The daily critic., 1890-06-23

ACCOUNT OF THE BOYHOOD OF The
FAMOUS KANSAS SENATOR.
Anecdotes of the Bittcr-Toneued states
man and His Interviews with
Lincoln aud Grant.

1T ingalls, childhood was character
ized by unusual dindeuoe, he got
bravely over it, and at very early age
began TO display a pugnacious disposi-
lion which grew upon him steadily.
Many anecdotes illustrating this lisro-
sill have found their way into print,
such as that wherein he IS described rs
having delivered a scathing review of
The faculty Of the college upon his
graduation, taking as his subject
Mummy Life, and treating &c in such
manner as TO horIiry his mother, who
had come 20 see him graduate.
The college professors had revised
lis oratory, cutting the heart out Of It.
in sreaking it he put in an they had
left ont and added his respects 10 them.
They debated some time as TO whether
they should not withhold his diploma
from him, but his Grafton was fun Of
Wit, and though 10 cut very deeply a
great part Of It was true. He got his
diploma, and in 1884 Williams College
honored itself by comforting the degree
of IL. ID. upon him.
MEETING LINCOLN.
Senator ingalls, Is possessed of a vast
fund Of anecdoie gathered from his
own experience and observation. and as
q Conversationalist he Is without rival
in the Senate. His account Of his first
interview with Abraham Lincoln Is
deeply interesting. He said:
"Thenext day, which was the dav Of
the execution of old John Brown I'm
Virginia, the 2d Of December, 1859. I
think, he came to Atchison. where |
then lived and still live, and was re-
sCeived by committee of citizens. He
stopped at the Massasoit House. and
was announced for a speech In the
evening at the Methodist church. IL
was a bitter cold winters day, and he
made a speech Of extraordinary power.
in which he anticipated very largely
the Inc Of argument he employed a few
months later In his celebrated speech
In Cooper Institute In New York, and
made
4 PROFOUND IMPRESSION
upon the people who were assembled to
hear him, although his reputation at
that time had only been derived from
knowledge that had preceded him Of
his debate with Stephen A. Douglas In
1858. Abiding 10 the threats Of the
South 10 scccde, Lincoln declared that
any attempt at secession would be trea.
son and none who heard him can for.
get the impressive majesty of his ap
pcarance rs he drew himself up, aud,
leaning forward with his arms extended
until they seemed % reach across the
small auditorium, said II they at
tempt TO put their threats into CxeCu-
tiOn, we will hang them as they have
banged old John Brown today One
Of the leading border rufilns declared
that IL wus the most powerful presenDa.
tiun Of Republican doctrine that he had
ever heard.
Lincoln remained IN AtChison until
the next day about noon, and the com.
mittee appointed 10 entertain him, upon
going down 20 the hotel next morning
after breakfast, found him In the bar
room by Tcd.hOt box stove, engaged
In telling Jokes and yarns and stories
10 a crowd OF overland stage drivers
and other rough characters Of the
frontier, who received his variations
with the most hOisteTOus and ineXtin-
Guishable laughter
"lle exhibited there, as always. an
extraordinary facility for forming per.
sonal relations with an classes Of men.
Think Of him sitting there with one
rubber shoe on and the other unbuckled
on his knee, for probably half an hour,
the carriage waiting outside 10 take him
about the town, while he entertained
the crowd with his iueXhausdble fun
amid bursts Of uproarious laughter.
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL GRANT.
The Senator account Of his first
meeting with General Grant, as I once
heard him narTate IL, Is equally graphic
and interesting. u never had seen
General Grant" he said, 'untl / came
10 the Senate in 1873, and on the even
ing Of the 30 Of March, when he came
10 the Capitol, as is customary on the
closing night Of the session, 10 sign bills |
that might be presented 20 him, ! was
introduced 10 him In what Is known as
the Presidents room.
My previous impressions had been
derived from an attentive peTusal of an /
that had been written about him in the |
preceding ten years, and IL is a curious |
illustration Of the fact that no matter |
how well we NAV be supposed % be |
acquainted with a man by pOTtraiture |
and description, that an my previous |
impressions were Immediately DESTROYED /
al he first moment Of our first inter |
view. He had been portrayed by his
enemies as
COARSE, BRUTAL AND CSCULTIYATED |
RUFFIAN.
and even his friends had not given him /
credit for the refined and gracious aud /
attractive qualities that were imme- /
diately presented 10 me upon nv intro |
duCtiOn. Every impression that / had /
derived as % his appearance his stature /
and manner was Immediately dissipated /
General Rufus Ingalls, was one Of /
Grants most valued and intimate /
friends, and / have no doubt hat he /
had spoken 10 the President of bis rela- /
uUnship with me.
"lu our conversation, which was 4
casual and brief, General Grant alluded 1
10 General Ingalls, and inquired about |
our kinship and appeared in such en-
uIely different aspect from what / had /
been led % anticipate, that my feelings 4
were those Of delighted surprise. / /
found him exceedingly agreeable IN 4
conversation, with tendency % humor. 4
for which ! was entirely unprepared
MS PRIVATE CHARACTER.
John j lDgalls Is neither a timid l
tt-AA AaNA "A HAa NIAaAHAz iAAH As4AAF Il
sChOOled against the influences Of that |
dauEer0u system which sought to build 4
q republic 90 The unrequitted labor Of 1
helpless millions, o system which did i
not blush while ii clasped the Bible 1
with handouts and fesl0oned the cross
Of Christ with chains. and stu6bornlY i
convinced In lie depths Of q mind of no /
ordinary power Of the correctness Of q /
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