Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-07-14
LINCOLN'S FRIEND.
A RECENT INTERVIEW WITH THE
LATE HANNIBAL HAMtlk.
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i NtNeu bt u'WspaIff toft'-lpht'ns'
aud some Interesting "reminiscences were
thu. preserved. Although the matter oI
the Interview relates more to other meu
than to Mr.. Ilamlln, still u shows enough
of Mr.. lIsmlin's strong personality to bs
specially Interesting at the present tlme,
aud We publish u In full
SEw yoak. Feb :t-Two yesn ago.
when an equalization of men of the city of
Chicago met upon the evening oi the ami.
v.rsary ~ the birth ~ Abraham Lincoln
a. commemorate Mr. Ilnooln's name and
achievements. they hal with them the
man who ,ery~i ~ vic. president during
tInooln'. first term Hannibal IIamlin
~As .o ehsrrn.i with the Idea of meeting
| u American. 81 this generation to do
honor to the memory of Lincoln upon his
birthday that he gladly promis~i 10 IT,
pr--rnt, ani he undertook the long and
drary winter trip from Bangor. Ne, his
home. to Chicago. with an enthusiasm
somewhst rsr 10 SO In = man ~ his
year. Mr Iismlin then ssid ths, he trust
ssi Americans esrrywhere would soon for
mally r,oognlfs the birthday % Abraham
Lincoln. and that ss long - he liv~i hs
should. either at other public gathering.
90 In HI. own privacy al home. ds,o,s the
| terh % February to q consideration of the
wonderful achievements % Abraham lin
coin.
Mr. Ilsmlin's enthusiasm is,came known
to an organization oomrossd ~ men of
every party In New york city who had
lust hegun the formal celebration of l4n
ooin's birthday. and who's purpr-e ts - tc
sccusiom the American people Ia thi. ob
ssryanos that by and by the day Will 10
srt apart |. legal holiday. ss 10 the birth
day Of Washington THIS Sew York or
saniraiion therefore invited Me- iismlin
q IL prr-.nt st the dinner In i<O. and be
ptomi-ssi them that II be was alive aud
we'll be wouli certainly be Their, lie kept
nj. word. and be was the distinguished
gur-, at that dinner. When the feast was
snds-l sBd tl,e oraiion. hal l-sn delivered
,h. ofilo.r. % the club Invited Mr.. iiamlin
| % ls prr--nt again nj the celebration on
Tsb T.. i-li. AMI the old gsntlsman ac
o.p,ssi the invitations with 80 much spps
r,nt ioy that IL wss easy to 80 that vide
n. his ssI-rienoe has tccn. familiar a. he
wa. with public men In cycry siminlsira
ton from that ~ William Henry Harrison
u that ~ jams. \ Garfield. yet Ia the
carver aud -.ryic.-. - Lincoln hi. fondssi
recollection. wcrv crntsrSi. anl the Joy ~
hl. old az IL the rvmsmbmncs that he va.
As.ociAisl With Lincoln In the critical days
from IS6i 10 is.s Iie aid, Speaking Ia the
--ntsntiou. aud half humorous manner
which 4. characteristics % him, III am on
deck Year benc. will L. with you. and
will t- with you every ycar 80 long a. inJ
lsss will carry me
Mr ilanlin Kept his vOri lie was the
chief guest at the dinner on Feb u, and
the rco.piion which be rosis~i must have
t.sn boy "a him.
II va. the guoi fortune ~ the writer IN
.har. With Mr. ilAmlin q part ~ his rail-
way ride trum Il,sion to New York as he
va. coming 10 thl. dinner. and the tssilous
n.N. ~ a dismal winter riie Vas forgotten
in th. charm anil delight "a tbe conversation
of thl. rrmarkAbls man Mr. lIamlin has
never l.-n specially communicative
man. excepting with thO>s whom be hNs
loug known ani thoroughly trust. lie
has none % the gArrulity or fondDcS- Tor
mumhling rvoollections whIeh has charsc
tsriisL -omo men who have pas~s.i the lins
which lounds cxtrpme old agc Moreover
/
from the .rnA,s. cktr.msly CAREFUL 10 saJ
IN word which might rai-s controversies.
wound the fc.ling. of the DESCENDANTS of
men With whom be acted In pnblic life. or
to ts.s. any criticism on men and measur'>
wh,rs history ha. alrr.siy made DIAL do
termination. Hut In . lighter. gcn,ler
way he va. lei 20 .p-ak of the grca, men
whom he knew Ia the past, saying word
OF thls one. OF suggesting what seemei 10
him q trivial but interesting sncoio,s
concerning some other QUE
The old gentleman cain. into the .mok
Ing oompartmsnt ~ the pirl0r car. Just
after be fnishei his lunch. midway L.
tween Springfield aud Hartford ! had
not s-.n him sincr the day when hi. sens
torlal term endesi In ISL. III. was then In
his seventy second year 81 that ten year.
which bal brought him up 20 the line Of
extreme old ~. had pass.i since ! last
shook hi. hand II "a. amazing 10 80
how w,llprr-sr,eih he wa.' his form seemed
scArc.ly bcnt, =. dark brown eyes
twinklci with pleasure. and his complex
Ion .till r,tainei that ruddy anil .wsrthy
color which indicated I-rf.c, health. aud
which was 80 characteristics ~ him IN hls
public day. Notwithstanding the rigor
Of th. winter be wore Q light o,eruoat.
and nj. drr.- otherwise was substantial
black broaicloth. although the cut OF the
garment. was that % the style of two
generation. ago. and 1. probably clung to
hy Mr.. IIamlin because b. finds therein
hi. greatest cOmfOrt In drc-s The ouly
s,is,snc. that could ts seen that his blood
might b- q little thin wss q pair of thick
arctic gAitsrs which be worc upon his fcet
hut N hl. entpmitles may L. prOhe to
ooldns.s In the winter weather. the old
gentleman made an astonishing revelation
OF his possession Of vigorous powers when
he took q long. fat and very black cigar
from his pocket. It SEEMED amazing that
q man Of bis yean should undertake. u
smoke such a tremendously charged nlco
tine a. thi. gar -s~mei Ia IL. lie handlei
Il with the exE-rtness Of one accustomed
10 such enjoyment for many year. lie
took from hl. pocket some Of the peculiar
matches which look like q hair comb. 10
Gauss they are set Ia rows upon q single
plecs of pine exactly as the teeth of comb
sr~. and are broken OF one by one A. want
81 Thee matches would have shown that
be came from Maine, ~ they are the only
one. the lumtermsn will use, and Mr.
HAmlin will uss no other " he can get
th>s~ With the utmost democratic In
formality, not prrusiving any place whers
10 could light tbs match, he askei gen
tlemap who at next 90 him Ia the com
partment, and who. because he was nurs-
Ing one foot over the other Lex. thereby
eIpo.si the sole ~ his shoe to Mr.. Ham.
lin's gaIe, n hs might be permitted 10
Iight his match upon that sole. Of course
the favor was grantri with smile
and thereupon Mr.. iIamlln struck hi.
match. or rather two. for the hr.'
failed him. upon the shoe sole OF TIL.
stranger. lie seemed little amused
at the incident, but when be afterward
learned that Il WAS no other than
the sx.yioe president of the Unitei States
Hannibal IIamlin. whose name rana
Throughout; the country with that OF Lin
colin I'm 1851, this gentleman aid that hs
should prs-srye that shoe ~ an Interesting
and yet amusing memento of the simplicity
Of this great man.
After Mr.. IIamlin had lighted his cigaI
be sat for some moments looking out o.
the window aud asked some question:
about the country. We had Just psssss
Hartford. and some points Of interest wer
shown TO him. and then he said: "Hartfor
n the home of Gen. Iiawiey. and IL oush
10 be proud of H. ! have watched Gen
Hawiey's career. both In the held and u
congrrss, and know him personally yer,
we'll. and regard him a. one Of the ables
men Of the generation. lie 10 not only 81
able man, but he Il q most charming ana
delightful one"
| Isske,i Mr.. Hsmiin II be was present q
the national convention which nominatss