The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-04-15

every member vi l1e SooAAN.'
"the iron Stanton" united in saying
that General Grant was wise IN max
ing the terms both liberal and just. :
On this last day of Abraham Lincoln
as President he had an opportunity Tor
the first time in long series OF
months of a long talk with Captain
Robert Lincoln, his eldest son, who
had been serving on the staff of Gen
eral Grant. The father and son break
tasted at the White House and then
had a conversation as to the profess
sion that the young staff officer should
adept.
The President strongly advised his
son to go on with the study OF law,
and they had discussion Of plans
for the future. 1t was due to his
fathers advice that Robert Lincoln
resumed his law studies, interrupted
at Harvard Law School to enter the
army.
The President had many callers
that day. He was literally overrun
with congratulations and he was very
tired He was disposed not to go to
the theater that night, although it had
been announced that the President
and General Grant would attend.
The theater party was discussed in
the afternoon. General Grant was I'M
willing to go to the theater, as he and
Mrs. Grant were anxious to see their
children in Burlington, and they went
on to Philadelphia that night. The
President said it was too bad that
General Grant could not go to the
theater, as it would disappoint the
public very much, and finally, to oblige
Mrs. Lincoln, the President consented
to go.
It had been the custom of the Pres
ident every evening after dinner to
stroll over to the War Department and
have talk with Mr.. Stanton. There
was really no necessity for his taking
the walk on this particular evening,
because military operations had
ceased and the main question con-
fronting the War Department was the
disposal that should be made of the
hundreds of thousands of troops soon
to be mustered out. But the habit
of years was strong, and the President
went over to see Mr. Stanton.
There was far different arrange
ment of the White House grounds
then. The back part Of the grounds
was at that time used as a vegetable
drive from the rest of the grounds. A
path led from the White House past
where the Presidents offices now are,
and pedestrians passed through a
turnstile from the White House yard
to the War Department.
There were several intoxicated sol
diers about as the President passed,
and these sallted the President, who
made no comment on their condition.
On this occasion the President was
accompanied by one of his four
guards, William Crook. His other
guards were Thomas Pendle, Edward
Mechanics and Edwin Burke. Nc
Names and Burke are dead. Crook
and Pendle are still on duty at the
White House.
On his walk back to the White
House from the War Department the
President referred to Secretary Stan
toms belief that he would be assassin
ated. He said that he did not know
whether an assassin could succeed.
He declared that he had every con-
f1dence in his guards, but he was GER
sin would not get away with his own
life.
Thus, with the gloom of fatalism
hanging over him, the President went
on to the White House, where he re-
manned a short time with his family,
and then about half-past eight o'clock
went to the theater.
Ford's Theater, the scene of this
tragedy, still stands in Tenth street,
between e and F. 1t has been great
ly changed since then. 1t will be re-
called that the proprietor was unable
to reopen it as place of amusement.
The theater was unoccupied for many
years, and it was finally taken by the
War Department for offices in connec-
ton with the record and pension divi-
sion. Ill fate pursued it, and about
ten years ago the interior Of the build
ing collapsed, killing a large number
Of government clerks. 1t was remod-
elled and new front was built to 1t,
and it is still occupied by the govern
ment.
The house across the street, occu-
pied by Peterson, a tailor, into which
the President was carried, and where
he breathed his last, still stands and
presents almost the exact appearance
to-day that it did then. It has been
preserved as a museum, and tablet
on its front tells its story. Within
are thousands of relics of Lincoln and
from it's upper window flies the Ameri-
can flag.
But what of the actors in the
tragedy? What has become Of them?
A..