The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-10
RY RUFUS r. WILSON.
copyright. 1926. by S. S. Mcclure.
Limited.)

Stories of Lincoln's gentle, generoL9
deeds are countless. but the follow
ing incidents. related by persons who
were parties to them, especially merit
preservation. The first is told by Cen
eral Schuyler Hamilton.
1t was a, blistering day in the hot
midsummer of 1851, a fortnight before
the first shock of arms at Bull Run.
The Wa shington streets, ankle-deep
in dust, esounded with the tramp of
arriving regiments and batteries hur-
ried forward by the loyal governors
for the coming conflict, and over all
hung a palpable, ominous foreboding,
felt nowhere more keenly than at the
headquarters of the army, where ]
then held the position of military sec
rotary to General Scott with the rank
of lieutenant colonel. About o'clock
in the afternoon Of the day in queS-
ton. the doorway was darkened by
the shadow of a tail, gaunt form, and
President Lincoln entered the Office of
the generaQ-in-chief. He wore a long
linen buster soiled by dust and stained
with sweat his vest was unbuttoned,
his pantaloons hung limp about his
long angular legs, and a thick coat
ing of dust covered his shoes. All in
WEAKNESS and disgust. Without wait
ing for General Scott to rise to well
come him, he sank wearily into the
first chair to which he came, and.
taking off his battered SLOUGH hat, be-
gan 'wdpbng his face With a, huge
bandana handkerchief. General Scott.
meanwhile had gained his feet and
bowed courteously to the chief magis-
trate but his fine old face showed
AIaf, h of nj
The presidents unexpected appearance.
''Sit down general, sit down. said
President Lincoln kindly, as he wiped
the dust and moisture from his face.
1T is too hot to stand on ceremony.
] have only dropped in to tell you that
have learned something new today"
What is that Mr.. President?' ask
ed General Scott, his composure grad
uany returning.
Lincoln Refused an Audience in
the Pension Office.
THAT lit is a great thing to be an
office-holder," President Lincoln went
on. "Since 9 o'clock this morning, 1
have been trying my best to get an
audience with some clerks in the PEN
sion Office but without success. I
have been up stairs and down stairs
from the ground floor to the attic
half a. dozen times, and 1 am complete
ay tagged out.
Pardon me, Mr. President" Cen
eraa Scott broke in with a gentle wave
of his hand, ''but it is rather an I'M
common thing for the President of the
United States to become a solicitor of
pensions When you have any bust
ness of that kind demanding attention
send it to me, and Colonel Hamilton
here will be glad to attend to it with
out delay
81 am sure that the claim is a just
one" the president continued, with
out noticing the generals interruption.
flor I have gone over the papers in
the case with care" Here he drew
a bulky package Of papers from his
pockets and adjusting his steel rim
med spectacles, went over them one
by one "You see. general, the appli-
cant is a widow of d corporal of in
santry who was killed by the Indians
some itwemty-fveF Saars ago. She
would have had her money long ago,
but nobody seems to have taken any
Interest in the case. She has been
haunting the White House almost
daily for weeks, until, between you
and me. am afraid that Mrs. Lincoln
is getting tnif1e jealous. I am re-
solved TO wind the matter up one way
or another today, and I have promised
she poor woman an answer at
o. clock. She is waiting over at the
White House now. Between the two
of them, 1 am afraid to go home
without having finished the job and
the presidents eyes twinhled merrily.'
j had been an interested listener to
this conversation and when General
Scott caIEled, Colonel Hamilton L
was instantly at his elbow.
How long do you think it would
take you. colonel. ITO get this case
through the pension Office" asked the
president
1T should be done in half an hour,
MIR. President" [ replied, and 1 glanced
over the papers to see il they were in
proper form. wait here" l added,
land 1 will return in twenty minutes,
or, If you wish it. l will take the GER
tdficate no you at the White House,
and save you that much time"
mo, no, my son. Mr.. Lincoln broke