Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-29

I. seeming TO be constantly absorbed In weight
Ter matters. Once he delivered a speech at
Ottawa. He wore a suit OF duck As he
progressed in his argument he took OH his
coat and his vest. His pantaloons mad EVIL
IDENTIFY shrunk in washing, for they did not
come within six inches Of the tops OF his
shoes. His audience, however, made no note
of these things. They were carried away
with his oratory and the force OF his logic.
His erotesuue appearance rather added TO
the effect of his address.
81 received the telegram asking Mr.. Lin
coin to make his now famous Cooper insti-
tute address in 1860. After he had read the
message he asked his partner what ne should
take as his subject and Mr.. Herndon said:
Talk on politics by all means; that seems 20
be YOUR forte / learned afte-ward that
Mr Lincoln had been asked TO lecture IN
Plymouth church, and he went east under
the impression that he was to speak IN BOOK
lyn He purchased new suit OF proadciotn
for the occasion, but not wishing 10 sou IL on
the journey, he stuffed it into a not very ca
pacious valise, and l am told that when ne
reached New York it was mass oI Wrinkles
But when he got up to speak before that I'M
mense audience in Cooper institute he car
ried them right along with him, and they
thought no more of his personal appearance
than did his hearers at Ottawa when he spoke
in his shirt sleeves. was with him In the
office of The Illinois State Journal when the
news of his nomination to the presidency was
received He seemed to be very deeply inn
nressad and somewhat embarrassed Rising
from his chair he went round and shook
everybody by the hand without saying
word, and we then passed out into the open
air. Then Mr.. Lincoln said: 1 believe l
will go home and tell my wife about this
Mrs. Lincoln had displayed more zeal in re-
gard to the presidential nomination than her
husband had.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WAR.
"On Feb II. 1861, the president elect made
a rather sad and at the same time touching
speech on his leaving Springfield to assume
his duties as president He spoke OF the ter
rible responsibilities which were about to be
laid upon him and how he needed the prayers
and encouragement of his old friends. l did
not see Mr.. Lincoln again until September,
1862, when called upon him at the Soldiers
home. He inquired very particularly re-
garding the political situation in Illinois L
replied that we would carry northern Illinois.
But how about the central and southern sec
lions? he asked I said that they were
doubtful l will never forget the indescrlo-
able expression of sadness which came over
his face at this statement It was just after
Pope's defeat at the second battle of Bull Run
and the peoLie in Illinois were feeling very
blue. did not tell Mr. Lincoln how bad the
situation really was / received an appoint
ment in the registers Office Of the treasury.
1t was my duty to record the certificates OF
Indebtedness which were given for war
material l had the entree at the White
House and called frequently for social chat
with Mr. Lincoln. | would now and then
give him good story that had run across.
He always relished these, but at the same
time he seemed wrapped in gloom, Ill TACT
gloom seemed to drip off from him Not
withstanding this he would tell stories with
his old time fervor.
zone evening called at the White House
and found that in consequence Of having
very severe toothache Mr.. Lincoln was not
attending to any official business, but was
supposed to be attending to his toothache.
Upon closer inquiry and search, however,
found him in one of the upper rooms Several
OF his special friends, members of congress
and others, were seated about On the wall
was large war map, and Mr. Lincoln, not
withstanding his toothache, was describing
certain campaigns. AS entered Iremember
his saying: Gentlemen, put no faith in this
Yazoo expedition. / am afraid they will
come out just where they started from 1t
reminds me of the old farmer out in Illinois
who was troubled by the pigs getting into his
garden. He thought he had closed up every
hole in the fence, but he found, upon looking
more closely, that there was a hollow log
through which the old sow and pigs walked |
very comfortably into his garden. He then
rolled this log over so it lay nearly parallel I
with the fence. The next time the old sow
and her family entered the log she came out |
about where she started FROM and so it will |
be with this Hazoo river expedition-it will |
come out on the same side of the log The |
morning following the night of Mr.. Lincolns |
my landlady came to my door
very early and through her sobs said, Some
thing terrible has happened Mr.. Lincoln has
been shot l dressed myself in great haste |
and hurried down town, when by degrees |
learned the events of that terrible night. -
&c. d. B. S" Letter in Brooklyn Eagle.