St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-11-13
A VISIT WITH LINCOLN.

Editor of Caledonian:
In my last letter, promised to tell
in this, the story of an evening spent
with President Lincoln and wife at
their Springfield home between the
time of his election and their start
for Washington. To understand
this, it will be necessary to allude to
some occurrences that took place in
New York before leaving home.
Soon after the election of Mr.. Lin
coin, man came into my place OF
business one day, and said that he
had been sent to me by Mr.. Greeley
for infOrma ton that he thought
might be able to give. He then said,
Il am a republican and a great adj
mirer of Abraham Lincoln. BY trade
| am a halter, and | desire to make
a hat for our new president. | came
to Mr.. Greeley in the hope that he
might be able to give me the size OF
Mr.. LincOln's head. He was unable
to do so and sent me to you" | was
unable to help the man, but told
him that | was acquainted with a
neighbor of the President to whom
would write if he wished, and find
out the size of hat worn by Mr.. Lin
coin This | did and soon the reply
came that he wore a hat-size seven
and an eighth. | at once gave the
information to the halter.
In few days the man re-appeared
at my place of business, having in his
hand very handsome russell leather
hat case Opening it he brought out
beautifully finished "Stove Pipe, "
in the inside of which was a drab
travelling hat, very fine and soft.
How can | get this parcel to the
Prcsident2' the halter inquired
told him that expected to go West
myself very soon and should proba-
bly, see the President and if he wished
| would take charge of the hat box
and see that it reached him. A day
or two before leaving for the West
called upon Mr.. Greeley when the
following collOquy took place.
West, " | said, land expect soon to
see our new President. Can l bear
any message for you to him -
he promptly replied. You have
been writing to him Perhaps" | said.
Il never write to presidents" he
answered. Il do" | said, land
wrote to this one the other day ask
ing him to make you postmaster
general" What did YOU do that
for? | don't want any Office" he
answered petulantly. My presence
and conversation did not interrupt
him in his writing, and he kept right
on scratching. Presently he raised
his head and said, IF you say any
thing to the President as coming
from me-tell him to make ColfaX or
Fitz Henry Warren postmaster gen
eral," and again resumed his writing
Soon he again raised his head, and
said, Il suppose the President by
this time Is turning over III his mind
who shall be invited to become mem
beers of his cabinet. He will doubt
less try to find some one in the South
that he can with propriety invite
into his official family" Then pick
ing up scrap of paper lying upon
his table before him he wrote five
names of southern men. Two were
Virginians, two were North Caro-
linians and one Kcntuckian, Then
folding the scrap he handed it to me
saving that | might hand it to the
President and say to him that in his
opinion any one of those whose
l., /, i IL
invited to become a member of his
cabinet.
1t was little after the new year
that | reached Springfield, 1t was
midday when | sought the Presi-
dents reception Office. The gov
ernor of the state had kindly allowed
him the use of a large and elligibly
situated room in the state house
Theentrance to this room was direct
from the corridor; no guard attend
ed the door, and simple rap upon
it was answered by the President
himself with Come in" l found
the room well filled with people some
twenty or more being present. Some
were politicians, some were news
paper men and some were 'plain
people" from the country districts.
After salutatiOn, the President said
to me, quietly, that he would like to
have some conversation with me,
but it would be impossible with so
many people about. He then asked
me If | could come to his house that
evening. My wife and myself will
be alone tonight" he said. | told
him that ! would be there after sup
per Taking in my hand the hatter's
present | sought the Lincoln man
sion The President admitted me at
the door and ushered me into the
front parlor. where Mrs. Lincoln
was busy with her needle work. The
parlOrs were of good size and separ-
ated by folding doors They were
neatly furnished and long pier glasses
were placed between the windows at
either end.
AS preliminary to the evenings
session, told the President that
had brought from New York a pres
ent for him, which was in a hat box
out in the hall He went out and
brought in the box. | unlocked the
paddock that fastened the lid on, and
took out the hats Taking the
''stove pipe" in his hand he examined
it carefully and then exclaimed,
That is a beauty" Putting the
hat upon his head to see how it fitted
him he again exclaimed, 1T fits me
perfectly" Then adjusting it to his
head, he walked up in front of the
pier glass. Wife, he said, IF moth
ing else comes of this scrape we are
going to have some new clothes, are
we not ~ Mrs. Lincoln then stated
that since her husbands election six
different tailors from six different
cities had visited them and taken his
L i / r