Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-10-29
ABE MAIL.
The Presidential Candidate and His Al
sence of ''Big Head"

Ne"sS y" ~ sso
You see." said the middle aged
man. Il wa born In Springfield. Ills,
and lived there until after the
From my earliest boyhood Abe Lin
coin was to me an impressive figure.
He used to corne to my fathers store,
stick his feet on the counter and talk
about the affairs of the nation. | was
present one night when Abe came in,
looking : melancholy "a n man whose
hens won't lay.
Whats the matter. Lincolnr my
father asked.
"'Oh. nothing much. I'm dis
couraged a bit. ! fear my tilt with
Douglas was not very successful
"'Nonsense. Abe remarked my
father Your words have electrified
the country. They will bear a rich
fruit for you Your reputation has
been merely local heretofore. now it is
national
"'Do you think sol Well. ] hope
you're right Then the future presi.
dent sialked out into the night, look.
ing more cheerful than when he m.
tered.
Il will never forget the first few
days after he was nominated. At that
time Springfield had ne postal deliv-
ery, and We were in the habit of going
to the postoffice late In the afternoon
for our mail. Sometimes 200 people
would gather In and near the p~ostoffice.
The evening after he was chosen presi.
Dental candidate b. his party Abe
came to the postofice rs usual for his
letters He was dressed in the homely
fashion Of the time and place, and
greeted his neighbors in his usual
democratic way He found his box
full of letters and newspapers.
The next afternoon he came again.
This time his mail filled three boxes.
He was dressed with more care than
he had been the day before. On the
third day after his nomination he ap-
peared al the p~ostof!lce with u basket
on his arm lie went away with his
basket. pockets and hat overlooking
with envelopes. newspapers. campaign
documents. etc.
After that he was Obliged TO EN-.
ploy the services of a secretary. who
collected lii mail. and We saw but little
Of the great mau. Whenever lac ap-
peared in public, however, We noticed
that he wore what gossips called his
Sunday best.
Those were lively times IN Spring
prominent men from all parts Of the
country. II was my privilege TO at
tend the reception given TO his fellow
townslnen by Lincoln after his election.
] will never forget the picture he pre-.
scented ,s he lowered above his wife
and greeted his old friends, There was
not in his manner the slightest indica.
ton Of what is now called The big
head Mrs. Lincoln was very gracious
and made IA fine impression that night.
I beard Abe say to my father in the
hallway as we were about to leave
IL CUES, Mary will carry herself
right well in Washington, old man.
Speaking Of Mrs. Lincoln reminds
me Of an episode that took place
years before Abe became a national
hero. There was a well 10 do tailor in
Springfield who owned a handsome
house Just across the street from the
I~incolns, Mrs. Lincoln did not feel
pleased that n tailor should live I'M a
finer residence than that occupied by a
leading lawyer. When Abe was of on
circuit therefor, she had a story added
TO their house. The job was nearly
finished when Abe returned. lie strobe
down the street. gazed AT his house in
surprise. and then crossed to the tailor's
side Of the road.
''Wllo lives in that palatial man
sion over theref he asked Of lis neigh.
Dor.
THE widow Lincoln answered the
smiling tailor. Then was heard u voice
from the top story Of the Lincoln
house
ABE. Abe. come to dinner. You're
late. '"-New York World.