davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1893-06-10

The Press has the best possible organiza.
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ware the State and near-at home news is
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ents in all the great cities of the United
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perts in Chicago and the West, who keep the
| naper more than abrest with events.
The columns of the Sunday Press are en-
| riched by contributions from those whose
names are written high in our lists of great
authors, novelirts, essayists, as well as from
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the readers OF the Daily, Weekly and Sunday
Press.
In politics 2he Press knows no other
master than the people, and the past year
has seen. as has been seen before, the marked
fact that it is subseryient to no political boss
II has no political ambitions to foster, but
looks after the interests OF its readers, and
delivers itself upon the issues OF the day in
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Middletown transcript., 1893-06-10
ACCIDENTS
INSURE -
- AGAINST

ATLAS ACCIDENT COMPANY, OF Boston,
ard Death Benefits of from 81 to 5000, at an
annual cost of St3, Si5 and S25. kEn-
BOLD. Manager, sos Shipiey Street Wh-
miagton, Del. mayzUlm
Middletown transcript., 1893-06-10

-.Av uwvA violin outfits sent by ex-
uUuH &EAe press on receipt of price
WEEHH M& in cash, postal or express
"Ht EH#hX money order.
UEVAN NV No. 8 Grade Violin fine
full tone. daik varnish
Violin case of wood, lined with flannel: brass
trimmings. Bow German silver trimmed.
ebony frog. pitch pipe. piece Of rosin, in
No. 10 Grade.-Strong toned violin. with
better how and case ~ %.
No is trade Excellent orchestral violin,
with better case and fittin9s. s9.15. All kinds
Of musical Instruments. w III. H00TON, zl5
Broadway, Room 40 New York. juneS- At
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11
THE GRAVE OF LINcoLNs MOTHER.

The Desolate Spot Where Rest the Re
mains of Nancy Hanks Lincoln.
1t adds but one more to the many sad
dening facts in the early boyhood Of
Abraham Lincoln to state that the loca-
ton selected by his father in Indiana
was in many respects almost the poor
est he could have found in the new
state. Spencer county is, it is true,
region of great natural wealth, and is
today inhabited by very intelligent
and prosperous people, but Thomas
Lincoln located in district which was
not only the most unhealthy in the
county, but certain to be the last devel-
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

who | think would be W. NJ. EvARTs.
glad to hear this news, and guess I'll
go and tell her" And with that infor-
mality and strange simplicity he carried
the message to his wife.
Weed Meets His Match.
Il learned this story few days later,
when went to Springfield" said Mr..
Weed while chatting one evening. Aft
er Lincoln was nominated was so great
ly disappointed that first thought of
making a trip to the far west. Then
hesitated said: Il should like to see
this man who has been brought up on
the prairies of Illinois, and who has
beaten our idol, Seward. Ishould like to
fathom him and>fnd out how much the
party has got to fear for its success in
his candidacy So | decided to go to
Springfield and spend few hours with
the candidate. had no doubt at all that
after an hours chat with him | could
read him through like book. had
never met man before out of whom |
was not able to pump the mysteries of
his character.
well, went to Springfield and was
received very cordially by Mr.. Lincoln.
began to talk with him and to ask him
questions. spent two hours with him,
and when | came away said to myself,
'Thurlow Weed, that is the first man
you have ever met who was too much
for You He pumped everything out Of
me, and got nothing in return.
"Well, went away and told my
friends that there was one thing they
need not have any fears about. This man,
if he was bred in country town, knew
enough to keep his own counsels, and
they might be sure that he would say or
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

GLADSIONE. OF manners Y S, /
have changed my opinion. always re-
garded Lincoln as good man and an
able man, b.. in these days of my re-
trement, as look back upon my ac-
quaintance with him, see him as not
only good and an able man, but as the
purest, the most uuselish, and, all things
considered, the ablest man our country
has produced since it was established"
And that message was almost the last
characterization of Lincoln which Mr..
HaInlin made, for he died few months
later.
If one seeks today an impression from
men who knew Lincoln or have studied
his life, the most significant comment
which Is made is this-that it is more
and more realized that his greatest
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

ing but slight hint Of those powers which
made his career what it was. Evarts
had won such repute as rejoices the law
yer's heart while Lincoln was an OBJ
scure-and by many deemed almost
clownish-member Of the national house
OF representatives,.
George William Curtis, who came to
have profound admiration for Lincoln,
and who in the convention that nomi-
mated the rail splitter made a speech
having genuine eloquence in it, which
gave him fame throughout the land,
having died within the past year, Mr..
Eyarts alone is left of those men who
were mighty warriors upon that historic
occasion.
Two years ago the writer, meeting
Hannibal Hamlin on the occasion of his
last public appearance, at the dinner Of
the Lincoln club in New York city,
asked that venerable statesman if, in his
Old age, as he reviewed his association
with Mr.. Lincoln as vice president, he
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11
The "skeered" Merchants.

" 49, 80 >
that she should sail
upon the ocean and
into the harbor of
New York and either
lombard the city or
exact enormous trib-
ute. A committee Of
New York merchants
appoin ted by the
C h a m b er of com
merce was sent to
Washington to inn
plpra Mr. 7 .inpp1N 70
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

anan's administration. 1t was under
stood that if the party of which Mr..
Lincoln was member carried the state
legislature his friends would bring him
forward as candidate for the senate.
He made the canvass with that under
standing. An element in the party, per-
haps the cultured and Weather element,
favored Lyman Trumbull.
The election SO resulted that it was
possible to choose as United States SEN
ator member of the Republican party,
and to the establishment of Mr.. Lincoln's
friends he withdrew and urged the selec-
ton of Mr.. Trumbull, who was chosen.
Lincoln's friends were amazed. They
wondered why he should thus lightly
turn his face away from one of the most
dazzling prizes of politics. But years
afterward they had reason to suspect
that Mr.. Lincoln realized that with Ly-
man Trumbull in the senate his most
formidable competitor for the presiden-
tial nomination, at least in Illinois,
would be beyond the power of doing his
own ambition injury.
He Never Can BE President"
Two years later Mr.. Lincoln again did
something which seemed to his friends
then grievous mistake, but which they
afterward perceived was a stroke of poll
itics such as would be suggested only by
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

oped. AS late as the year 1874, when
the Rockport and Southwestern railroad
penetrated that region, the grave of
Nancy Hanks Lincoln was still in pri-
meval forest-possibly the only forest in
southern Indiana where nature still pre-
sented the identical aspect shown to the
pioneers.
Seventeen miles north northeast Of
Rockport is way station called Lincoln,
in the narrow valley of Little Pigeon
creek-a valley distinguished in early
days for its fertility and it's extraordinary
capacity, SO to speak, for all kinds of
epidemics. The milk sickness, which
wrought havoc among the Hankses and
Sparrows and caused the death of
Abraham Lincoln's mother was but a
beginning. Ague was yearly visitant.
Fevers of nearly all kinds followed, and
when the railroad company attempted
to make a city of Lincoln the typhoid
fever defeated the plan.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

"A rev hundred yards southwest OF
the station the land rises to a timbered
ridge. On the summit of that ridge, in
a forest where every native tree still
stood, visitors were pointed to four
magnificent oaks forming a small quad
rangle. Exactly in the center of that
quadrangle, said the old citizens, Lin.
coins mother was buried, but down to
1879 there was not "a sign to distinguish
it from any other spot in the forest. In
that year, according to Messrs. Nicolay
and Hay, Mr.. p. E. Studebaker, of South
Bend, Ind, placed there a monument
with this inscription:
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

course with the great HANNIBAL HAhLIN'
men of his day before he became presi-
dent, who was timid, diffident and in
some respects painfully modest, should
nevertheless. when he came in contact
with the greatest men of the land, have
subordinated them to his purposes and
compelled them to acknowledge his in
tellectual power and his superior judg-
ment 1t has been possible to obtain
some anecdotes which, if they are not
new, have not been widely circulated,
and which illustrate this pre-eminent
quality Of Abraham Lincoln.
His Political Mastery.
David Davis, who was one of Lincoln's
earliest friends, and was perhaps the
first to predict for him the probability of
a great career, once said to the writer:
II believe that as time passes and Mr..
Lncoln's life is impartially studied he
will be esteemed as the ablest politician
that political life in the United States
has developed. Yet he was not poll
tician in the ordinary sense.
"Mr. Lincoln never managed a caucus,
never urged a candidate for office, never
pulled a wire, never created a follow
ing or machine, and he had little pa
thence or understanding when such
things were discussed in his presence.
Yet he had wider knowledge of the
effect of moral influences upon masses
and deeper understanding Of the pow
er Of moral and intellectual impulse as
a political agent than any other man Of
his time. This was shown in two cases,
which, as look back now, convince me
that he expected to be candidate for
the presidency and did what he did In
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

sat there with his friends, his long legs
extended and supported by a chair, his
manner cooler than that of any man in
the room, while he chatted and told
stories with such delicious abandon as
would have suggested that he was the
least concerned of any man in the
United States in the mighty events at
Chicago.
A telegraph operator while this chat
ting was going on wrote upon a slip of
paper message which had inst been
licked over the wire. These were the
words. "Mr. lincoln. You have lust been
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

An iron fence protects the grave from
what has befallen others on that hilltop
that of a wallowing place for hogs.
Some kind hand has transplanted few
roses upon the grave and carried some
pot flowers there, but each has Jared
badly for want of proper sunshine. And
such, according to the latest CORE
spondent to visit the spot, is the present
condition of the grave of the great Liber,
ator's mother. p. F.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11


some of his friends to cast their eyes
over these interrogations, and they said
to him, Don't ask him this question,
Mr.. Lincoln, because if you do he will
answer it in such a way as to make his
reelection to the senate certain"
"Ahg' replied Lincoln, with a twinkle
in his eye. Yes, that is true, but if he
takes that shoot he never can be presi-
dent" The friends who heard this were
amazed that Lincoln should be willing
thus to let Douglas defeat him for the
senate, but they perceived afterward
that Lincoln was entirely willing to let
Douglas resume his oratorical flights in
the senate if thereby he would be able
to defeat his presidential aspirations.
These anecdotes Judge Davis men
toned to illustrate that higher power as
a politician which enabled Lincoln to
win the greatest triumph of politics.
It was a great game he played, so great
that it was not understood by the ordi-
nary politician until results were accom-
plished.
The "Skeered" Merchants.
Chauncey NJ. Depew tells story of
Lincoln which illustrates this quality
which enabled him to appear at ease,
and also to demonstrate his mastery
when in the presence Of great men. 1t
was at the time that the ironclad Mer-
rimac was being built. The story was
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

W. H. SEW AHD' SlShJ INTO OJner men IS
motives were something marvellous, and
| was ready to admit that the party
had made no mistake in selecting this
man whom we thought a green country
man as its candidate.
after his election | went to see him
again to talk with him about his cabinet
and his measures. He then told me that
he expected to ask Mr.. Seward to be-
come secretary Of state and Mr.. Chase
secretary of the treasury. But that was
all the positive information | could get
out of him. | saw that he understood
the public men of the country just as
well as did, although most of them he
had never seen. He had an understand
ing of mems character as intuitive as a
woMan's. He played with me, and that
was new experience, for | had been
accustomed to play with others, and |
realized that this man was the master Of
the politicians in his party"
At the Head of the Table.
Mr. Weed used to tell the story Of
how Mr.. Lincoln demonstrated to his
cabinet that where he sat was the head
of the table. When his cabinet met
there was no man of them who had not
been more conspicuous than Lincoln up
TO the time of his nomination. There
was Seward, the idol of the Wings and
the eastern Republicans, very great
man. There was Chase, of commanding
intellect; there were Cameron and Blair
and Bates, all of them justly esteemed
great men, and there is no doubt that
each of them expected to dominate this
man who was their president. Such at
least was Mr. Weeds opinion.
Seward tried it first" said Weed,
land no one else followed his example.
He brought into the cabinet with him a
paper in which he had set forth GER
tain policy which he thought Lincoln
ought to pursue, and in which he in
effect informed Lincoln that he would
take it upon himself to see that policy
carried out. 1t was test moment.
Had Lincoln yielded his cabinet would
have been his master, but with queer
mannerism-half humorous, half serious
he read the paper through, struck out
Mr.. Stewards recommendations thanked
him for his consideration, and in that
moment and motion this assembly of
great men realized that the obscure
lawyer was to be president not only in
name, but in fact. Never did ruler so
completely and yet so gently master
his cabinet or council"
The New York Bankers and Lincoln.
Mr.. George S. Coe, one of the great
bankers of New York, in speaking of
Lincoln not long ago, said that his ca
pacity to suggest without offense 'his
mastery over men and measures was
strikingly demonstrated to representa-
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

pre-eminent genius.
He was carrying on
that debate with
Stephen A. Douglas
which is now one of
the great traditions of
politics. He prepared
a series of questions
which he proposed to
ask Douglas on the
stump. He permitted
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

the same age, We're geniuses as great as
the world has ever seen, and each of
them will be remembered as long as the
English language is spoken or read"
1t is little strange that this same
thought should have occurred to others
as distinguished as DIR. Holmes, for the
English newspapers and some Of the
English statesmen, in speaking of Ten
nyson's life, saw fit to couple his name
with that Of Lincoln and of Gladstone
as those Of men who were the choicest
gift to the human race of the year 1909.
During the past year some of those
who were close to President Lincoln
have died, and of all the number of men
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

what do you think OF u W. CohllS'
Lincoln? IN tel! you, Curtis. Lin
coin seems to move a little slow. but he
always gets there"
This was an anecdote Curtis was fond
of telling, having repeated it to a gen.
tleman only a few weeks before his
death. E. JAY EDWARDS.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

do nothing during the
campaign that would
imperil the canvass.
| knew that if | could
not handle him it was
not likely that any
other politician in our
party would be able
to do so. His self reli-
ance, his intellectual
quickness and his in
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

power perhaps was
his mastery over great
men, and the aston
ishment which this
understanding gives
is that an obscure
man, one who had no
advantages, whose life
was circumscribed by
a little prairie town,
who had no schooling,
scarcely any inter
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

who were conspicuous
with the politics with
which he WAS so pre-
emiuently associated
perhaps only William
NJ. Evarts and David
Dudley Field are left.
Field had gained fame
while Lincoln was an
awkward legislator in
the Illinois house, civ
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

nominated for presi-
dent" Lincoln took
the slip, unfolded it,
read it through slowly
and then passed it to
some of his friends.
They arose 10 lo2gra-
tulate him, and after
q moment he said,
"There is q little wo-
man down atmy house
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

had changed his esti-
mate Of Lincoln's
character at all. The
old gentleman did not
reply on the instant.
He seemed to be
weighing the words
with which he should
make answer, but he
said at last, speaking
with great solemnity
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

these two cases as part OF his plan for
obtaining the nomination and election
Judge Davis then went on to say that
Lincoln realized what nobody else at
that time seemed to understand-that a
seat in the senate was an almost insuper-
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

able obstacle in the
path of presiden.
tial ambition, Conk.
ling afterward ex.
pressed that idea in a
speech in the senate,
in which he said.
1.-The senate breeds
unhealthy candidates
for the presidency"
An exciting political
canvass took place in
Illinois earlyin Ruch-
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

tive body of New
York bankers early in
Lincoln's administra-
ton. These bankers
had, after a secret
meeting in which
Secretary Chase had
most earnestly and
"a n xi ously declared
,that the need of the
federal government
was not men, but
,,onpay-oo1d 70 ooy
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

and possessed of the
most dazzling and fas-
Gin a ting rhetorical
eloquence that ever
graced the English
tongue, went to Wash
ington to see Lincoln,
and coming home met
George William Cur
tbs. Said Curtis,
"Well, Mr.. Phillips,
- -
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

do something to protect New York har-
Dor He received them courteously, but
there was very grave expression on his
face as he listened to the spokesman.
That man said: "Mr. Lincoln, we repre-
sent hundreds of millions of property.
New York is practically defenseless. If
the Merrimac comes into our harbor, it
can ruin us, and we implore you at once
to take measures to give us defense"
For minute or two Mr.. Lincoln did
not reply. He knew the government
was straining every nerve to prevent
depredations by the Merrimac. 1t could
do nothing more. 1t seemed for an lit
slant as though there were suggestion
of anger in his glance, but if he had that
impulse he subdued it. That quaint
smile which anticipated a humorous
story came to his face, and he said:
"Well. gentlemen, think if | had rs
many millions at peril as you say you
have, and l was as 'skeered' as you seem
to be about the coming of the Merrimac,
instead of coming down here and max
ing speeches about it | would go home
and spend some of those millions in
making defenses myself" And that was
all he said to them. The New York mer-
chants were amazed, and yet as they
went away they confessed that common
sense was in his humorous advice, and
they also confessed their sense Of the
mastery of this man.
His Sin nIinitv at Graat No,,ants
Thurlow Weed in his old age was full
of anecdotes which he was fond of tell
ing to illustrate that simplicity of great
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

$50, 000, 600 in gold and lend 1t to The
government, and when they did this
Lincoln said that it was equal in its
moral effect to the raising of an army Of
500, 600 men. Then they raised another
$50 ,000, 900, and for the third time did
the same thing. Lincoln therefore had
a very cordial regard for these New
York bankers and never tired of speak
ing in words of praise of these things
which they had done.
Something occurred in congress or
else some financial measure was under
consideration which did not meet the
views of the New York bankers. They
wanted change ia the law, and they
regarded it as of vital interest that Mr..
Lincoln's support should be given to
their views. So they named a commit
tee, and there were men upon it who had
the power of raising millions, and who
had won great fame for achievements
that they had made as bankers. They
went to Washington. Lincoln received
them in his library. He had never
earned over s., 900 year. He was only
worth when he took the presidency
about $4,000 in cash and his house in
Springfield, worth about $4,000 more.
He had said a year before that if he
could gain a fortune of $50, 900 he would
be content, for it would be sufficient for
his old age, and he was now in the pres
ence of men some of whom had made as
much as $40 600 in a week
In the presence of great wealth even
great politicians are likely to be some
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11


mission. He heard LIPS.
them patiently as they talked learnedly
of stocks and bonds and markets and
credits. After they were all through and
were awaiting bis answer he arose and
with some seriousness Of manner said:
"Gentlemen, ever slnca / nave come
into this Office have heard a great deal
about JeeHdace. Men come here and
talk to me by the hour about feendnce
and about Jeelancial policy. hear one
side and then hear the other, Just as /
have heard you this morning, and now
I'll tell you what my conclusion is. !
don't understand anything about this
matter of JeeHGace, and | don't think
anybody else does either. Chase says he
does. You'd bettergo and talk with him.
But if you get talking Jeenance with
him or with congress you're going to
get all mixed up. This country is rich
enough to pay all our bills, and to pay
back with interest the money that we
borrow, and that is my feeHancial creed. {"
Thus he dismissed the bankers, and
while they thought his doctrine crude,
yet they admitted that it was in essence
sound.
what Wendell Phillips Said.
Wendell Phillips, agitator, imprecatoi
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-02-11

LIV Err WEN,
DELL HOLMES
reading the dis
patch announc-
ing the death Of
Tennyson, said:
"Only Gladstone
is left of the
great men born
in the year 1909.
Lincoln, Glad
stone and Tenny-
son who were of