Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-09

knew me in the same way, for as he
reached me he held out his hand. saying:
How are you, Abe. I replied. as 1 took
it; and then began a friendship which last
Thompson went on. we were much to-
gether during his first term in congress,
and | believe he made his first entrance
into fashionable society with me. a most
accomplished lady from Virginia, a friend
of mine; gave a reception early in the sea-
invited. but Lincoln was not among the
number. 1 concluded he should so and l
went TO my friend and told her that l
anxious that she should meet him. She
gave me the invitation. I remember how
angular and awkward. Some time after his
presentation NIB he became engaged in con :
seat on a very low rocking chain, at hel
feet: As he grew interested in talking he
tess. He was SO low that his knees al
most came to his chin. and TO get rid of
his legs he wrapped them one around the
came SO close that his knee touched the
lady's dress. and as l looked | thought he
i met my lady friend and asked her what
she thought of Lincoln. She replied at
once: That man has elements Of greatness
in him. OF all those at my, house last
night / think he has the best chance of be-
ing president of the United States This
was about ten years before he was thought
of as presidential candidate
President Lincoln and the Boston Man
The conversation here turned to Lin
coin as a story teller. when Mr.. Thompson
said:
President Lincoln did not originate the
best of his stories. He had a very recep-
tive memory and stored away every anec-
dcte he heard. His mind was such that he
was able TO use such things in the way of
an idea was by 5yE a i story. F was instance rs a anee lake
an incident which occurred one night when
l was at the White House. 4 had been
Lincoln. was lying upon my back upon
a lounge. Lincoln was sitting in a chair
with his feet propped up beside me. We
had chatted for an hour or so, when the
clock struck half-past 10. I then got up
arc said that l must &c home. l told the
president that he must be tired and that
which he needed to fortify him for the wor-
ries and troubles of the morrow.
go yet. Stay a half hour longer. ! have
an appointment at II o'clock with a
man from Boston, who has q claim of
nent. l have told him he could bring his
papers here at II, and he will surely call
on the minute
".All right said I. 4 will stay
clock struck II. AS he came in Presi:
OtIll l-iIlCOIl tDOh ulS IdptTS ana SalO. L
can't look over this matter now. but if you
soon as can find time.
Ing the claim. and l could see that the
man wanted to get some idea as to what
teered a question. hoping to draw the pres
ident ont. Lincoln appreciated his feeling
and told the following:
You make me think of a lawyer out in
Illinois who wanted to turn merchant. He
had not succeeded at the law. and he de-
eided to close his office ana open a store:
references. The wholesale house wrote to
%ould- iaes s%to as se oes t whom we will II cali
Tom Jones. The reply which was received
was about as follows:
to at least s2OO,Oo O He has. in the first
place, a wife. a beautiful. dark.haired
brunette. who is worth to him or to any
man 100000. l am sure he would not sell
her for that. l know l should not If she
belonged to me. He has also two children,
a boy and a girl. The boy is perfectly
sound. He is II years old. and is bright,
energetic and smart. don't think he
jones' We Would ISuf not s sell any him pf for $50. ood know
think that s49.a5 would be a low estimate
for the girl. as she has the making of a
items. Jones has a table in his office worth
s.. two chairs worth so cents each. an ink |
stand worth 10 cents and a double-bladed
IdlI p" my ilI L put at d QlIlt anu.
besides. there is in his office a great big
rat hole, which is worth looking into And
So concluded the president. although I
don't know much about your claim. I think
there may be a great big rat hole there
which may be worth looking into. and 1 will
look into it The man laughed and went
away well pleased"
A Poem by John Quincy Adams.
You knew John Quincy Adams quite
well. did you not. Mr.. Thompson"
YES; I sat beside him in the house of
representatives for several years. He was
q pleasant man, but a very dignified one,
Life was a serious matter with him. and
he spent little time in frivolity. Still, he
was kind and gentle and fond of children
Yes" said Miss Thompson. who was in |
the library at the time l had this CONVEX |
satioB with Colonel Thompson, Mr..
Adams was very kind. l was with father
during his stay in Washington. and when |
l was 4 years old he took me to the house
one day with him. 1 had an album with
me, and father sent me with this to John
Quincy Adams. asking him to write a
sentiment for me in my book. Mr.. Adams |
took ne upon his lap and. holding me with
one hand. he wrote q poem for me with
the other. 1t was a very pretty poem,
too"
Advice IN n Vouny DoIst;,fo~ |