The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1897-05-15
FROM THE MAGAZINES
LINCOLN AND THE GOATS.

either returning from the north or going, |
being accompanied by Tad, Mrs. Lincoln |
announced her arrival thus: |
NEW YORK CITY. April g. 1884.
Hon. A. Lincoln, President United States:
Ne reached here in safety. Hope you are |
well Please send me by mail today q check |
for $50 directed to me. care Mr.. Warren Lee
land, Metropolitan hotel. n. Y. Tad says are
the goats wei1f m&ss- AiScoAS'
The president sent the following unique
reply:
WAsHINGroN, April %, 1854. !
Mrs. A. Lincoln. Metropolitan HOTEL New
The draft viii 60 to you. Tell Tad the goats
ana father are very well. especially the goats.
A. LINC6LN.
There are scores Of persons still living
In Washington who remember distinctly
this pair of "White House goats Lin
coin, as well as Tad, was very fond OF
them On warm, bright days the father
and son would play with these pets In the
yard for an hour at a time. To Mrs. keck-
lev the president one day said: Come hero
and look at my two goats See hog they
sniff the clear air and skip and play in the
sunshine! Whew, what a jump!' as one
of them made a lofty spring. ''He feeds
on my bounty and jumps for JOY" con-
tinued the president. ''Do you think We
could call him bounty jumper My goat
is far above him; the man who enlists In
to the service for consideration and de-
serts the moment he receives his money
but to repeat the play is bad enough. See,
my nets recognize me-" as the two goats
advanced and gazed up into the window,
shaking their heads. 'There they 60 again.
What jolly funi' And he laughed outright
as the goats went skipping across the green.
The goats certainly appear to have occu-
pied considerable place in Mr.. Lincoln
Fill kaln
later the same year, he mentions them
again:
WAR DEPARTMENT;
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 1854.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, Manchester, VT:
All we'll, including Tad's pony and the goats
Mrs. Colonel Dimnnick died night before last.
Bob left Sunday afternoon. Said he did not
A. LINCOLN.
While the central figure in the White
House was occasionally INDUCING in such
innocent diversions he was deeply en-.
crossed with the vast preparations for the
spring campaign then going forward The
armies of Grant, Sherman and the Others
began their concerted forward movement
on the 18th of May, 1854, about a week aft
er the interchange of the goat tele
grams quoted above. The enemies OF the
Union, by sneers at Lincoln's SO called
"buffoonery," endeavored to convince the
north that he not only lacked dignity, sta
bility Of character and capacity, but had
no proper appreciation of the trials OF tht
nation nor the hardships of the soldiers
Doubtless many good people were con
WINGED that Lincoln was deficient In feel
Ing, but it is quite certain that there neves
was day when he did not have the anec
tions of the soldiers
Mr.. Stoddard relates that on one OF Lin
coins visits to the theater, after the audi
ence had risen and cheered him, harsi
voice near the center aisle croased out
He hasn't any business herel That's 81
he cares for his poor soldiers" Instantly
yells of Put him outi'' resounded iron
all quarters The ruffian, quickly identi
fed, was not a soldier at all, and he wa
incontinently hustled through the door In
to the street by party of real soldier
amid clang.of patriotic music opportunt
ly struck up by the orchestra Lincoln AT
peared not TO notice the incident--FroI
"Lincoln's Home Life In Washington" b
Leslie J. Perry, in Harper's Magazine Fo
February.
Secret Sessions Upheld.