Evening star., 1897-03-26

sions is in turn sent back to the organs of
speech 10 be uttered orally while the eye
is stu gazing upon the printed or writ
ten page. The skilled accountant; casts
up long column of figures his eye
moves UP or down the page, and at the
very instant he reaches the end OF the
column his responsive fingers jot down tho
total. In other words, he said. communi-
cations are being transmitted continuous
ly and simultaneously in both directions
between the eye and brain. He likened
this operation TO the telegraph, although
as regards the dual process ii should be
said that the duplex telegraph was not
then invented.
Love of Shakespeare.
This reference will indicate Lincoln's
habit of thought and analysis. which he
followed moR or less closely and doub;-
less almost unconsciously in the study of
army questions brought to his notice. His
logic was unerring. his homely illustra-
tions effective and his fund of good humor
prover hiaiiy unfailing. Never cnce in the
four years did l ever discover i'm him any
anger or malice, nor was he ever without
definite opinion. If others disagreed
with him. he sought to convince them that
they We're wrong rather than that he was
right. / heard him say once that in try
ing a case il, court he generally adopted
that plan.
He was well known to be lover of
Shakespeare, and in the winter of 1863 not
long before his death. he went to the the
ater number CT times to see Hackett's
Falstaff and when At the telegraph Office
between times he spoke of Hackett freely
and on one occasion brought copy of
Shakespeare with him and read aloud for
an hour. myself being his only auditor
Mcclure, in his Early Life of Lincoln
al!udes to his intimate knowledge of
Shakespeare. and particularly to an inter-
view between Lincoln, Judge Kelly of
pennsylvania and an actor named Nc
Donough, during which Lincoln took from
sheit near mis- table a wel-thumbed copy
OF Shakespeare. and, turning to Henry w.
read with fine discrimination an extended
passage which, he said, in his opinion was
rot surpassed In wit and humor by any
thing else in Shakespeare. The omission
from the acted play of the passage in
question was remarked upon by Mr. Lin
coin as "A curious fact.
An Amusing Story.
In May, 1864, the Cleveland convention
met, which nominated Fremont and Coch-
rane. This convention was engineered and
controlled by number of soreheads and
cranks. who were dissatisfied with Lincoln's
conduct of the war and who professed to
believe that there was no hope for the
country, save through an entire change of
policy and army leaders. There was vast
Ceal of rldcule cast upon the convention
and Its candidates, who were both from
New York state, and who, if elected at the
POLLS could not have taken office because
the Constitution provides that the President
and Vice President must not come from the
same state One OF the New York papers.
the Herald, as | remember, had an editorial
referring to David in the cave of Adullam
and quoting from l Sam. 90 And every
one that was in distress. and every one
that vas in debt. and every that was
Giscontented, gathered themselves unto him,
!. h,. h.ars mo fair, how,
there Were with him about 400 men, When
this editorial was referred to in the teie-
graph office. Bible was called for in
order that the whole context might be
read. One OF the attaches. Secretary Stan
tons private secretary (Major A. +. Ii.
Johnson), ran to find the copy and soon re-
turned with 1t, presenting it to the Presi-
dent with profuse bow. This gentle
man S reverential manner attracted the at
tentiol Of Mr.. Lincoln, that upon his de-
parture. Mr.. Lincoln arose, and leaving the
room. returned with the open Bible in MS
hands. and made a mock presentation to
one of the company. mimicing the style
and action Of the private secretary. who
was short and dapper. but, in fact, very
graceful The contrast between M-. Liz
coins tall, ungainiy form, and that of the
affair very funny, so that we were all con-
vuised with laughter.
IN Aicoiay and Hays History of Lin
coin there is entirely different version
of the cave of Adullam incident. For in
stance. the number of delegates in the
Cleveland convention was stated as 400
Nicolay and Hay say that Mr. Lincoln was
struck with the fact that 400 was the num-
Der of D2vids sorehead contingent in the
cave. and that he called for Bible TO veri-
ty the number
Special Gratitude.
Iii closing let me say that no one has |
believe, greater cause to revere and even
love the name and memory of Lincoln than
L havs, for the following reasons: In Wash
lngton one of the great public events is
the residents reception, to which any
body may go. These receptions are al
most always crowded. Members of the
cabinet. senators and other men of promi-
nence in public life attend, and the scene
is one OF great interest. Mr.. Lincolns last
public reception took place in March, 1867.
and on the morning of the day il took
place Stanton's private secretary, of whom
l have above spoken, told me that a curly
headed girl stranger in the city who
was visiting his family, was anxious to 20
TO the Presidents reception, but had no
escort. ard he asked me If l would act in
that capacity. L consented and accompa-
MED to the White House and introduced to
the President that curly headed girl, who
for many years has been my loving and