Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-02-11
hawthornes Pen Pictures
of Abraham Lincoln.

The renowned writer, Hawthorne
once penned the following memora
BILE sketch of Abraham Lincoln's char.
acter:
'Mr. Lincoln's whole physiognomy
is a coarse one, but withal it is re-
deemed, illuminated, softened and
frightened by a kindly though serious
look out of MS eyes, and an express
sion of only sagacity that seemed
weighted with rich results of village
experience. A great deal of native
sense, no boOkish cultivation, no re-
fnement, honest at heart, and yet in
some sort sly-at least endowed with
a sort of tact and wisdom that are
akin to craft and would impel him,
l think, to take an antagonist in flank
rather than to make bull run at him
right in front. But or the whole, l
liked this sallow, queer, sagacious Wis
age, with the hOmely human sym
pathies that warmed him; and for my
small share in the matter would as
lief have Uncle Abe for ruler as any
man who would have been likely to
be put in his place"
Lincoln was human being. He was
rot a god, although Mr.. Pratt approx
sngly quoted from Mr.. John Hay this
absurd paragraph: Il consider Lin
coin Republicanism incarnate, with all
its faults and virtues, and in spite
of some movements Republicanism is
the sole hope of sick world, so Lin
nn1p with oil &c fnihlnc SC hn
est character since Christ"
He may not have been that, but he
vas too great a man to be emaScu-
lated, toned down and falsified into
conventionaliZed puppet. His faults
were a part of his rugged manhood
and individuality. Paint him with his
warts on; that is how he would have
wished to be painted.
1t must have been pleasure to Mr.
Pratt to have recorded the state
ments of an artist, clergyman and
of William II. Seward, that they never
heard the President tell any anecdotes
which could not have been repeated
with propriety in the presence of
ladies'. Nevertheless, said he, "the
clergyman and the artist must have
been comparative strangers to Lin
coin, and Mr.. Seward, if correctly
quoted, was doubtless lying in the
interest of what he conceived to be
propriety. Hawthorne did not deem
it necessary to dab n fig leaf over
Lincoln's nudity Of speech. lie re
grets that he himself had not fingered
longer in the Presidential presence
and see him cross his legs (Which,
am told, is very extraordinary per
formance) and hear him tell one OF
his electrical stories, for which he was
so famous. A good many Of these
are afioat in the common talk OF
Washington and are certainly the apt
est, prettiest and funniest little things
imaginable; though, to be sure. they
smack of the frontier freedom and
would not always bear repetition in
the drawing room"
Gov. Andrew G.. Curtin was one Of
Pennsylvania greatest men. He was
twice elected governor during war
times. Col Alec. Mcclure was the
power behind the throne OF Gov. Cur
tin. Mcclure was asked why he
didn't run for governor Of Pennsyl-
vania himself, but replied: 1T is bet
ter to own q governor than to be a
governor" He turned Curtin against
the administration, and three days be-
fore the battle Of Gettysburg the gov
ernor, in a speech to the soldiers in
the public square said: Soldiers, re-
member, promise you l will not play
the administration at Washington on
YOU" This angered Edwin NJ. Stan
ton, Secretary Of War, very much. He
complained to Lincoln of the manner
In which the Governor of Pennsylva.
mia performed the orders Of the War
Department, complaining bitterly over
the order and yet performing them.
In other words, he kept the word OF
promise to the hope, but broke it to
the ear.
Mr.. Lincoln was a good Judge OF
men, and quickly learned the peculiar