The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07

defense against the importunate in telling
a story; Tor no one cared TO think Of any
thing else, when he gave the conversation
TURN toward anecdOte. A newspaper
writer, in commenting the Atlantic arti-
Gle, says very justly: Evidently the i'm
preston which he made on Willard in those
DAYS was also a disagreeable one. and
doubt the account of it which that gentle
man has left on record is faithfully made
II is not pleasant reading, but 1t may be
wholesome reading, as the character of
Lincoln has become altogether too much a
matter or myth In our day. Lincoln was
not the typical gentleman or the conven-
uonal statesman; but he was a man of
genius, already great and destined TO be
greater, and Willard as he comedies was
not qualified 10 divine either the genius
the greatness He saw the roughness of the
outside man, but not the richness of the
nature within, and all his early notions of
the outward seeming of power and rank
were violated Here is his picture in light
and shade.
None of his hearers enjoyed the wit-and
wit was an unfailing ingredient-of his
stories half as much as he did himself II
was a joy indeed to the effect upon
him. high-pitched laughter lighted up
his otherwise melancholy countenance with
thorough merTiment. His body shook all
over with gleeful emotion, and when he felt
particularly good over his performance he
followed his habit OF drawing his knees
with his arms around them, up to his very
face. as l had seen him do in 1858. l am
sorry to state that he often allowed him
self altogether too much license in the con-
bent upon making his hit by fair means or
foul. In other words, he never hesitated TO
tell coarse CT even outright nasty story
II II served his purpose. All his personal
friends could bear testimony on this point.
1t was notorious fact that this fondness
Tor low talk chung to him even in the White
House. More than once l heard him with
malice aforethought' get off purposely some
repulsive fiction in order to rid himself of
an uncomfortable caller Again and again
/ felt disgust and humiliation that such
70 n
rect the destinties of a great nation in the
direSt period of its history. Yet his achieve
ments during the next few years proved
him to be one Of the great leaders of man.
Kind in adversely, In whom low leanings
only set off more strikingly his better quail
ties. At the time of which 1 speak I could
not have persuaded myself that the man
might possibly possess true greatness of
mind and nobility of heart / do not wish
to convey the idea, however, that he was
mainly given to trivialities and vulgarities
In his conversation; for. in spite of his fire.
quent outbreaks of low humor his was
really a very sober and serious nature and
even inclined to gloominess to such an ex
tent that all his biographers have attributed
strongly melancholic disposition to him"
THE JOURNEY TO WASHINGTON.
Willard was a member of the presidential
party on the trip from Springfield to Wash
ington, and thus describes it:
THE start on the memorable journey was
MADE shortly after s o'clock on the morn
d
crisp winter day. Only about one hundred
people, mostly personal friends were as
sempled at the station TO shake hands for
the last time with their distinguished towns
man 1t was not strange that he yielded to
the sad feelings which must have moved
him at the thought of what Law behind and
what was before him. and gave them utter
ance In pathetic formal farewell to the
gathering crowd. as follows:
My FRIENDSHIP one not in my position
can appreciate the sadness / feel AT this
parting. To this people owe all that I am
Here l have lived more than quarter of
century; here my children were born and
here one of them lies buried I know not
how soon / shall see you again A duty de-
wolves upon me which is. perhaps greater
thah that which has devolved upon any other
man since the days of Washington. He
never would have succeeded except for the
aid OF divine Providence, upon which he at
all times relied, L feel that l cannot sue
coed without the same divine aid which
sustained him, and in the same Almighty
Beng L place my reliance for support; and
l hope you, my friends, will all pray that
may receive that divine assistance, with
out which cannot succeed, but with which
success Is certain. Again 1 bid you all an
affectionate farewell
The party had a special train, composed
at first only of an ordinary passenger car
mere Were no parlor or drawing
a baggage-car and engine. The first DAVIS
journey took from the capital of ILL
nois TO that Of Indiana. Until we reached
the boundary of the latter State the dem
nfhcant, except at Decatur where a great
crowd headed by Richard j. Oglesby then
motel Keeper, but subsequently general
In the war. Governor and United States
senator, greeted the future chief magis-
trate, who delivered another farewell
speech At the boundary. the train was
boarded by a large delegation of leading
indianapolis including Schuyler Colfax,
Henry 5. Lane Caleb B. Smith and Thomas
H Nelson. AT Lafayette, a great crowd
awaited our coming, and the president
elect had TO appear and speak to them. At
indianapolis, where the first days journey
ended. he was formally welcomed by Gov
ernor oliver p. Morton, and replied to him
at length. His speech was remarkable for
the first public intimation that he should
consider ii his duty as President to retake
the properties Of the United States, includ-
ing the forts unlawfully seized by the re-
Dellous States, and otherwise re-establish
the authority of the Federal government"
1t Is plain that Willard had not the judg-
ment or insight at that time TO discover the
elements OF greatness in the President
Whether he realized and acknowledged the
greatness later, subsequent chapters of his
autobiography may show