Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-23

A RECEPTION TO LINCOLN.
Dan Dougherty Had to Make Speech ol
 Short Notice

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 Dan Dougherty Had to Make Speech on
 Short Notice
 By reason of being his birthplace, PhiladeI- Phia claims Dan Dougherty. This claim, however, is disputed by New York, which is now his home, and both cities, with equal cause, are proud of him. AS an orator, MT. Dougherty's reputation is national aud many stories are told of the readiness of his elo- quence. Perhaps the most striking instance of this faculty was afforded at the time of President Lincoln's visit to the great fair of the sanitary commission in Philadelphia in 1864, as the guest of the Union league
 Morton McMichael, whose fame as fluent speaker still lives wherever he was heard Charles Gibbons and several other leading members of the league, were upon the com mittee of reception, and Mir. McMichael had prepared brilliant address of welcome By some mischance President Lincoln arrived ahead of time, and quietly proceeded to a hotel, after his usual unobtrusive fashion. He was immediately bounced upon by a MT. Webster, genial, jolly ''nlan about town" who knew everybody, and was occa- sionally over officious Taking it for grauted that it was all right MT. Lincoln stepped into the carriage which MT. Webster had in wait ing and was driven to the fair. When the committee of reception called at the hotel to wait upon him, he was gone, as the clerk said, with "a committee from the Union league"
 Impossible" said Mr. McMichael. ''We are the committee"
 To follow in hot chase was all they could do, but MT. Webster was on the watch, and as the well known group entered the fair room by one door, he took the president out of another, and drove straight to the Union league, where the members, minus the com mittee, were assembled to do honor to the president.
 The committee, boiling over with wrath, gave chase; vainly, for by this time the streets were packed with a dense crowd, anxious for a sight of MT. Lincoln. It was impossible to drive a carriage through the crowd, and at Twelfth and Chestnut streets they were obliged to get out and fight their way on foot, inch by inch. Meantime, at the Union league everything was upset for lack of MT. McMichael and the eloquent address too safely slowed away in his pocket.
 Mr. Dougherty was one of the members anxiously watching for the committee which did not come. At last, growing desperate, some one called him aside and said: Dan, this won't do. McNIichael isn't here, and somebody must say something You're the only fellow who can do it, and you mustn
 In vain MT. Dougherty protested he was "totally unprepared," etc, etc., and begged to be excused. MT. McMichael was ex- pected to speak, and they ought to wait for him." He was pushed to the front and intro duced with:
 MT. President, you will be addressed on behalf the Union league of Philadelphia, by MT. Daniel Dougherty."
 MT. Dougherty was absolutely trembling with stage fright, and his pallor was sight to behold, but he made the speech, and Presi- dent Lincoln said afterward that he had sell dom listened to such a torrent of oratory. II have never overcome a dread of rising to address an audience, however small,n said MT. Dougherty, few days ago ''Even when rise before jury, I would feel grate- ful if the floor would open and swallow me- want to get away. My lips are dry, my hands tremble and l feel myself turn pale After l get started lose myself in my sub ject. This feeling gradually wears away and l soon forget these disagreeable symp toms in my absorption in the work before me. New York Star.