Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-02
RELICS OF LINCOLN'S LIFE.
The Collection Preserved in The Museum in
Washington.

recently become the cuStouittl OF 4 COL
lection of Lincoln souvenirs. The
Lincoln Memorial museum is the en-
bodiment of the idea of boy, for Os-
horn H. Oldroyd WAS a youth when, in
his admiration for Lincoln. he began
TO make this interesting collection. Mir
oldrovd then lived at Mount Vernon,
o. and the nucleus of the collection
was a campaign badge of 1850 bearing
th, names of Lincoln and Hamlin
After the fatcful April II, 1865, it took
the form of u memorial, and to it has
been added every appropriate object
That time and money could procure.
Mr.. Oldroyd has made this collection
his life work, and it now numbers more
tb,n $500 articles. These are arranged
IN the four rooms of the first floor of
the old Petersen residence, which be
came world famous in a single night.
II stands OH Tenth street, directly OPP
nestle the building still known as
words Theatre. 1t bears on its
front elevation a plac2rd setting forth
the fact that Lincoln died within its
walls. On its stoop a sign Of larger
proportions announces in modest terms
the display within. From one of its
second story windows large Ameri-
car flag is always floating.
MIR. Oldroyd's correspondence in con-
uection with this display has been 4.
work of s;upendous magnitude he has
travelled many miles. in all seasons
and has accepted no contribution with
ont frreproachable Authorization as to
its genuineness He was for ten years
l.. i
in Springfield, Ill, and within its walls
the collection reached almost its pres
fnt proportions. Five years aSo just
after the disaster by which twenty
two men lost their lives in Ford's
theatre building. Mr.. Oldroyd. at the
request of the Memorial association of
the District of Columbia. brought his
collection to this city and placed it in
the Petersen house. This building had
then been, for many years. an UMPIRE
tentious boarding house. with print
ing office in its basement. The Memo
rial sociation-composed of eighteen
residents OF Washington, with Chief
Justice Fuller as president-pledged it.
self to pay the eXorbitant rent de-
manded by the owner of the house,
and It was uctlutu ~ Cilotl st Nl0itOl :
a small admittance fec. At the end of
the first year the Memorial associa-
ZION withdrew its support: but few
months ago, acting for the United
States government, it purchased the
house for $50 600. thus making the Lin
coin Memorial Museum a permanent
institution. Mr.. Oldroyd has lived in
this house and personally cared for the
collection ever since taking up his
residence in Washington.
The entrance hall and rear rooms are
lined with portraits of Lincoln. to the
number Of over two hundred, afforCing
Ukencsscs of him from boyhood to the
close of his career. The room in which
be died is at the re2r of the entrance
hall. Its dimensions are only y by 20
feet but tWenty-siN persons 1ound
standing room within its walls on the
night Of the tragedy. The death
scene is portrayed in numerous on
cravings of various sizes, hanging
| upon it's walls. one, the largest and
finest occupies the wall space just
above where Lincoln died. This en-
! craving is a masterpiece. the figures
being grouped With historical correct
J ness. and every feature and object
brought out with dstinctnesa. The
| corner in which stood the dCathbed Is
/ usually occupied by the crimson dam
ask thcater chair in which Lincoln was
seated when struck by the assassin :
4 bullet. The dark spots on its back arc
1 stains of his blood.
Prominent in the collection are Sc
4 ara ~
/. orations, g. musical sclcctions-patrio-
tic songs dirges. funeral marches, &c.
J Of which duplicates cannot be obtained
4 ard a library of 1000 volumes rclat'
ing to Lincoln, slavery and the war
There is. in addition, a case containing
49, coins and medals. from all parts o
the world. stamped with the Likeness!
Of Lincoln.
| The museum contains thirteen pieces
| If furniture used by The Lincoln fam
lily in their Springfield home. Among
| them are Iincoln's favurite hair-clotl
| rocker and the two sofas which adorn
4 ed the cozy parlor and the cook stoV'
used Just prior Ia the departure of tn
/ family for Washington and the Whit
4 House in 1861. With these article
1 may also ne seen the dinlnS room
| chairs used in the Springfield home a
| we'll as the wooden settee which, b,
1 order of Lincoln. was made eXtr'
| length. that he might stretch his tai
| figure comfortably upon it on his from
1 piazza. Among these homely object
the one to which clines the creates
share of pathetic interest is the hi
/ walnut cradle in which the Lincol
1 children We're rocked.
/ Another very Interesting object. :
small that it might he easily overlooke
i is scrap Of tablccloth purchase
from the Spanish minister to tn
United states in 1924. by Ninian 70
4 wards, third governor of Illinois. TIL
Edwards family spread upon it til
i wedding supper of their kinsWomai
Mary TODD, when in 1912 she becan
the wife of Lincoln. Another notab
object is a writing desk made from tt
logs of the Rutledge House, New 81
4 lem. H., in which Lincoln boarded frol
M to 1856 The top of the desk
rough. slate-coored marble. on who
IS carved an appropriate stanza fro1
Of En