OF THE ASSASSINATION.
Mr.. Pendel was nearing the blacklist
spot IN his memory-the night OF the
assassination.
ION one dark rainy day the president
! 4 |