Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-22
RELICS OF LlNCOLN'S TINE
Articles Associated with the Martyr Presi-
dent Of the United States.
OLD FURNITURE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
Many Things Recalling Some Critical
Periods In the History OF Our
Country Are ON ENhibi-
tiOn In Omaha.

America Exposition containing the Abra-
ham Lincoln relics is a shrine and he ap-
proacheS it much a pilgrim does the
holy relics Of a saint, for within the four
walls are articles vitality connected with one
OF the greatest and most loyable men this
country has produced and with the most
critical period in our nations history. To
add yet more to the value Of these things it
must be borne in mind that they are fast
becoming prey TO the ravages OF time; the
pictures are slowly but surely fading; the
tapestry on the quaint furniture is sue
cumbing to the inroads of the ubiquitous
moth, and even the wooden desks and chairs
are decaying and will soon be things Of the
past.
In the small room may be seen the bed
stead upon which President Lincoln breathed
his last; the wooden pew In which he sat I
when he attended church in Springfield, H..
the headboard Of the bedstead on which he
stretched his ank form wnen bachelor
practicing law in the same town; chairs from
the old Lincoln home, once the property of
Thomas Lincoln, father of the great Ameri-
can; furniture from the home of Lincoln;
letters written by the president and auto
graphs attached to important papers; pho
tographs taken Of him before and after his
election, and fine groups of himself sur
rounded by his family pictures OF Fords
theater and of all the terrible and tragic
events which cluster about that fearful
night; statues Of the tall form and paint
ings of the rugged face fun OF the deepest
sorrow, and still amidst it all a lurking
humor that cropped out now and then. even
when he was most oppressed by the weight
OF the war and the tremendous questions
pressing upon him for solution.
The letters, many of then, display the
kindness and the simple greatness of the
man, for many Of them are Recommended
tions for mercy, and others speak good
| words for some one in need of a position or
of aid Many curious badges of the Lincoln
campaign are exhibited, some of them
yellow with age and their designs we'll nigh
| obliterated by time. Among the most
curious articles is fence rail said to have
been split by Lincoln, which was carried iii
the campaign by the "Wideawakes" or Lin
coin party; also a horn used by the party
during the two campaigns. A silk tile of the
vintage Of the early COS is something to
cause smile, even though it was once
Worn by Abraham Lincoln, fer it makes a
| strange appearance after all these years,
and still another interesting thing is crude
| bootjack once used to remove the boots from
the awkward young mans feet long before he
| stood high in the counsels of the nation or
trod the floors of the White House.
A memento Of the assassination is piece
| of the white silk dress worn by Laura Keene
| on the fatal night. 1t is stained with the
| blood of the president. Many more articles
| will bear the closest study on the part OF the
student interested in the history of this
country and of its great war president
Great Changes Are Shown.
AS one glauces over these relics he is i'm
pressed by the great changes that have
trahspred within less than fifty years-the
vast difference in the styles of furniture
and the great progress made in the way of
comfort. The bedstead that the president
used in the White House-a grand affair in
those days-wOuld today but lily grace the
humble homo Of any Omaha workingman.
To be sure 1t Is made of walnut and is more
or less ornanented with carvings, yet it
makes but shabby appearance alongside
the bedsteads OF today. The chairs from the
parlors Of the presidents home and these
from the executive mansion look very
strange to us. They certainly would be
considered but poor furnishings for the most
modest CT parlors; they might more properly
grace the servants quarters in some rich
mans home.
The inevitable haircloth sofa, slippery and
uncomfortable. that was the standby Of years
ago in the furniture line, and queer looking
chiffoniers, then called bureaus" nothing
more than clumsy cupboards with drawers
for storing clothing, are in evidence. Even
the desk used by the president is a dumpy
looking affair, not to compare in any way
with those found in any business mans
Office in Omaha. AS one gazes at these relics
he realizes forcibly that there has been a
great change for the better Notwithstanding
the cry of the calamity howlers. and he sees
that what was luxury forty years ago is but
the common comfort of the middle class OF
today. And, again, it is brought forcibly
to mind that there has been a great stride
forward in invention as well as in matera
prosperity. BY comparison, surprising ad
vancement in the line OF newspapers and car.
toons Is shown. The pictures portraying the
peculiarites OF the different candidates fol
the presidency during Lincoln's time are
crudey drawn and as crudely printed. Their,
is very little art manifested, and although
the ideas are strongly expressed, sometimes
they are rather coarsely put. The news
papers are small poorly printed sheets, th
greatest comparing as to workmanship ant
news features with the country papers scat
| tered like forest leaves through the smalle
towns of Nebraska.
other Interesting Historic Relics.
In addition to the relics in the Lincol
booth many other things of SURPRISING in
r terest are on exhibition in the building, TO
instance, the historic door of Libby prison
7 through which went so many despairing me
and through which there came so few to te
the tale of suffering and hardship; a suit G
clothing worn by Washington al his inaugu
: ration; a sword carried by him when he wa
e in the colonial service under the British gov
ernment and rifle that he shoudered in tn
revolution; also relics of Garfield and Grar
, and OF many other famous men mentione
. prominently in the annals of our country
. history. In the art gallery in this buldln
are portraits of every man OF great nationi
prominence from revolutionary times to th
Spanish war.
To the lover OF flags the display OF thoe
emblems will appeal with much force. Flae
of every variety and style from the first {
this nation down to guidons captured
battle are shown-stainless ones and blood
ones-tattered ones filled with bullet hole
and shreds that have been carried at III
head OF our victorious armies. Coming I
the present time big showing is made {
'r the accoutrements OF army and navy mode