The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-10
LINCOLN IN
SHAKESPEARE.
He Had but One Criticism OF
the Heroes.
THEY TALKED TOO MUCH
When They Were Killed
Lincoln at a Play.

The New York Evening Post says: The
following passages are from the American
diary of N. Auguste Laugel. the Dean of
the Nations foreign correspondents, and
frequent contributor to the Evening
Post. IL and Nine. Laugel arrived in
lew York on September 7. 1864. The Eng
lish version of these extracts which NJ.
Laugel kindly permits US to publish, is
our own.-Ed. Evening Post.
January Z, IS65.-From New York to
Washington, being ferried across the Sus-
qrehanna, full of floating ice. Called on
Charles Sumner; went up to the capitol.
Sumner took me TO the White House 10
call on Lincoln. saying, You will see
Saint Louis under the oak Of Vincennes''
We entered a large room, very simply
furnished, in which a dozen persons were
seated awaiting their turn. On the walls,
maps were hung over the fireplace, and a
portrait of President Jackson, whose hard
and shrunken face bore the imprint of
great energy; on the mantIepiece was d
photograph of John Bright. Through two
great windows l saw a white streak of
the Potomac, the Virginia heights. the
unfinished Washington obelisk. Between
the windows was desk, at which the
president was seated. He did not heed
our entering, being absorbed in a commu-
nication which some one was making to
him. After this visitor came woman,
asking that her husband, soldier in the
regular army. be allowed to return to her.
he questioned her with the method and
clearness Of a lawyer. Against the white
light Of the window his angular profile
stood out in shadow; his hand, frequently
passed through his hair. raised it in disor-
Derby tufts. While he spoke, all the mus
cIes of his face were in motion; his voice
had an almost paternal gentleness. Il
can not. he said finally. grant your re-
quest" adding with a strange laugh, II
can disband all the Union armies, but I
can not send single soldier home. Only
the colonel Of his regiment can do that
for your husband.
The woman complained of her poverty
Never have suffered so much"
Madam" replied Lincoln, changing the
tone of his voice and with a measured
SDtcLlully- SympdlulZe III your ulS-
appointment; but consider that all of us,
in every part Of the country. are today
suffering what we have never suffered"
He then bent towards her. wrote some
words on a paper, handed it to the en-
treating woman, and dismissed her.
Next in turn came a young man who,
approaching the president, but without
sitting down. said to him: I have only
come to shake hands with Abraham Lin
coin.
Much obliged, sir" said Lincoln,
stretching out his large hand.
Perceiving Mr.. Sumner he beckons to
him, and 1 am presented. Lincoln ex-
tends his hand, and after a brief ex-
change Of courtesies our visit comes to an
end.
We then directed our steps to Mr.. Sew
ard. The secretary of state is much more
than the president His pho
tographs had not conveyed to me an ex-
act idea of his subtle face, these small.
inquisitive eyes, hid beneath gray brows,
which seem ever TO be searching out the
inmost thought of his interlocutor He
read deliberately the two letters from the
Comte de Paris and the Prince de Join