The herald., 1896-02-23

"Lincoln in his personal habits was
careless to the point of being shiftless.
1t was notorious that his fences were
always in need OF repair, his gate want
ed hinge, the grass in his yard needed
cutting, and the scene about his home
betrayed a reckless indifference to ap-
pearances.
"As Richardson end Lincoln drove
up they noticed great and surprising
change. The grass was moved and the
gate mended, the fence fixed and
painted. Everything was spick and
span; it didn't look like the same place.
Mrs. Lincoln had taken advantage of
Lincoln's absence to lnaugurate re-
form and was standing in the door as
her usband and Richardson came up
to enjoy the excitement her improve
ments would create.
"Lincoln pulled up his horse, but
didn't get out of the buggy. He looked
douotfully at the scene of dooryard
order and repair, and then, turning to
his wife without the slightest show of
recognition, he bowed politely and
said:
"'You will excuse me, my good woman,
but can you tell me where Mr.. Lincoln
lives?'
"This nettled Mrs. L. and she replied:
You get out and come in here. Fl
show you personally where Mr.. Lincoln
lives
"Richardson," continued Secretary
Morton, twas a great supporter Of Lin.
coin while the latter was president and
Richardson in congress, and he told
me frequently that he was certain that
while slavery would be abolished the
owners would receive compensation
for their emsncipated slaves, and that
Lincoln would favor it; wouldn't, in
fact, consent to anything short of it.
had different view. didn't know
what Lincoln might personally be in
clined to do, but l felt sure Sumner
and others of his party leaders would
not consent to pay for the freed slaves.
They would have their way, too.
"One night, somewhere about two or
three months before the emancipation
proclamation came out, was at ban
quet in Washington. Richardson was
seated four removes from me at the
table. At one point leaned back and
talking behind the intervening guests
l asked Richardson whether he had
gained any new beliefs on the subject
of how Lincoln stood ON the question
OF paying for the slaves.
"'Yes, retorted Richardson, I've got
a new impression on that point.
I'm beginning to entertain doubts.
This is what has shaken me. was up
to the White House this morning to
see Lincoln. saw him and talked
about this very subject Of paying the
planters for their slaves. Lincoln
talked in very general, but still q
very encouraging way. felt sure he
took my view of the matter.
"'After long powwow, in which /
seemed to have my way, and Lincoln,
without promising any definite thing,
still appeared to perfectly agree with
me, came away. was smiling to my
self. 1t was the smile of man with
whom the president agrees. If you had
asked me your question at that mo-
ment l would have told you that
Lincoln would pay for the niggers.
"'But just at that crisis / remem-
bered that as I climbed the stairs of
the White House to see Lincoln I had
met Sumner coming away. 1t struck
me, too, that as he came out from his
interview with Lincoln he, too, was
smiling just as was. It sent chill
over me, and began to doubt. I've
been wondering ever since If Sumner
didn't have better foundation for his
smile, than had, and have about con-
cluded that he did. There's no room
on this subject of paying for the slaves
for both Sumner and myself to smile,
and I've about convinced myself that
Summers joy was legitimate and that
mine was not. Tonight do not think
Lincoln favors paying for the slaves"
New York Journal.