Evening star., 1896-01-11

the old employees of the government. !
Among those who were notified that their |
services were no longer needed. early in |
1852, was an office mate of mine who had
received his appointment from New York
so many years before that he felt himself |
untitled for any other than the routine
business to which he had become accus- |
toned. This gentleman had a son just Tad
Lincoln's age, and the two boys had be-
come not only acquaintances but warm
friends.
A few days after the mans removal the
son and mother visited the White House
scenes tefore leaving for New York. While
there Tad Lincoln Joined them, and was
told that they were making a farewell visit
to the grounds. Tad inquired why and was
informed, when, sezing his young friend
by the hand, he led him away and into his
fathers presence. There he made what
must have been an eloquent plea, since 1t
proved successful, for the restoration of
his companions father to his old position.
Mr.. Lincoln sent the boys for the wife of
the eX-clerk, and after questioning her
kindly gave her a note to be delivered by
her husband to the Secretary of the In
terror, which resulted in reappointment.
Learning From IA Clothing Merchant.
Wonder has often been expressed how
Mr.. Lincoln, a man who had few oppor-
tunities for education, became possessed of
such wide range of knowledge and SO
vast a fund of information on subjects OBJ
scure to most men, as he undoubtedly had.
The following incident will throw some
light on his method of acquiring knowledge
In the winter of 1S6O-61, after the cleo
ton, Springfield, ILL.,, became a political
Mecca Men visited the President-elect on
all kinds of errands and many from mere
idle curiosity. Among the latter class l
personally remember one met on a train
en- route from Peoria to Springfield, who
announced himself to be wholesale cloth
ing merchant from Philadelphia. On learn
ing that 1 knew Mr.. Lincoln and was on
my way to Springfield he asked me to in
troduce him. as he wanted to see what "Old
Abe looked like. On arriving at Spring
field. complied with the request
Mr.. Lincoln received the merchant with
his usual good nature, and learning the
mans business at once began conversation
on the clothing trade, during which, by
skillfully leading the conversation, he elc-
tied great deal of technical Information.
After the interview was ended and We had
left the room, the clothier expressed his
| surprise by saying, why, Mr. Llncoln
knows IS much about the clothing bust
ness as 1 do. Where in the world could he
have learned it?"
Afterward, in conversation with Mr..
Lincoln, / repeated this remark. merry
twinkle came into the eye of the President
elect, as he said: Il was at school to the
clothier. Most of the education l have l
have learned from men who supposed they
were learning from me-
"Tads' Minstrel Show.
Among the men who always had easy
access to the White House was Col John
NJ Farnsworth, formerly member of Con-
gress from the Galena district of Illinois,
but at the time Of this occurrence colonel
| of the eighth volunteer cavalry and after
ward brigader general. 1 met the colonel
| one evening and he invited me to accom-
| rany him to the White House. On arriv-
ing there we were shown into the executive
| Office, which was located in room on the
Oy,6 fn<,r tn hn
| the main stairway. On entering we found
| the room empty, but the presence of Mr..
! Lincoln's cane and spectacles led US to in
| fer that he would soon return. While wait
| ing we heard the sound of music, and, look
| ing out into the corridor, Col. Farnsworth
called to me to look also The music came
from room near the further end of the
| corridor at the door of which Mr.. Lincoln
| stood, evidently listening intently.
! We walked down the corridor toward him.
! AS we approached he observed us and mo-
| toned US to be silent. We soon discovered,
| through the door. which slightly ajar,
! several soldiers dressed as negro mnstrels
| with banjos and violin who were giving
genuine ante-bellum negro minstrel show
| with Tad Lincoln for sole audience.
| Some slight noise at the door attracted
| TadS attention that way and rising he
hastily closed the door with the merry re-
mark, Now, dad, no peeping" Mr. Lin
| coin laughed heartily and explained to us
| that some of the soldiers on duty as guards
| at the White House were formerly men,
| D6rS OIL the Ola CnrlSty mlnStfelS troupe
with whom Tad had made friends and
| whom he induced occasionally to rehearse
| for his private benefit. The President add
| ed that he had rather see a good negro
| show than a French opera at any time
| Continuing the conversation, he said /:
| 'Farnsworth, some of my friends are much
| shocked at what l suppose they consider
my low tastes in constantly indulging in
| stories, some of which l suppose are not
jest as nice as they might be, but I'll tell
you the truth when 1 say that funny
| story, if it has the element of genuine wit
| in it's composition, has the same effect on
| me that l suppose good square drink of
| whisky has old topper; it puts new
life into me. The fact is 1 have always be-
| lieved that good laugh was good for both
the mental and physical Digestion
A Former s.Side Partner"
| Among those who visited Washington on
| the occasion of Mr. Lincoln's first inaugu-
ration was Albert Brooks of Petersburg,
ILL.,, who had been "side partner of his,
it being a custom among the old lawyers
of that period to form special partnerships
with young practitioners in small towns,
| dividing with them the fees in such cases
as they secured. Mr.. Brooks was a small,
| inferior looking man with decided cast in
| one eye. but was possessed Of considerable
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