The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-10

accustom the American people to this OBJ
servance that by and by the day will be
set apart IS legal holiday, as is the birth
/ day of Washington. This New York or
| ganiZation therefore invited Mr.. Hamlin
| to be present at the dinner in 1880, and he
promised them that if he was alive and
well he would certainly be there. He kept
| his word, and he was the distinguished
guest at that dinner. When the feast was
ended and the orations had been delivered
the officers of the club invited Mr. Hamlin
to be present again at the celebration Oh
Feb. 10, 1891, and the old gentleman &C
cepted the invitation with so much appa-
rent JOY that it was easy to see that wide
as his experience has been, familiar as he
was with public men in every adminlstra-
ton from that of William Henry Harrison
to that of James A. Garfield, yet in the
career and services of Lincoln his fondest
recollections were conferred, and the joy Of
his old age is the remembrance that he WAS
associated with Lincoln in the critical days
from 1861 to 1865. He said, speaking in the
sententious and half humorous manner
which is characteristic of him, eff l am on
deck year hence | will be with you, and l
will be with you every year so long as my
legs will carry me"
Mr. Hamlin kept his word. He was the
chief guest at the dinner on Feb. 12, and
the reception which be received must have
been a joy to him.
1t was the good fortune of the writer to
share with MIR. Hamlin part of his rail
way ride from Boston to New York as he
was coming to this dinner, and the tedious
ness of dismal winter ride was forgotten
in the charm and delight of the conversation
of this remarkable man. Mr.. Hamlin has
never been a specially communicative
man, excepting with those whom he has
long known and thoroughly trusts. He
has none of the garrulity or fondness for
mumbling recollections which has charac-
teriZed some men who have passed the line
which bounds extreme old age. Moreover,
Mr.. Hamlin has been, since his retirement
from the senate, extremely careful to say
no word which might raise controversies,
wound the feelings of the descendants of
men with whom he acted in public life, or
to pass any criticism on men and measures
where history has already made final de-
termination. But in a lighter, gentler
way he was led to speak of the great men
whom he knew in the past, saying word
of this one, or suggesting what seemed to
him trivial but interesting anecdote
concerning some other one.
The old gentleman came into the smok-
ing compartment of the parlor car, just
after he finished his lunch, midway be-
tween Springfield and Hartford I had
not seen him since the day when his sena-
torial term ended in 1881. He was then in
his seventy-second year. So that ten years
which had brought him up to the line of
extreme old age had passed since | last
shook his hand 1t was amazing to see
how well preserved he was; his form seemed
scarcely bent, his dark brown eyes
twinkled with pleasure, and his complex
ion still retained that rudy and swarthy
color which indicated perfect health, and
which was so Characteristic of him in his
public days Notwithstanding the rigor
OF the winter he wore light overcoat,
and his dress otherwise was substantial
black broadcloth, although the cut of the
garments was that of the style of two
generations ago, and is probably chung TO
by Mr.. Hamlin because he finds therein
his greatest comfort in dress The only
evidence that could be seen that his blood
might be little thin was pair of thick
arctic CATERS which he wore upon his feet
But If his eHtremities may be prone to
GOODNESS in the winter weather the old
gentleman made an Astonishing revelation
OF his possession or vigorous powers when
lie took long, fat and very black cigar
from his pocket. 1t seemed amazing that
a man of his years should undertake to
smoke such a tremendously charged nico-
tine as this cigar seemed to De. He handled
is with the EXPERIENCES OF one accustomed
60 such enjoyment for many years He
took from his pocket some of the peculiar
matches which look like hair comb, be-
cause they are set in rows upon single
piece of pine exactly as the teeth of comb
are, and are broken of one By one as want
ed. These matches would have shown that
he came from Maine, as rhey are the only
ones the lumbermen Will use, and Mr..
hamlin Will use no other If ne can get
these. With the utmost democratic in
formality, not percsiving any place where
he could light the match, he asked gen
teman who sat next to him in the COM
partment, and who, because he was nurs-
ing one foot over the other leg. thereby
exposed the sole of his shoe to Mr. gam-
hn's gaze, if he might be permseted TO
hight bis match upon that sole OK course
the favor was granted with a smile,
aud tnereupon Mr. Hamlin struck his
match, or rather two, for the first
failed him, upon the shoe sole OF this
stranger. He seemed a little amused
at the Incident, but when he atterward
learned that it was no other than
the ex-vice president of the United States,
hannibal Hanlin, whose name rang
throughout the country with that of Lin
coin In 1861 this gentleman said that h.,