Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-27

WAS KEPT A SkCkkT-LlNCOLNS STOkf-IkLLiNo
PROCLIvITI1S.
Washington correspondent or the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, writing from this city on the
18th inst, said: Twenty-four years ago, at Hunts
Vile, Gen. Logan discovered that tramping around
in the snow meant rheumatism. Since then he
has learned that repetition OF the exposure In
sures return of the twinges. He sits now In an
upper chamber at Calumet Place with his right
arm twice its normal size and swathed I'm cotton.
Occasional bad sensations I'm other joints than
those most affected reveal the possibility OF some
thing worse than what he endures at present.
Some of the time the pains are so severe they
drive him to his bed but when others would be
down the general is up, in his easy chair, with
screen between him and the draft. Around the
open fireplace friends gather and help pass away
the hours. The pains go shooting through the
arm and the general growls. Then there Is re
spite and he tells a story. The harder the twtnge
the chamber door and hearing the peals OF laugh
ter, would never imagine there was any suffering
going on within.
MIR. L1NcoIS's STORIES.
Somebody told one Of Lincoln's stories and this
started the general 81 had some doubts for a
time about the authenticity OF the stories attrib
uted to Lincoln" he said, 'untIl an experience of
my own with him. 1 was sent from the west by
Grant with some dispatches which were to be de-
livered to the President in person. It was late
saturday night when got into washington the
next morning went to the White House and there
was nobody about. / made noise at the door
until someone came and said that Mr.. Lincoln
rules GO up stairs said, and tell the President
that Logan is here with some important dispatches
from Grant Pretty soon the messenger came
the room MIR. Lincoln was sitting In a chair with
one loot on table and his head thrown back.
a A. barber l was Just getting through shaving him
He told me to take seat and he would be ready
to talk to me in few minutes. The barber fin
tshed the shaving and went to work on the hair.
much swollen. Both OF his feet, in fact. were in a
bad condition. said nothing, but he commenced
talking about them. 'They remind me, said he,
bad horse trade. The animal was in awful con-
dition, but the farmer got him home. About two
weeks afterward one OF his neighbors met him
and ask him how his new horse was coming on.
Oh. first rate said the farmer, ''hes putting on
flesh fast. He's fat now up to his knees" That's
my fix
''Since then" said General Logan, 81 have &C
cepted as authentic all Lincoln stories.
COURAGE AND COMMON SENSE.
s'We used to think you exposed yourself when
there wasn't need of it, sometimes" some one re-
marked, especially at vicksburg when we saw
you get out from cover and look through your
glasses at the works."
.sThat was mistake" replied the general; 81
never did anything of that kind unless felt there
was occasion for it, Sometimes il is necessary for
commanding officer TO go into danger TO inspire
the right kind OF feeling among his men. Then
there are acts which look foOlhaTdy but which are
nothing more than ordinary common sense. re-
member while we were in front OF VfckSburg was
out on the line one day. The rebels commenced
shooting at me, and as soon as discovered what
they were doing and had got the range, galloped
right along down the line. They must nave Tired
hundred shots before got out OF the way. One
Clipped the saddle. suppose that looked TO some
people like courage. 1t wasn't. II was horse
sense II had turned and rode GOWN the hiil
have bored me through the back half a dozen
times. BY riding as Gid made 1T next to i'm
possible for them 10 hit me-"
..It is greatly matter OF chance in war;" con-
tinued the general. IA little more or little less
exposure doesn't make much difference. There Is
the other side are anxious to hit him that they
shoot too quick or get excited and aim badly.
was wounded at Vicksburg, but you fellows never
knew it,
The general stopped and glanced at the group of
listeners with twinkle in his eye.
ave heard the chair you were sitting on was
hit" said one.
THE UNRECORDEl WOUND.
eyes" continued the general 81 laid 1t on the
chair. expect that saved me from worse wound
than got. The way it happened was this. Twas
sitting, leaning back, with my right foot up
against the ridgepcle OF the tent The bullet struck
the leg OF the chair just at the top and went in
here pointing to the under portion OF The thighl
'The surgeon dug the ball out ana fixed me up. L
didn't. It was only flesh wound. l didn't get
into the saddle for some days, but all that was
known about the matter was that the chair had
The arrival OF the medical attendant put q tenn
porary check upon the war "reminiscences
swell, general, how did you sleep last n1ght?"
the doctor asked, as he looked around at the Smil
sfretsy well, replied the general; 'better than
con" said the doctor, s.the pills helped you"
NO" replied the general, perversely, 81 think it
was the stone
Then it came out the general was pursuing
three courses OF treatment at one and the same
time for his rheumatism. He had the advice and
prescriptions OF DR.. Baxter, one OF the most emf
nent physicians in Washington. He was recefv
ing the attention OF q big brawny Hercules, who
believed he could rub rheumatism and everything
else out through the soles OF the feet or through
OF the point affected. And finally the general
was taking to bed with him every night block OF
sandstone as big as brick, with alleged curative
powers.
MEDICAL DISCUSSION.
"Ah you think it was the stone, do your" re-
torted DR.. Baxter. al think I'll have you continue
the pills, however"
"An right" said the general, "In take anything
but aconite.
"And why not aconite ?" asked DR.. Baxter.
"Because know what it is" said the general.
Elm something of doctor myself, you know
"Ah, yeS,' said DR.. Baxter, with a chuckle; lean
you tell me what Office the spleen perfOrms?"
NO" said the general, ''and you can't tell me
either. Ii you can I'll give you diploma"
"But why are you SO set against aconite?"
"Because saw man killed with 1t once" re-
piled the general. II STOOD Oy his bed and saw
him die within two minutes after he had taken the
medicine. The doctors all said apOpleXy killed
him. The coroner and papers said 1t was apo
pleXy. l believe nothing but the acOnite did il.
/ don't believe that doctors can judge the con-
ditOn OF the system with sufficient accuracy to
enable them to give acOntte with safety, and
will never take It,"
.sWell said the doctor, as he filled out blank,
eve won't give you aconite. But general, heard
a rather good story on you last night Senators
Frye and Hale were telling it. They say that a
new guide at the Capitol didn't know you, and
wanted TO show you through the building!"
"That was some time ago." said the general, |
with broad smile. GA young man stepped up as
going into the Capitol one day and said he'd
like to take me through and point out the interest
ing things"
him. |
"'Oh, yes he said, If you know where to look |
I'll take you through II you like
"tAn right said I and was going with him |
when one of the Old guides stepped up and pulled
him by the coat and said, You derned fool, that
Old cuss has been around here more than thirty |
years."
'Frye and Hale say he said that old InJun, '"put
In the doctor. !
eyes sad the general, 'that is their improve
EARLY MEDICAL RESEARCHES.
As the doctor withdrew the general nodded In |
his direction and said to his circle OF listeners:
81 know these chaps MY father was q doctor. |
and he intended me to be one. When was |
yOungSter had to mix the medicines In one OF /
those big mOrtars with pestle. People would |
come round and father would feel their pulses |
and look at their tongues and tell me TO mix up
some pillS-put In lot OF stun that wouldn't hurt
any body. They'd take the medicine and go on /
and imagine 1t cured them. They would have got /
well Just as quick they hadn't taken anything.
old 4rfvr