The Progress., 1893-12-16


the historic houses of the capital. The frs.
house to which the association gave atten-
tion was this one about which clings so
many tragic memories. Shortly the society
made arrangements with Mr.. Oldroyd OF
Springfield, Ills, for transfer to this house
from the Lincoln homestead at the Illinois
capital of the collection of Lincoln souve-
Mrs which Mr.. OldrOyd had been years in
gathering At first the members of the So
ciety were somewhat dubious about the
propriety of converting the old home into
a museum, but when they saw the marvel
Gus collection and noted the reverent hand
with which the work had been done they
were enthusiastic over their good fortune
and confident, as well they might have
been, that they had added to the national
capital one of its strongest attractions to
those citizens who love their country and
its great men of the past.
Worthy Memorial.
/ In 1860 Mr.. Oldroyd was news agent at
Mount Vernon, o. Though only a lad, he
| became an enthusiastic admirer of Old Abe.
| He was captain of company OF wide
awakes, and now shows in his great collec-
! ton the little faded badge which he wore
! on that occasion and which formed the nu-
| cleus around which all this array of Lincoln
souvenirs has been gathered. For many
years he continued his work of collecting
relics of Lincoln, and the treasure grew
with amazing rapidity in hands so enthusl-
asuic and skillful. Ten years ago Mr.. Old
royd made arrangements for occupying the
| Lincoln homestead at Springfield and III
stalled there his collection, adding to 1t
many valuable relics owned by the state of
] -, traF.ft ha hon a.
stead into mecca such as the Mount Yer
non mansion is at the former home oi
Washington.
Robert Lincoln co-operated by presenting
the house to the state of Illinois, but polit-
i,dl or other consideration intervened tC
prevent the Illinois legislature making q
suitable arrangement with Mr.. Oldroyd fol
nreseryation of his relics, and that gentle
man decided to come here with his priceless
collection. Now congress is to be asked tC
purchase the collection and the house IL
which Lincoln died, and to preserve bott
as a memorial of that great national char
acter. The sum of money required is &
small one, and Chief Justice Fuller, Ii
brarian Spofford and others who are inter
ested believe the appropriation Will DE mad'
by the present congress.
"A
, hours in this old house a few days agc
made the remark that future generation
of Americans would know more of th'
character and career of Lincoln than tn
present. and that this collection, with sucl
additions as it might receive from time t.
time. would be among the most VALUABLE
educators as to the life of that great man
There is so much here of interest that on
,.-ha IN
after hours have been passed in an inspec
ton of this souvenir or that it is only witt
great reluctance that one tears himsel
away.
The Death Scene.
Most interesting of all perhaps is tn
room in which Mr. Lincoln died. The fun
niture of the room at that time, the be
upon which Mr. Lincoln died and other al
pointments are not here, belonging to ar
other collection, but in the spot which -
bed occupied now stands the chair in WIZ
Mr.. Lincoln was sitting when he was sho
The red damask upholstering bears to tb1
dav the stains of his blood. A piece wa
cut from the upholstering years ago an
submitted to chemical tests for learnin
whether or not the stains were those OF hI
man blood, and theI is certificate OF th
chemist of the Smithsonian institution
{ that effect. This chair was in the privat
: box of Ford's theater, across the street, an
was used by Mr.. Lincoln on the night
the assassination.
In this room, which is long, low, ding
apartment, with only one window and
slanting ceiling, hang great collection
pictures of the deathbed scene. This CO
lection is interesting not only as chronic
of events. but as instancing the fact thi
even 30 years ago artists were given to tai
ing broad license. as they are at the presel
day. OF all the pictures Of the death seen
or alleged pictures, only one, it is said wi
made after sketches taken on the spot. IN
one. made by the special artist of a Ne
York illustrated journal, was drawn fro
sketches made in the room but one az
after the removal Of DIr. Lincolns RENAL
and while the furniture and pictures
mained intact. 1t hangs upon the wa
where the head of the bed was. The othe
are wholly or partly fanciful. But few
them show room at all resembling I
poor apartment in which the emancipat
hreathed his last, and the most oil the