The evening times., 1896-12-25

strongest, ever saw on II llliH. nc " as
"a splendid-looking fellow, and, l think,
about the greatest of our Presidents, just
| as a man; only he happened to live at a
time hen there was nothing in particular
to develop abilities and show Statesman II
to advantage
The speaker was Col. Walter French 4.
file clerk Of the House. He was talking
with Capt. Thomas Mckee, the journal
clerk. Mr.. Tyler Page, for many years
employed in the office, from the time he
was on the floor with the boys, was sitting
ut one end of Col. French's long table
delving into volume of forgotten House
proceedings.
Lincoln was a great figure continued
Col. French, with his big coat, big enough
to roll up two or three like him in it
the mid seam striking him about the hip
and the long tails swinging down nearly
to his shins, and then his great, baggy
trousers! remember he stood right there
at the corner uf that table entertaining
some Eastern men one day, when Bob
Stackpole blurted out, He's Il pretty spec-
men, amt hep
The Criticism.
"And Mr.. Lincoln turned around and
| said: What's that you say, Rob?' Bob
answered, oh, / was jus, making re-
mark to this gentleman l was sure he
had heard every word that was said. but
he liked Stackpoe, and didn't mind. Bob
! was the man some of the Cabinet W wanted
him to get rid OF, when he said, with "a
snap, Great heavens! won't you allow
me even my own family?'
Its a fact" joined in Col. Mckee,
fn no al pveS,Ipu n
Pierce. If it hadn't been for the crisis
in the slavery question stephen A. Doug
lass would certainly have been President of
the United States. He was one of the
most popular men that ever lived in this
country
Then some remark recalled the inaugural
bal. in Lincoln's day, and Col. French said:
1t was George Ashum, of Springfield,
Mass, that got Douglass to attend the hall
The Little Giant 'was5down at his hotel
half sulking over the result OF the election,
and said to friend who inquired a bout the
ball:
No I'm not going Let him take his ad-
ministrauon and do what he wants to
with it
Yes, you are. going was his friend s
answer and ynu'u take Mrs Lincoln in TO
supper on your arm"
And lie went way and got Ashmln and
together they laborcd with Douglass nearly
twenty-four hours Finally they won him
over, and when the crowd went out Mr..
Lincoln took the lead with Mrs. Douglass
and Senator Douglass followed with Mrs
Lincoln.
This incidentwas OF great Importance to
the administration. The good will Of Doug
lass won it the support of thousands who
were essential to ITS success and when the
first call for troops went out it brought
hundreds of volunteers who wouldn't have
rallied to the banner otherwise. IremeEl ber
they called it the union pali in order to pre-
vent any feeling and to gather the Demo
Gratis to 1t.
They wouldn't have come if it had been
known as Il Republican ball. / remember
it was held In a pavilion bailt for the pur-
pose just back of the city hall The entrance
from -Four and half street was used as
the main entrance to the affair. The prin-
cpal residence portion OF the city was then
down to ward the Avenue from the city hall
and around street"
Christmas In '63.
"A handsome man. remarked Capt Nc
Kee, wins attention and respect under all
circumstances It's Just thirty-three years
ago today" he continued, meditativciy;
yes. that's right-it was SO since l got
box at Libby prison.
What, a Christmas boX?''
"Yes:I was one OF the few to get one, and
mine was one OF the first to come in. They
hadn't then got to roDhing us, and it was
possible for a few weeks to get what was
hry mi &O1- N pnlfi,
more after | got out. 1t wasn't very
big affair, either. but it was mighty good.
Il told my messmate / was going out
and get the hunCricst man l could find
for dinner with us Christmas. He was a
fellow named Steele, from Indiana. He
grurnbled out that was always up to some
fool project, and l would have my stuff all
eaten up inside twenty four hours. Twas
pretty lively youngstcr in those days,
and always up to something. Everybody
always knew it when l was around, and 1
really was constantly engaged in some
scheme-a good many OF them rather wild.
But it was my box. and Steele had no part
in it, except as my guest: so l said:
Never mind, Jim; I'll make some
poor fellow happy, anyhow So l set
about getting ready our Christmas dinner.
/ took a pineapple cheese to sell it. We
had Just got ont o the factthat we could have
the suffers sell things for us, and we We're
not long in putting our kn nowledge into prac-
tice.
How long had you been there" asked
Col. French.
"Oniy about four months, and we
-Four months in Libby Prison? And he
says only four months, :" said Col. French
to himself. not nterrupting the story.
And we hadn't begun to understand the
horrors of it yet. My cheese brought $50
when sold, and II bought some beef and po-
tatoes with the money. 1t was the first
we had had in several weeks. l had sugar
and butter and flour and some condensed
milk in my box land set about NAL king
pudding. got seme of the condensed milk
ready, and thickened it with flour.
Making Pudding.
Then / stirred in some raisins and put
in Some butter and baked it. 1t was good,
too. cooked my bcefsteak and potatoes,
and got readysa anything else that was
handy, and there was a good bit of it,
too.
..Then I set iout to find my hungry
man. Jim groaned, but went on without
paying any attention 70 him. We had n
place away on the third floor OF the
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