The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-13

pers, magazines and other publications and
enjoying his inevitable cigar. The colo
mel is ravenous reader, as he is an insa-
table smoker. Nothing in the newspapers
escapes him. He even reads the jokes and
enjoys them as much as anybody. All
political social and economic questions, all
scientific and religious matters-whatever
appeals to the progressive intelligence of
man-receives attention, and careful at
tention, from this brilliant and beloved
survivor of the fathers
Col Thompson and Abraham Lincoln
were bosom friends They chummed to-
gether for many years and there was no
man in Washington, either before or after
the great Illinois man became President
for whom he had a profounder respect
or deeper personal regard than he had
for Col. Thompson. The colonel was an
influential member of congress when Lin
coin was elected to that body. The two
men had never met, but they knew each
other very well by reputation. Lincoln
had been practicing law on one side of the
Wabash river and Thompson on the other
and they had many mutual friends. So it
happened that when these two men of
the people met on the floor of the House
of Representatives for the first time Lin
coin extended his hand with:
How re you, Dick?"
And Thompson extended his hand with:
How're you, Abe2"
From that moment until Lincoln's ca
reer terminated he and Col Thompson
were confidential friends, and If the truth
were known the martyr president would
be found often to have profted by the
counsel of his distinguished Indiana col
league
Col. Thompson tells many stories of
Lincoln most of which comes from his
personal association with the President.
Back in lS47 one of the most elegant So
oso of
ception, to which she invited many SEN
ators and representatives, and among
the latter was Col Thompson. The colonel
at that time had become an intimate of
Lincoln's and he decided to ask that the
Illinois man be honored with an invitation
to the reception Accordingly he approach
ed the prospective hostess and said TO
her:
Madam, I want you to ask my friend
Abraham Lincoln of Illinois to your par
ty."
Abraham Lincoln?" was the reply. 81
do not know the gentleman"
Nevertheless, insisted the colonel. II
wish the invitation for him."
The invitation was forthcoming and on
the night Of the splendid reception Col
Thompson entered the reception room in
company with his long-armed, long-legged.
ugly friend. The two went straight 10
where the hostess was standing and the
cOlOnel presented the Illinois man. Lin
coin was asked to be seated on low has
sock, and after considerable difficulty he
so disposed his arms and legs as to feel
fairly comfortable. Then a long and. ami
mated conversation took place between
him and the society woman. The day
following the reception Col. Thompson
met the hostess and remarked TO her:
well, how did you like my friend, Lin
coln?"
II viii tell you" she answered. "Mr.
Lincoln. of all you men at my house last
night, Is the only one who will ever be
President"
Col, Thompson was at Lincoln's house
In Washington one night after the latter
had become President. The colonel and the
chief executive were alone, the former ~
ing at length on a sofa and Lincoln sitting
near by with his feet on the sofa. At 1870
O'Clock Thompson rose and said he must
go. The President demonstrated.
mot yet, Dick" be said; there Is a
man coming to see me at IL o'clock and
when he gets here you may 60"
The colonel inquired about the expected
visitor, and was Informed that he was a
fellow who held a claim Of several hun
dred thousand dollars against the commits
sary department. Lincoln had already ex-
amined some Of the papers In the case.
and when the claimant put In his ap-
pearance. the President simply instructed