The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-29
RELICS OF LINCOLN
The House Where He Died to Be
Preserved as a Memorial Place.
The Beginning of Work of Preserving
Historic Landmarks and Associa-
tiOns-Opening Reception.

The Lincoln memorial house. I'm which
relics and mementoes of the martyr Presi-
dent are to be preservcG for succeeding
generation. was formally opened last even
ing by the District Of Columbia Memorial
Association. Probably since the sad day
when Lincoln lay on his death bed, sur
rounded by his Cabinet and generals. the
old house on Tenth street has held no moro
distinguished gathering. Representatives OF
all branches OF the government were pres
ent to pay their respects to the memory
of the man and to add their words OF
couragement to the enterprise.
This is the first of the famous houses OF
Washington which the Memorial Associa-
ton proposes to preserve from the raw
ages of time and progress as visible re-
ninders Of the greatness that is gone The
association is composed OF some Of the
leading citizens of the country, presided
over by Chief Justice Fuller. Of the United
States Supreme Court and is actuated by
purely philosophical motives. Although
it's members have met with comparatively
little encouragement from Congress so far.
they have, at their own expense, LEASED this
property for one year, in the hope that
by the expiration of that time the national
legislature Will see the WISDOM ana apprOs
priateness of purchasing the property out
right for a national museum of Lncolnia-
Every Washingtonian and most visitors
to the city are familiar with the old-fash-
ioned three-story house on Tenth street
whittier President Lincoln was carried
from the fatal Ford's Theater across the
way. Every year, and especially during
inaugurations other special occasions,
the house is visited by thousands of people,
more patriotic tna h curious; ana aitnon nE
vate residence, may have succeeded In get
ting glimpse of its interior. But beyond
the wall paper on the room in which the
President died there was little to interest
the visitor.
Now, however it has been transformed
into q most interesting museum, every
room Astounding in rare and precious relics
of Lincoln. The collection was made by
Col O. H. oiroyd since $780, ia and hd has re,
a SRrlns1 Elected President The house was
given to the State by Robert T. Lincoln.
and until recently Captain Olroyd was GUS
geld, he has brought the collection to
Washington for exhibition In the house
where Lincoln died.
A VARIED COLLECTION.
There are between two and three thou
sand articles in this collection, although
it is by no means complete at present The
memorial association hopes to make it
nearly So the present collection forming
an excellent nucleus. There are pictures
of all grades, from crude newspaper cuts
and campaign badges to a large oil por-
trait painted by HOLES in 1853, and the
Lincoln life mask and bust by Volk, prob
ably the best in existence.
There are many quaint pieces OF furni-
ture hallowed by association with Lincoln.
Snet among 6fa 9he aea are roc a ora chair With
which he first started into no ssekeeping
in Springfield. Then there is the family
cradle made of soiid cherry and almost big
enough for a bed, and the cook stove, sew
| cral dining room chairs, and a stone from
| the crypt in which he was buried. Hang
| ing over the door between the front par
| Iors is a rough and worn old rail- which is
| certified to be ones Of the original o0OO0l
| made by the muscular President in 1870:
| by which he won his sobriquet OF 1.-The rail-
| splitter
Captain olroyd has also gone into litera-
| ture, and commencing with several auto
| graph letters in Lincolns familiar hand,
| the collection includes over a thousand
biographies, $50 sermons, essays and ora
| lions pronounced upon his life and charac-
| ter, with the principal newspaper accounts
| of the assassination and whole case fuu
| Of funeral odes He has also taken a
| quantity humorous turn by collecting all
| the political caricatures of the times. in
| which Lincoln figures sometimes in a
| favorable, sometimes in decidedly I'M
favorable light.
But interesting as all these are, probably
the rarest pieces on exhibition nave been
furnished from Washington. A few days
| ago the Memorial Association obtained a
| clew which resulted in the unearthing in
the cellar of the Smithsonian Institution OF
| the chair in which Lincoln sat when Booth
fired the fatal shot. 1t is a mahogany
| rocker, upholstered in red damask, which
even to this day shows IN dark STAINS
where the blood of the murdered PRESIDENT
| flowed.
coin wore on the fatal night, tai, Old
| fashioned beaver with black band, such as
he is always pictured as wearing Inc
| record states that these relics were de-
| posted with the institution the day after
he ciroIf
| or some of the theater attaches.
They have been placed on the spot where
| stood the bed in which the President died,
| and which the association has hopes OF Sc
| curing, together with many other relics
owned IN this city.
| An interested throng Of invited guests in
| spected these relics last evening until the
| time for the opening or the exercises.
! Among them were several who had known
| Lincoln, notably Charles Forbes, his body
| servant, who was with him on the night
| he was asSaSSinated
Shortly after o'clock Chiet Justlce fui,
| Ter, as president Of the association, called
( the meeting 10 order. After stating Drleny
| the objects OF the organization, ana saying
| this was its first effort IN the me OF pre-
| serving the historic landmarks OF the city,
he called upon Senator CullOm, as q repre-
sentative of Illinois. to speak of Lincoln.
URGING THE WORK
AS everybody knows, Senator Cullom IS
| strilzingly like Lincoln in personal appear
ance. and was moreover q personal frien1
| of the President He recalled how when
| boy of ten or twelve, he had heard his faith
! err recommend Lincoln as rising young
! barrister. The first time he ever saw ths
| great nlinoisan was when he was trying
| murder case with the lamented Colonei Bar
| ker who died at Balls Blum.
| Afterward he heard several or the Ia
| mons debates between Lincoln and Doug
| las. and. naturally he knew him durins
| his Presidency and up To the time or ms
| death AS a result of this acquaintance
Mr.. Cullom said: I'm my Judgment, Mr..
| Lincoln was the greatest and best states
man since the days of Washington" Sen
| ator Cullcm doubtless meant every word
| he said and he spoke with fervor that was
really eloquent.
| He commenced the work OF the Memorial
| Association, and trusted that this begin
| ming would result in collection such as
| all the people OF the country who love the
| name Of Lincoln would come to see, for
| Lincoln belonged not TO Illinois alone. but
| TO all the country and the world.
Vice President Stevenson, also an Illinois
| man. was the next speaker, saying: II
! earnestly Endorse all that has been done by
| this associa ton toward having the govern
ruent own this building. 1t is a matter OF
interest TO all, and one which II seems 10
me there should be no question about As
/ was said of Washington so may it be said
| OF Lincoln, changing only the name or the
State Illinois gave him TO AMERICA, and
! America gave his name and fame 10 the
| world Z"