St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-09-21

We in dreams approach the land
Where summer is eternal.
-Aphasia Smith,
NC0Lk'S LINEN BUSTER,
HE LEFT OFF WEARING IT-GENERAI,
HUYLER HAMILTON's STORY ABOUT
E PRESIDENT AND GENERAL SCOTT.
any interesting "reminiscences of Pres
Lincoln and General Scott are treas
in the memory of General SCHUYLER
ilt6n, who was an officer on General
s staff before he received generals
Enission in the volunteer army, for
ch his West Point education and his
ice in the Mexican war abundantly
him. These recollections General
hilton sometimes takes pleasure in tell
to his old comrades in arms when they
t on social occasions. His story about
the Martyr President, disguised in
pidated clothes, sought to obtain pen
for an unfortunate old Irish woman
ose husband was killed in one of the
ian wars, was printed in the Tribune
March last, and attracted wide attention
Lincoln, General Hamilton says, was
ID of strolling about Washington in the
It months of his administration, attired,
he then described him, in long linen
ster, usually in a badly soiled state,
gy waistcoat, which was unbuttoned
russell trousers of frontier cut Gen.
rs Il Scott never fancied this costume, but
long time found no opportunity of
ting Mr.. Lincoln know what his views
recon the subject. How he came to lay
de his backwoods attire General Hamil-
Ill - 80 l. IL f,,1 4,
other evening.
@ b general began, lin peram bulating
out the city and the neigbboring camps
tn an old SLOUGH hat pulled down over
5 swarthy face and dressed as have de-
ribed, taking observations of what inter
ted him. His favorite time for this sort
business was early in the morning. His
y sual hour for starting out on these pere-
finations was 4 a. M, and it was aston
hing the amount of territory he would
Sver by breakf fast time. He would visit
amps, hospitals, the places where the
hartermasters and commissaries were re-
living and serving cut stores and rations,
III q corrals, and all the points where he
build see for himself what was going on.
Lis favorite diversion was conversation
18th the private soldiers. He would get
pS confidence of one of them, and put
lany questions to him. Where are you
romp he would ask. How long have
GU been in the army?' How much did
ou earn a month at homer What is
-Four pay now2' How do you like the fare
here us the beef, the pork, the bread
chat you get as good as you got at home?
How are you treated by your officersT
Fare they well up in the drill? He would
ask these questions in way to give the
man the impression that he thought of en-
listing himself, and would ask if he
thought that they would accept him in his
regiment.
After these morning tramps and in
speetions the President often appeared at
General Scott's quarters at about 1880 a.
m, covered with the phenomenal dust of
that region. One hot morning in July,
1861, he found the generals front door
zaiar, and walked in unannounced. l was
in my room on the third floor ust COM
plotting my toilet, and hearing his voice in
!, the hall as he called out, is General Scott
within ? answered, and speedily joined
shim and ushered him into the generals
parlor. The only occupant of the room
was DR.. T, surgeon of the army for
many years service, who had been mem
Der of General Se0st's staff during the
Mexican war, and was still his staff sur
geon-in civil phrase the generals family
physician. There was great need Of his
presence, for the old general was afflicted
with dropsy, govt and several other dis
eases, to say nothing of the complications
wrought in his case by the hardships of
smany campaigns and the weight of ad-
svancing years.
wrH Hearing me address this rough looking
specimen as Mr.. President the doctor
thought that was getting ready to play
ss5ane trick upon him-not an uncommon
thing, by the way, and a pastime of mine
lin those days So the doctor turned his
back squarely upon us and buried himself
in the. National Inte1zigencer, edited by
Mr.. Seaton, one of the generals warmest
admirers, and his personal friend. OBJ
serving the situation, said in tones Of
grave and studied respect:
: e.sMr. President, may I be allowed to
present to you DR.. T., of the army,
! General SCOTS staff surgeon, and indeed,
Mr.. President, whatever services General
Scott is able to render are due to the doc
tors ministrations.'
s.The doctor glanced over his shoulder
In a chary way at the visitor, and discov-
eering that it was indeed the President,
arose and advanced toward him. But the
doctor was not courtier by any means.
He was polite enough to take Mr.. Lincoln's
outstretched hand, but cycling his seedy
outfit with ILL., disguised aversion, hurted
out: 'Mr. President, excuse me, but so
many Virginia wood-choppers come here
every day to take look at General Scott
that mistook you for one of them.
s.This unexpected allusion to his ap-
Dearance was little too much for the
President. He was vexed, not to say
angry. A little spot of hectic red burned
for a moment on his cheeks. But it was
only for moment, and then he said pleas
antiS sDr. T, you give me an agree
ABLE surprise / thought every man,
..voman and child in the United States was
nniliar with "Old Abe's' ugly phiz But
ctor. although you do not know me,
how you. You are getting up hospital
for those who may fall sick or be wounded
In the defence of the Union. have been
there and have seen you at work. although
YOU were not aware of it. want TO ala
You in your preparations for taking care
of the poor fellows, who will need all that
we can do for them. When you need any
thing, don't let there be any red tape.
Come to me at once without hesitaton,
and YOU shall have anything you want If |
can get it for you.
"The room just back of the parlor was
General Scott's bed chamber. The glass
door connecting the rooms opened ana the
aid hero walked in. He had been silent
witness of what had passed. Good morn
inc Mr.. President, he said, as he shook
the Chief Magistrate by the hand, and then
want on without further ceremony !:
sDamosthenes said that what was needed
. { 49, - zras action action action. WHAT