The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-06
DEAIH Of H|CHIlAY
Lincoln Was His Idol All
through Life.
MIR. M'KlNLEYS EFFECTS
Had Been Given Many Curious
Things by Friends.

Washington, Oct. 5.-Aimost at the very
hour when friendly hands were lowering
the body Of his beloved chief into the
vault especially prepared for If at Spring
field, H.. by the Lincoln Monument as
sociation, John G. NicoIay. at his home
II washington. fell asleep. Il was fit
tins Climax 70 a long vigil; for no sentinel
IA the a1techanber Of q king was ever
E1ora foithful 20 his trust that 1Ir. NicoIay
to Tie -oem0ry of the great war president
who's most intimate coursels he had
guarl6d n life Broken In health his voice
redIce almost to q whisper, ard his frau
oodT requiring constant care to protect il
against shock from any source, nothing
aroused him TO q serabIance Of his old
vieor ald reIindIed the spirit Of martial
da within him so certainly as the men
ucn of the revered name Of tho Emanci-
r1rnr- LVen a chiId's questions would
stace u put him into the mood for rem
s1isc=nce. and the intelligent listener was
alHs as tireless as he, 50 charming
was his conversation or any phase Of this
subject
Lincoln was his idol A few years ago a
popular writer revised the well-worn con-
troversy oyer Mr.. Lincoln's attitude to-
wards the change OF vice presidents in
lS65; and soon the amateur historians were
IN The midst Of q hot fight on the question
whether the president was both cocnizant
OF and an active party TO the plan to sub
sutute Johnson for Hamlin on tie war
ticket some one pretended 10 Be able 70
speak with absolute knowledge derived
from conversations, letters, etc, Of Liz
Coln. that he had entered into the plan
while keeping Mr.. HamI.n cutie in the
dark as 10 his preferences. asked Mr.. /
Nicolay one day how much foundation
there might be for such a sto-y-reanin-
OF course. what authenticated act or word /
Of Lincoln's might have furnished his enc (
mics. 10y any sort Of forced inference. with /
this weapon for assaning his memory. Ali (
aIr- Nicolay's blood was on fire in an in 1
slant, and his eyes flashed as he answered I
promptly: They may bring al the evil 4
cence they wish. It is worthless In Mr..
Lincoln such a thing would have been i'm
possible"
This was all the logic he needed. all the
proof-his simple and unwavering faith in
the goodness and true manhood Of his
hero.
During ne latter part CT his illness. Mr.
Nicolay was IN semi-Iethargic state
President Mckinley had been shot. but
cid not seem . be fully sensible Of the
SERIOUSNESS of the situation. Nothing was
said TO him Of the fatal result of the
shooting. II would have done no zood.
and his friends felt that he might better
be spared the shock. If one should follow
the information. J.
The personal belongings of President
NlcNinlev are greater than those Of for
raer presidents Ia the optimism Of Scores
tary Correlrou, who has had fun charge
Of collecting them fer shipment 70 can
ton The reasons FOR this are Interesting.
In Fe6ruar3' 1857. when the AIcKinleyE
were getting ready to come to Washing-
ton they sold practically every thIng that
ives 81 their Canton home. reservine only
q few articles which had been the gifts Of
personal friends These were not very .
marr ~ very valuable. and did not differ
In ny esze2 tiaI respect from the personal
eit= brought by other presidents 10 the
Nte House Bat the Spanish war and f.
tn is which followed It gave Presi-
dent .ei-illel- personal popularity Az
over -1e country. perhaps never enjoyed
b1 any other president. and one great Z
nee OF It was an incoming tide Of
s. which seemed only ar its height ar
lle luc ~ the assassination Officers
ara priVates in the Philippines. in Cuba .
ans FL Porto Rico would send 20 him
curl GUS articles from those lands by the
hui irr5s The NckI1ley collection from /,
tbs -=a- ross ssio0s thus became one :
The moss Interesting. and perhaps most
CONS e. il rhe T-its1 States. II proper
y DISPLAYED l- worlI M large room.
30 other presto ~ ever made 50 many