Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-21
MISTAKEN FOR LINcoLN's GHOST.
An Evidence OF the Resemblance OF Sem
tor CulIom To the War President

,,r Gillian 70 the War President.
(st. LOUIS Globe Democrat
Tho resemblance of Senator Cullom,
of Illinois, to President Lincoln has been
remarked on many occasions. Ihis re-
semblance not long ago led to laugh
able incident
One of Mr.. Cullom's senatorial asso-
ciates had a pressing communication 70
make to the Senator from Illinois late
one evening several weeks ago and dis
patched trusty African, black as the
ace OF spades, and with brain as dark
as his face, upon the commission. IT
was SO late, indeed, that every one had
retired when the faithful son of Ham
rang the door-bell at the Cu!lom man
sion.
After repeated rlngings some one
thrust his head out OF a second-story
window and demanded to know who was
making the disturbance.
81 wants to see Massr Cullom. sab,
said the colored messenger on the door
step. -.
4" What do you want with him at this
hour OF the night?" asked the person
in the second-story window.
81 hab message TO him, sab, from
Senator Blank" replied the African.
Just wait moment and LII come
down." said the voice above.
After few moments delay the light
in the vestibule was turned on, the door
was opened, end tall, gaunt figures IN
a flowing night-robe stood revealed IN
the dim light.
The colored man advanced to enter,
when more critical Glance at the spec
trail apparition before him made him
pause. Snatching his hat off his head,
he stock aghast with eyes extended as
wide as sancers and his mouth open,
holding the note ont arms length,
every muscle of his body apparently In
a culver Of excitement.
Senator Cullom, without noticing
the messengers strange manners, took
the note, read it by the hall-light, and
dismissed him.
There was a precipitous descent OF the
steps, and the sounds of running feet,
and, when some time after Senator
Blanks door was opened it revealed the
horror-stricken, ashy-gray face OF his
colored porter, all out Of breath, and
quaklng with unaccountable excitement.
What in the world has occurred 2"
cried the Senator.
$50 de Lo'd, Mass'r Blank don
seed de ghost OBJ President Lincum "
1.-THE ghost OF President Lincoln
You must be crazy"
mo, sab, not crazy. Sure os Tn
Twin, / don seed his ghost. | went
right smack to Mass'r Cullom's house,
an a man talk to me from wlnder, and
den lie do opened, an dar, all in white.
stood the ghost of President Llncum.
DE took dc note an waved his han, an
Won bet | don get away from dar.
The Senator smiled. Chow do you
know II was President Lincoln's ghost "
he asked.
"Fo' de Lo'd. sab, l guess | know
President Lincum when | see his sperrit.
Didn't | see him de time oh de wah
cherry day heah in Washington ?"
Next time the two senators met Cullom
was told about the scare he had caused
the simple-minded messenger, and he
enjoyed the joke.
When, few days afterward. Pompey
was again sent on a similar mission, this
time at the solicitation of the Illinois
Senator. Cullom invited him into his
study, where he handed him a cigar and
engaged him in friendly conversation.
"Nlass'r Cullom," said the darky,
smiling radiantly, now that he had been
persuaded of his mistake, "you don
give me the wustest scar, sab, cher had
in all my bon days. Fo' sure, sab, L
thought you was do ghost OF Mass'r
Abraham Llucum when you stood out
dar in de hall, all dressed in dem white
gowns dat made you look JUS like great
big angel.
Cullom laughed heartily, gave the
faced ghost-seer another cigar, and
then dismissed him in possession of a
much more serene state of mind than on
the occasion OF his first visit.