The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-07-01
DENNIS HANKS,

Quently, ana as III TO continue inc joke, ne
sent him down to confer with the secretary
of war. He soon returned from the latter's
office with the report that the head of the
war department could not be found and
it was we'll enough that he did not meet
that abrupt and oftentimes demonstrative
official. In the course of time, however,
the latter happened in at the executive
mansion, and there, in the presence of
Dennis, the president sought to reopen the
now noted Charleston case. Adopting
Mr.. Hanks version, the secretary, with
his characteristic plainness of speech, re-
ferring to the prisoners, declared that ''ev
cry id one of them should be hung"
Even the humane and kindly inquiry of
the president, 'If these men should return
homo and become good citizens, who
would be hurt?" failed to convince the
distinguished secretary that the public
good could be promoted by SO doing. The
president not feeling willing to override
tho Judgment of his war secretary in this
instance, further consideration of the case
ceased, and his cousin returned to his
homo in Illinois with his mission unac-
complished.
Dennis Opinion of Stanton.
Dennis retained a rather unfavorable
impression of Mr.. Stanton, whom he de-
scribed as "frisky little Yankee with
short coattail. Z" II asked Abe, he said
to mo once, why he didn't kick him out.
/ told him he was too fresh altogether. "
Lincoln's answer was eff did, Dennis,
it would be difficult to find another man
to fill his place. The presidents cousin
sat in the Office during the endless inter-
views that take place between the head of
the nation anu tho latter's loyal subjects.
He saw modesty and obscurity mingling
with the arrogance of pride and distinc-
ton. One day an attractive and hand
somely dressed woman called to procure
the release from prison Of relative in
whom she professed the deepest interest.
She was good talker, and her winning
ways seemed to be making a deep impress
sion on the president After listening to
her story he wrote few lines on card,
inclosing it in an envelope and directing
her to take it to the secretary of war. Be-
fore sealing it he showed it to Dennis. 1t
read, ''This woman, dear Stanton, is lit
tic smarter than she looks to be-" She
had, womanlike, evidently overstated her
case.
Before night another woman called,
more humble in appearance, moro plainly
clad. 1t was the old story-father and
son both in tho army, the former in prison.
Could not the latter be discharged from
the army and sent home to help his moth
er? A few strokes Of the pen, gentle nod
of the head, and the little woman, her eyes
filling with tears and expressing CRATE
full acknowledgment her tongue could not
utter, passed out.
A Near Friends Testimony.
1t will interest tho reader and no doubt
aid him greatly in drawing the portrait of
Lincoln to call up for the purpose friend
of his whose testimony is not only vivid
and minute, but for certain reasons I'M
usually appropriate and dtsential. The
friend here referred to is Joshua +. Speed.
Under date OF Dec 6, 1866, he says: Mr.
Lincoln was so unlike all the men l had
ever known before or seen or known since
that there is no one to whom can compare
him. In ali his habits of eating, shopping,
reading, conversation and study he was, If
/ may so express it. regularly Irregular
that is, he had no sd timo for eating,
no fixed tims for going to bed, none for
getting up. No course of reading was