The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-05-09
NO BOTTOM HERE.

The force was grouped about a
single long table in the center OF
the room, the editor-in chief at one
end, the proofreader at the other and
in the interval the reporters, minor
editors and specials there were
not many, nor were the lines dividing
their ranks and duties very sharply
drawn.
To them entered, on the day in
question, very tall, anguIor man Of
dark complexion ani hollow cheeks,
somewhat stopped at the shoulders.
lie stood half head above six feet
in height. His legs were cbsurdly
long and thin, and he had enormous
feet and hands. His head, also alb
normal IN its length. was heavily
thatched with a shock Of rumple4
dark hair, and under the shaggy eye
broWs vas a pair Of deep-set eyes ,
whose keen but merry twinkle went q
long way toward redeeming the alb
surd figure from utter comicaIity. The
visitor carried IN one hand a carpet
bag about three feet long aud so deep
that, tall as be was, il barely cleared
th floor. 1t seemed to be packed with
all It's owners portable belongings.
He glanced along the table to the ed
itor's chair, and in q drawling, high
keyed voice asked the young man
who occupied that throne:
Can yon tell me when [ can see
Dr. FAY =
DR.. Ray was then the senior editor
Of the Tribune. lie was not in.
Nel, continued the visitor. still
addressing the young man at the top
OF the table may I ask If you are the
new editor from Cleveland McDiM
or Medill or something's
Il ana MediIl. the new editor" the
young man answered.
w ell, [ guess you'll do lust as we'll"
The new editor asked. and with a
degree quite foreign to the Chicago
IAN of forty years ago for the manner
Of the visitor had been decidedly
brusqueI: |: please tell me whom |
have the pleasure Of addressing"
'Nen,'' this drawing expletive for
the third time. We'll, down on the
Sungamon river, they used TO call me
Abraham Lincoln Now they gener-
ally call me Old Abe though [ amt
SO very old either"
Old Abe, was already a name to
coDjure with in Illinois, The new
editor from Ohio" directly gave to his
visitor a seat and engaged him in con
yersatiOn of lively interest to both.
But first there was business to be done.
I'm IN a hurry the hero of the
Sangamonriy began. but | came up
to subscribe for your paper. l can't
get it regularly down our way, so |
borrow it from neighbCr. But
sometimes he lends it before | get
around Now ] want to pay for six
months ahead and he pulled from
the cavernous pockets Of his leans" q
pocket-book, united the strap, and
counted out four 81 bills. Mr.. Medill
took the money there was no beastly
pride in those days to separate the
great editor from the,counting room |.
and wrote a receipt on a sheet OF
copy" paper This document Mr..
Lincoln thrust into his pocket. remark
ing as he did SO: Il like your paper:
| didn't Ike it before You BOYS took
hold Of it; 1t was TOO much Of Know
Nothing sheet
Then he plunged into conversation.
But the young editor observed that
his new acquaintance had sharper
faculty for asking questions than an
Swerlng them. Under his careless ex-
terror no maintained an improgable
reserve. He inquired Of Mr.. Medill
about all the leading politicians in
/ Ohio. whom he seemed to know with
/ q degree Of accuracy surprising in
those early days when, with few rail
roads and fewer teIeglaph5. Ohio
was further from Illinoi- than Cali
fornia IS now. How we-e Giddings
and Chase. Carter and Wade?
Before he arose to go he said: We'll.
| guess I'm something OF a Seward
| Wing myself"
This meeting was the beginning Of
an acquaintance which lasted. with in
creaslag intimacy, until Lincolns
ueath, and involved not a few incidents
in his life hitherto uurecorded.
At the first Republican state cOnyen-
ton held in Illinois, at BLOOMINGTON.
in May, 1856 Mr.. MedillI assisted in
the double capacity of delegate and
reporter to the Tribune. Theconven-
ton IS chiefly noteworthy as the oc-
casion on which Mr.. Lincoln delivered
the most eloquent speech Of his whole
ilfe. Such at least Is the testimony of
the few living persons who heard it.
Alr. MedllIs story Of the conversation
and the speech have an especial inter
est in view Of his professional relations
with the speaker.
After full ticket had been nomin-
ated, he says, there was a season Of
speech making, and all the talk was Of
Bleeding Kansas Among the speak
eTs was Owen LoyejOy. After he had
finished cry went up for Lincoln.
and presently, at the back of the
church, in which the convention was
held, up rose my gaunt, angular friend
looking exactly as he did when | first
saw him in the Tribune Office a wear
before. He came forward with a cir
atfe like swing (he never walked
straight like other men) and stood in
front Of the pulpit. But after he had
spoken a few sentences the delegates
shouted to him to get up into the the