The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-07-01
SKETCHES FROM THE LIFE OF. LINCOLN

ophy or poetry, Burns, Byron. Milton or
Shakespeare, and the ncispapers, retain.
ing them all about as well as an ordinary
man would any one of them who made
only one at time his study. once re-
marked to him that his mind was a won
der to me; that Impressions were easily
made upon 1t and never effaced. No.
said he, you are mistaken. am slow to
learn and slow to forget that which
have learned. My mind ds ikea piece of
steel-very hard to scratch anything on it
and almost impossible otter you get it
there to rub it out / give this as his own
illustration of the character Of his mental
faculties. 1t is as good as any / have seen
from any one.
Tho beauty of his character was Its en-
tire simplicity. He had no affectation. in
anything. True to nature, true to him
self, be was true to every body and every
thing around him. When he was .iguo-
rant OH any subject, no matter how simple
it might make him appear, he was always
willing to acknowledge it. His whole aim
in life was to be true to himself, and be-
Ing true to himself he could be false to no
one
Relaxation In Anecdotes.
"Ho had no vices, even as young man.
Intense thought with him was the rule
and not aswith most of us, the excep-
tion. He often said that he could think
better after breakfast and better walking
than sitting, lying or standing His world
wide reputation for telling anecdotes and
telling them SO well was in my Judgment
necessary to his very existence. Most men
who have been great students, such as he
was, in their hours of idleness have taken
to the bottle, to cards or dice He had no
fondness for any OF those. Hence he sought
relaxation in anecdotes So far as now
remember Of his study for composition,
1t was to make short sentences and COM
pact style
e unlike all other men, there was entire
harmony between his public and private
life. Ho must believe ho was right, and
that he had truth and Justice with him,
or he was weak man, but no man could
be stronger if he thought he was right.
His familiar conversations were like
his speeches and letters in this-that while
no set speech Of his, save the Gettysburg
address, will DO considered as entirely ar
tistic and complete, yet when the gems Of
American literature come to be selected
as many will be culled from Lincoln's
speeches as from any American orator. So
of his conversation, and so Of his private
correspondence. All abound in gems.
MY own connection or relation with
Mr. Lincoln during the war has SO often
been commented on, and it's extent so Of
ten enlarged upon, feel impeled to state
that during his whole administration he
never requested me to do anything, except
in my own state, and never much in that,
except to advise him as to what measures
and policy would be most conducive to the
growth of healthy Union sentiment.
His Kindness of Heart.
'The last interview but one had with
him was about ten days prior to his last
Inauguration. Congress was drawing to
close. 1t had been an important session.
Much attention had to BIO given to the i'm
portant bills he was signing. A great war
was upon him and the country. Visitors
were coming and going to the president
with their varying complaints and griev-
ances from morning till night with almost
as much regularity as the ebb and flow of
the tide, and he was worn down in health
and spirits On this occasion l was sent
for to como and soc him. Instructions
were given that when l came I should be
admitted When l entered his Office, it
was quite full, and many more, among
them not few senators and members of
congress, still waiting. AS SOON as was
fairly inside the president remarked that
he desired to see me as soon as he was
through giving audiences, and that il I
had nothing to do could take the papers
and amuse myself in that or any other way
I saw fit till he was ready. In the room,
when l entered, observed sitting near the
fireplace, dressed in humble attire, two
ladies modestly waiting their turn. One
after another of the visitors came and went,
each bent on his own particular errand,
some satisfied and others evidently dis
pleased at the result of their mission. The
hour had arrived to close the door against
all further callers. No one was left in the
room now except the president, the two Ia
dies and me. With rather peevish and
fretful air he turned to them and said,
We'll, ladies, what can do for you?' They
both commenced to speak at once. From
what they said he soon learned that one
was the wife and the other tho mother of
two men imprisoned for resisting the draft
in western Pennsylvania Stop, said he.
Don't say any more. Give me your petit
ton The old lady responded: Mr.. Lin
coin, we've got no petition. We couldn't
write one and had no money to pay for
writing one, and thought best to come
l.
your casesp He rang his bell and ordered
one of the messengers to tell General Dana
to bring him the names Of all tho men in
prison for resisting the draft in western
Pennsylvania. The general soon came
with tho list He inquired If there was
any difference in the charges or degrees Of
guilt. The general replied that he knew
of none. Well, then, said he, these fell
lows have suffered long enough, and
have thought SO for some time, and now
that sny mind is on the subject believe
will turn out the whole flock. So draw up
the order, general, and 1 will sign it, 1t
was done, and tho genera. left the room.
Turning to the women, he said, Now, Ia
dies, you can go The younger of tho two
ran forward and was in the act of knecl
ing in thankfulness. Get up he said
Don't kneel to me, but thank God and
co.
1--WE were now alone. I said to him,
Lincoln, with my knowledge of your nerv-
Gus sensiblity. it is wonder that such
scenes as this don't kill you He thought
for a moment and then answered in Ian
guild voice: Yes, you arc to a certain de-
gree right#s ought not to undergo what
/ so often do. I am very unwoll now. My
feet and hands of late seem to be always
cold, and l ought perhaps to be in bed,
but things of the sort you have just seen
don't hurt me, for, to tell you the truth,
that scene is the only thing today that has
made me forget my condition or givenNme
any pleasure. have, in that order. made
two people happy and alleviated the dis
fraSS Of many n ropr so,ll vhom T pevar