Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-02-02

fhlNCESS AbTONlbHES PRESI-
DENT.
of the period being conspicuous
feature of the moving panorama. Here
and there day-laborer, looking as
though he had just left his workbench,
or q Woodworking clerk with ink
stained linen, added to the popular
character of the assembly.
Usually the president stood in the
famous blue room, or at the head of
the east room; and those who wished
to shake hands made their entrance,
one by one, and were introduced by
the functionary detailed for that oc-
casion. So vast were the crowds, and
SO affectionate their greetings, that
Mr.. Lincolns right hand was often
swollen so that he would be unable to
use it readily for hours afterwards; and
the white kid glove of his right hand,
when the operation of handshaking
was over, always looked as if it had
been dragged through a dust bin.
Much of the time, l think, the presi-
dent never heard with his inner ear
the names of persons presented to him
by Secretary Nicolay. Commissioner
VI CnlIC1 oldlGS MdESIldl
Lamon. His thoughts were apt to be
far from the crowd of strangers that
passed before him.
AT a luncheon given by Gen. Sickles
at his headquarters, among the ladies
present was Princess Salm-Salm, whose
husband was a staff officer in the army.
This lady attracted much admiration
by her graceful and dashing riding in
the calvacade that attended the re-
views. Before her marriage she was a
Miss Leclerc, of Philadelphia. 1t was
this remarkable woman who astonished
the president, on his entering Gen.
Sickles' headquarters, by flying at him
and imprinting a bouncing kiss on his
surprised and not altogether attractive
face. AS soon as he could pull himself
together and recover from his astonish-
ment, the president thanked the lady,
but with evident discomposure; where
upon some of the party made haste to
explain that Princess Salm-Salm had
laid wager with one of the officers
that she would kiss the president
Her audacious sally won her u box of
gloves.
During the war the proportion of
civilians to those who wore the trap
pings of the army and navy was SO
small that men felt it almost distinc-
tion to wear the ordinary evening dress.
An order from the war department for
bidding military officers to come to
Washington without leave did not by
any means abate what was felt to'be
great nuisance. Too many officers
haunted the lobbies of the capitol
in search of political aid to secure
them the promotion that they desired,
or the passage of bills in which mill
tary or naval officers had special inter
est l saw curious example of mill
tary absenteeism one night at Ford's
theater, where had accompanied the
president to see Edwin Booth in The
Merchant of Venice"
The president had sent word late in
the afternoon that he would like to
have box for himself and friend;
but when we arrived at the theater,
going in by the stage entrance, we
were met by the manager, who said
thatthe boxes had all been taken before
the presidents message had been re-
ceived, but he would use his efforts
with party of officers, as soon as
they arrived, to induce them to give up
the box which they had engaged.
While he was speaking an usher came
behind the scenes, and said that the
officers had very willingly relinquished
their box for the pleasure of the presi-
dent Betw" N the acts the manager
came to paj his respects to the presi-
dent, and to inquire for his comfort,
and Lincoln asked the names of the
military gentlemen who had so kindly
given up their evenings entertainment
in his behalf. The manager replied
that he did not know, but afterward
quietly told me that he knew that one
half of the number were officers absent
from the army without leave, and that
they considered 1t good joke that
they could escape the presidents OBJ
servation ut the cost of relinquishing
their box at the theater. The mana
ger shrswdly guessed that the presi-
= dent had asked for their names in or
dor to discover if.ethey were in Wash
ington on leave; but that was not Lin
coins way.-Noah Brooks, in Century.