The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-10

NOW m Nme HOUSE atncOm wheU A"-
WASHINGTON. Nov. 0.-FOr a ready made
romance take the story Of Osborn II. Old
royd OF Washington. II begins with a Sat
urday night in August. 1890. when OldrOyd
was 10 and kept "A news stand in Mount
Vernon. Ohio.
Il used TO get the Eastern papers from
Pittsburg." he said 20 a U reporter, and
Il There was anything new in the paper line
the dealer would put in q sample copy and
I could return it or pay for it when ] set
tIed up with him.
can the boys in town used to gather in
the store waiting for the New York Ledger
and the Mercuru 80 thai they could find out
what happened next in the continued
stories. They'd sit right down on the floor
sometimes and start in to read, they we're so
eager to find how things came out.
This night that I'm telling you abou
there was a little paper covered book in the
bundle and one OF the boys across the coun-
ter reached out and says: What's that?
Let's see it,
Il picked il up and looked Mt il. No
I says. I guess I'll keep this and read It
myself and | put it back on the shelf. lt
was-wait a minute"
He took out some keys. unlocked a cabi-
net and placed a brOwn covered pamphlet
IN his visitors hands. II il a rare little
book now, but that is not it's chief source
Of interest. IL calls for the attention OF
every American. for il was the nucleus Of
the collection now installed in the house
where Lincoln died.
II is the story Of the forming Of this col
lsction that constitutes the romance OF
Mr.. Oldroyd's life. In fact it has been the
whole end and aim Of his lifo for years.
The little pamphlet began it. The title
was The Life, Speeches and Public Service
Of Abram Lincoln" It was called the
wigwarl edition, because the building where
Lincoln was nominated was 80 called. It
sold then at Is cents a copy. but II you have
one TO sell now you are likely To get a good
many times rs cents for il.
Young OldrOyd read the book and was so
starred by the achievements of Lincoln that
he began to get together other campaign
pamphlets and badges. He joined n club Of
boys. all too young to vote. but by no means
too young to wear campaign badges and
under the name of the Wideawakes to do a
great deal Of paradinG and cheering. h
badge he wore a. that time is now in the
Oldroyd collection.
Then came the war. The youthful ad-
mirer Of Lincoln enlisted and served until
II was over. He carried his mania for
collecting with him, but he did not give
much thought to the picking up OF Lin
coin mementcS then.
All his efforts we're bent on gathering
war relics. 1t was not until the morning
OF April rs, 1885, that the thing happened
which determined his career.
we were at Murfreesboro then" said
Mr.. Oldroyd. "and that morning there was
q sort Of jubilation parade because OF the
surrender and the prospect of everything
being settled. The ban was playing The
Girl l Left Behind Me- and the boys we're
all laughing and twitting one another as
We marched along.
"'Oh. that girl you left behind you has
married another fellow long before this!'
they'd say.
And so we were going on. full Of life and
spirits. when an orderly rode up to the
officer and gave him a paper. We were
halted and faced forward. the band was
stopped in the middle of the piece and the
officer read the news
Lincoln was dead. Without a word.
except Of command. we reversed arms and
marched back, the band playing a dirge.
And every fellows head was down and
every man looked as IL he was going TO his
own fathers funeral.
We'll. as soon as we disbanded I went
ND to headquarters. Outside. tackled on
a bulletin board. we're three dispatches.
The first said: Abraham Lincoln was shot
In sFord's Theatre. Mortally wounded
The second was: Abraham Lincoln not
expected TO live And the third: 'Abra-
ham Lincoln died at 20 minutes past 7
thiC morning
Il went in and asked the man in charge
II I could have the three bulletins when they
were through with them. He ~said-why.
yes, l could. l told him I hoped they
wouldn't get torn OF or mutilated in any
way, that l was afraid they might.
We'll he said. IN tell you what I'll do.
I'll write some new ones and put them out
right now and you can take these
"He did it and here are the originals.
From that time I saved everything I could
get hold Of that had anything to do with
the life and acts Of Lincoln.
Right away l wrote to my father ask
Eng him 20 send me a photograph Of Lincoln.
Now I have more than $50 portraits OF. him
alone, o counting pictures in which other
persons appear.
Here is one. relic l got during the war
itself which now belongs where il is, in
INV Lincoln collection, though at the time
/ got IL 1 was interested only in war souve-
Mrs. 1t is a feather from the tail OF Old
Abe, the eagle that the Eighth Wisconsin
Regiment carried in war.
at. the battle Of Iuka the Eighth Wis
consin was in front OF us-both of us being
fat on our faces with the bullets flying
overhead. They had Old Abe on a sort OF
standard and he was tapping his wings
and screaming at a great rate. The louder
the cannon roared and the shells screamed
the more noise he made.
FINALLY l saw this feather fall and I
crawled along little by little till I got II.
Then I put it inside my jacket and crawled
back again"
Such an incident would seem a good deal
like fiction IL another man should tell it.
But to this quiet. modest. but indomitable
collector il was as natural as answering
the dinner bell il to another man.
IL was not until chance-future genera
lions may call II P~rovidence-sent him 20
Springfield, Ill. that Mr.. Oldroyd's passion
for gathering Lincoln relics had it's full
opportunity. When he went there a German
was occupying the old Lincoln homestead.
renting IL from Robert T. Lincoln. Mr.,