The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-10

health I promised to remain, and I
found that she gradually began to i'm
prove. My sojourn at home was not
bed OF roses. II was beyond my minds
conception to believe, much less to feel,
that the nature Of man or the feelings
of the human heart could undergo so
varied change, through civil war, as
I became the witness of, until brought
into direct contact with the wide
estrangement it was productive Of
among those with whom from earliest
years the frmest friendship and asso-
citation had existed, unmoved, I'M
changed and unbroken.
1t was a sorrowing sight to behold
the hand so frequently pressed in
friendships warm grasp, hang cold and
listless by the side of those whom the
heart had ever cherished as ones
warmest friends. Where in former
years all had been friendless, behold,
changed to hatred and bitter animosity,
ready and willing to act in concert with
those whose inward disposition delight
ed in reviling and prosecuting their fell
bowman. That all these marked and
woeful changes have been seen and Bit
terly and sadly felt, my marred life and
racked frame bear witness of, superin-
duced, and, in it's greatest measure,
brought to it's present stage through
acts of basest means by my fellow
man.
Unable to cope against the swelling
tide of persecution that set in upon me
from every side, possessing a spirit
that could nor would not brook taunt-
| ing insult nor tamely submit to every
indignity the passion of the hour felt
disposed to impose and to exact. l de-
termined to sever myself from those in
whose midst could not dwell in peace
and happiness owing to the difference
of political sentiment and views, and
endeavor, if possible, to find in a land
among strangers that just inheritance,
denied me in my own native state.
LEFT BUT TO RETURN.
Every gift of nature at my command
was brought into requisition to stay
and soften the evil passions engender-
ed by the war. Fruitless and unavail-
ing were all my efforts, and the only
course left me to adopt and pursue was
to seek a more congenial cline. This
resolve was carried into execution dur
| ulS the SuI1llllGI VI lCOey uLlucI LAIG illOoL
trying circumstances, but was short
lived, necessity of private nature
very much against my inclination,
compelling me through force of sur
lroundings, to return to my home again
in the month of July.
This destiny over which 1 had no
controlling agency, nor the power to
avert, forced misfortune and suffering
upon me. After my return was very
guarded in both actions and speech,
Istudiously avoiding entering into politi-
cal discussions, although at periods
they were forced upon me. I left the
city, going to my fathers country
home, in Baltimore county, near
Hookstown, and there remained in re-
tirement and happy contentment. I'M
lagination could conjure up no sweeter
life than this quiet country solitude
and for over a month l was truly hap
Ipy. The pleasures of the past resum-
ed their former status in my nature;
lived over again the halcyon days pass
ed there, when peace reigned through
out the land, e'er the rude tocsin OF
war marshaled foes to deluge this fail
land in blood and ruin, and I was allur-
ed under the false hope into the belief
that it was happiness. -
But soon I found it was not so: The
hearts yearnings could not be sti1ed
again restlessness took possession Of
imy being, and the heart bounded to life
again in the element of excitement, ii
which for three long years it had rur
riot.
A FATEFUL JOURNEY.
1t was during my sojourn there. upor
bright and beautiful morning during
either the month of August or Septem
Der, 1864, the monotony of a country
life, becoming very tedious and insipid
that | concluded that short visit Il
the City of Baltimore would be bene
fetal in its effects, which thought wa
forthwith acceded to and carried i'm
mediately into execution, there bein!
no plans or any object governing m!
! actions other than to relieve the dul
} monotony naturally investing a coun
, try life.
} The morning Of my arrival in the cit.
was principally occupied in the pursui
: of pleasure, accompanied by few Sc
: lected acquaintances and friends. To
: ward noon / returned to the residenc
; of my father, who was residing at tina
period in the city, when from a young
! er brother, who had also been a school
mate of John w. Booth, learned tina
) Booth desired me to call upon him a
the Barnum Hotel, at which he wa
stopping.
At this period knew nothing of job
Wilkes Booths political sentiment, no
had I the remotest idea of the resul
: which would follow the visits. l mere
ly called upon him as companion an
friend of my boyhood, which was mos
: natural. I had not seen Both sine
1851, when we parted with one anothe
at school. Separated from one another
= our vocations called us to different pur
) suits, and he, as an individual like tn
D many that clustered around school-bo
: days, vanished from the everyda
scenes of my life. AS he became emf
nent in his profession memory brough
him back, but We never met from 1Si
d until the latter part of 1854
S MEETING WITH BOOTH.
The visit was made according to hi