Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-14
WHERE LINCOLN DIED,
The Historic House on Tenth Street
to Be Opened to the Public.
RELICS TO BE ON EXHIBITION
Distinguished Sons of Illinois to
Make Addresses.
A MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION


Memorial Association of the District. an or
ganization which has already accomplishet,
great deal in designating with some per-
manent mark many of the places of historic
interest in this city. the house where Lin
coin breathed his last will be opened to the
public The formal opening will take place
tuesday evening next in the presence of a
distinguished company who have been in
vited by the association, of which Justice
Fuller is the president. to be present on
that occasion. Brief addresses will be made
by several prominent men of Illinois. among
them the Vice President Senator Cullom,
Senator Palmer and Representative Sprin-
ger.
As Is well known to citizens of Washing
ton. the plain three-story house on 10th
street across the way from the old Fo-d's
Theater building has been used as a private
residence ever since the tragedy, nearly
thirty years ago. 1t has. however, under
gone no changes. and the long narrow room
In the first story in the back building where
the great President died. is still the same
as 1t was nearly thirty years ago. The as
ISOLATION has leased the building. and IL
now contains a remarkable collection Of
relics and memorials of Lincoln.
The Collection of Relics.
This collection was brought together by
the zeal and energy of Capt. o. H Oldroyd.
VINO began far back as the year l8G0 to
collect everything that pertained to the
name and fame of Lincoln. He Joined the
first wide-awake club before he was a voter
AS the incidents of that time grew. and
artists and caricaturists and correspondents
increased and made history, Oldroyd kept
up with the procession. He collected the
pictures of the first stirring scenes of that
period. He gathered the badges of all the
political parties of that day, and they were
many, and the letter paper and envelopes,
and stamps and currency OF those days, all
of which had some significance. and these
he preserved, together with the first ac-
counts of the firing on Sumter and the COM
ments on the same from American, English
and French prints. and all these he has in
his collection systematically arranged. He
enlisted In 1861. While he was In the army
he continued his collection of everything in
which Lincoln was a figure. After the war
he was steward of the National Soldiers
Home at Dayton. and while in that place
his efforts to add to his collection were re-
warded. but at considerable expense.
Brought Here From Springfield.
Up to last spring this collection was In
the house in Springfield, H., which was the
home Of Lincoln when he was elected Presi-
dent. The property, upon the death Of Mrs.
Lincoln. came into the possession of Robert
7. Lincoln, who, some years ago, gave IL 10
the state Of Illinois. Mr.. Oldroyd was made
custodian, and kept his collection In the
house, where for a number of years past II
has been one Of the points Of interest to
visitors to the city of Springfield. Last
appointed, who, IT is said. was In political
accord with Governor Altgeld. and so MIR.
Oldroyd removed the collection. which was
his personal property.
ton to bring the collection to this city. and
he has just completed It's installation in the
old Lincoln house. 1t is hoped that the col
lection has now found a permanent home.
IN will ha z16
Congress consents to purchase the house.
All told. there are about 200 articles in this
collection. comprising everything connect
ed with the life of Lincoln from HIS earliest
days down to his death. There are busts
pictures and medals almost in bewildering
variety. The pictures taken from news
papers and photographs and sketches give
a vivid representation of many Of the stir
ring scenes in the life of the martyred
President. There are pictures of his early
home, showing his humble origin. There is
a rail which is vouched for as having been
cut by Lincoln himself. The collection Of
the badges and medals used in the political
campaigns is interesting. The furniture In
the rooms was used by Lincoln and in
Ltncoln In Literature.
Mr.. Lincoln's place In the current ftera-
ture of the country is shown by the library
of a thousand volumes which contain &C.
counts of Lincoln and references to him I'm
N"> NofoNAAs VI duotncf. ncn l0ere Is
bookcase containing eighty-six distinct
biographies of Lincoln, from the earliest
down to the elaborate volumes of the Nico-
lay-Hay history. rare collection is some
$50 pamphlets containing sermons delivered
by ministers In this country as well as
abroad on the death Of Mr. Lincoln. There
Is hardly phase in the entire career of
Mr.. Lincoln that is not illustrated In this
collection. As an illustration of the impress
which this man made upon his times the
collection is wonderful success
Not the least interesting of the collection
is a lot OF manuscript from DISTINGUISHED
ana well-known men of the country, each
giving the writer's views of Lincoln from
his standpoint. There are over 300 Of these
They We're all written at the personal re-
quest OF Oidroyd. The list includes such
men as Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, and
Raves One paper is from Dennis Hanks
ana another from the Rev. Dr. Barrovs on
tograph of the writer accompanies each pa
per.
1t Is impossible to enumerate all the ar
ticies that are now contained in the three
rooms of the 10Th street house The char
acter Of some of the principal exhibits has
been indicated, and when the house Is
opened to the public it will be possible for
all to judge of its merits. The location OF
the collection in this city adds another to
the long list OF attractions for which the
capital city is famous. 1t is, however, a
pubic service OF great value which the
Memorial Association has performed IN
have access to a place which is SO fun of
memories that are dear to the american
people. and which the rising Eeneration Is
taught to cherish