The herald., 1895-04-14

"A few months later while innrnevino
down the Illinois river, the boat on
which was passenger landed at Boards
town ana remained there an hour or
| more. From the boats deck | discerncd
the tall gaunt form of Old Abe, as he
stood on the levec watching the steamers
crew Juggling freight ON board, working
like galley slaves and being cursed every
moment by the brutal mate. Going
ashore ! enjoyed pleasant chat with the
future War President, who was in Boards
town looking after some law business. and
had walked down to the river simply to
see the steamer and her people. | re-
member one phase of his talk on that &C.
casion and it related to the boats crew.
He freely expressed his disgust at the
tyranny OF the mate, and evinced tender
sympathy for the white slaves whose
lives, apparently, were devoid of all en-
joyment save that which pertains to the
mere animal. These expressions showed
the humanitarian instincts of the man,
and were an index to that great, warm
brave heart which subsequently, won for
him the title of the Great Emancipator.
II attended the Republican National
Convention the wigwaGl at Chicago i'll
May, 1860 and heard the loud applause
that shook the building when Old Abe
was declared the nominee. During the
campaign that followed, l met Lincoln
once only. 1t was in the United States
Court, where he had motion pending.
He was calm. cool. and apparently I'M
conscious that the eyes of the nation were
upon him.
1.-The next time l saw Lincoln alive
was at the White House, in Washington,
in October, 1864. He had served the peo-
pie as President one term and was then a
candidate for reelection. While strolling
through the White House grounds l
learned that a military band was about to
serenade the President. So went to the
north verapda Of tho oyprutiVp n, a n sinp
where the band played several popular
airs. In due time the President came
out, bowed to the throng, and, in re-
Spouse to an irresistible clamor, made a
brief speech in his happiest vein. But he
looked haggard and careworn. There was
an expression of sadness on his face as if
the shadow of some terrible calamity yet
TO come had fallen upon the man who
carried in his heart the burdens of a ma
ton. Sitting on the veranda, close to
where the President Stood happened to
notice his feet. In the side of his right
boot was a hole nearly an inch long
through which his white sock was plainly
visible. This harmless gap simply con-
iirmeo the popular belief that Lincoln
was inclined to be careless in his dress.
He certainly was careless as to details
though he always appeared neat and
Clearly. His mind was too much occu
pied with official duties for him to pay
clio e attention to his apparel.
The next and last time | looked upon
the face of Abraham Lincoln it was cold
in death. 1t was in April, 1865. His le-
mains were lying in state at the City Hall
in New York, and the nation was in
mourning. The next day the great fun
eral cortege moved slowly and solemnly
through Broadway, with the body of the
martyr pres dent EN- route for its final
resting place in Illinois. 1t was one of the
largest and most imposing pageants the
world has ever seen. Numerous and
varieeated were the emblems of mourn
ing, dorne by individuals and organiza
tions. But not one was more touching,
not one more deeply impressed the count
less thousands of spectators who saw it,
than the simple emblem carried on a
piece of draped framework by dozen