Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-21
TWO NEW STORIES OF LINCOLN
fhe Emancipation Proclamation.
TING Ealal NIGHT at hha Cheafar

The Emancipation PrOrlamattor,
The Fatal Night at the Cheater.
Benson j. LOSING, the historian, wa
well acquainted with President Lincoln
and some time after the President hat
issued his famous Proclamation o
Emancipation the historian Travelled
to Washington for the purpose o
procuring photograph of it, al
1t was written throughout in Mr.. Lin
coins handwriting. Arriving at th,
White House, Mr.. LOSING first statec
his mission to Mr.. Hay. the President's
| secretary, who at once promised to grant
the request if the President was agreea-
Die. Mr.. Losing then went to see Mr.
| Lincoln. The President was in merry
and Jovial mood, and, of course, he said
be Was willing that the proclamation
should be photographed for Mr.. LOSING
but there is one thing want to draw
your attention to-" he said, holding UP
the precious document. "You see here
it commences in bold letters, Il, Abra-
ham Lincoln etc., but you will notice
that the last paragraph has the appear
ance OF having been written in tremb.
ling and irresolute manner; therefore.
you might infer that after l had written
the proclamation l weakened in nv good
resolution and became afraid, but 1 was
not afraid bit. 1t happened this
way; After 1 had written all the
proclamati with the exception of
the last paragraph, 1 determined
that l would not write that and
sign it until had thought the matter
over. In the meantime 1 held one Of
my public receptions, during which I
WAS obliged to shake hands with two or
three thousand people, consequently
when sat down to write the last para
graph OF the proclamation my hand was
weak and tired and trembled very much
Indeed. l could scarcely write at ALL
but was not afraid"
The most interesting story regarding
tho presidsnt wf1fch Mr.. Lossfng related
he told me had been repeated to
him lately by the Rev. M. Minor
q M. ci9rgyman well acquainted with
mr. Llpcoln's wife, who had re-
lated the stdry to him. "All day long
the last day OF the Presidents life," said
his wife, "Mr. Lincoln seemed in the
most happy and jubilant mood; he fitted
from one portion of the White House to
another as if he had been a boy of
twenty, and constantly heard him sing
ing snatches of songs. Toward evening
he declared to nae his intention of going
to the thsater, but from this idea l tried
to dissuate him. No, mop he said, 4
will go. The war is over now, there will
be no more bloodshed. and 1 am happy.
l need a little amusement and 1 am
going to the theater to get it,"
At last, as Mrs. Lincoln found there
was no dissuading him, che consented to
accompany her husband to Ford's opera
house. Once arrived at the theater she
said that the President did not appear to
take the slightest interest in the perform.
ance, but apparently he was thinking
deeply upon some subject. At last he
turned to her and remarked: "Mary, I
need rest. l know what we will do; after
this administration is over We will 20
abroad, where am personally compare
lively unknown. would like to travel
through Europe, and have desire to
visit the Holy Land, and especially
would | like, as far as possible, to tread
the same ground that Jesus trod.
would like to walk the streets of
Jerusalem" At that moment, before
the word Jerusalem had scarcely passed
his lips, the assassin's bullet had entered
his brsiD.
Little did the President realize when
he spoke these words that "rest" WAS
near Philadelphia News.