Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-31

verify OF manner, amounting sometimes
to disc5hrtesy even towards Mr.. Lincoln
himself he was nevertheless regarded by
the president as the man Of all others best
qualified to perform the arduous and diff
cult duties devolving upon the secretary
Of war during the rebellion. and It has
often seemed to me very sad and very un-
just that the wonderful service rendered
to the country by the great war minister,
who never ceased day nor night, his Wig
lance and the exercise Of his marvellous
powers Of organization and execution
should have been 20 far forgotten as fhey
seem 10 have been. For to him scarcely
less than to Mr.. Lincoln and General
Grant, It seems to me, this republic owes
its preservation. With all his austerity
and seriousness, Mr.. Stanton was an ex-
ceedingly kind and companionable man,
devoted to his family and his friends, as
well as to his country.
In September, 1868, rumor somehow
came 10 be circulated in the West that
General M. O. Meigs, quartsrmaster- gem
eral Of the United States, had resigned
or was to be removed, and considerable
pressure was brought to hear upon the
president to secure the appointment to
that Office Of General Robert Allen. then
quartermaster st Louisville, Ky. Among
others, Hon. ). K. Dubois and Hon. o.
M. Hatch Of Springfield, ILL.,, urged Gem
erai Aliens appointment In reply, Mr..
Lincoln telegraphed -" Whist nation do
you desire General Allen to be made
quartermaster-Reneral of This nation
already has q quartermaster-Renera y
Messrs. Hatch and Dubois evidently
wrote IN reply, complaininRIy. for few
days later he teIegraphed them again say
ing, 'tYour letter is Just received. The
particular form OF my despatch was iocu-
lar. which ! supposed you gentlemen
knew me well enough to understand.
General Allen Is considered here as a
very faithful and capable officer, and one
who would be at least thought of for
quartermaster-generaI II that Office were
vacant"
His fondness for story telling and the
extent to which be INDUCED It is well
known and has not, think, been over
stated. His sense Of the ridiculous was
exceedingly keen, his memory surprising |
and his power Of illustration, and even Of |
mlmicry, vas often demonstrated in the
use Of very simple, often funny and some
times undigniied stories. He had lust
seated himself at desk with a lot of the /
latest kilograms before him when he /
beard hewsboy on the street CRYING.
Hers yG Philadelpy Inquiry" He !
The peculiar pronunciation and
tone OF the boy and then said. uDid / /
ever tell you the joke the Chicago ness
boys had on mef'' As We replied Mega
lively, he related IA short time before
my nomination, was in Chicago attend
Ing lawsuit. A photographer Of that !.
city asked me to sit for q picture and l /
did 50. This course rough hair Of mine
was ina particularly bad tonsIe at the
Time and the picture presented me in all
ne fright After my nomination. this be-
ing about the only picture Of me there
VAS copies were struck to show those
y no had never seen me how / looked.
The newsboys carried them around to sell
md had for their cry, Here's yer old
Abe. ~ look better when be gets his hair
somoed, and be laughed heartily as be
finished the relation.
A good example OF his mimicry was
'niss-ar- Albert johnson, Mr.. StantoD'si
private secretary and personal account
INT, was land still is. bless his kind
leart) q man of unusually small stature Ii
Weighing perhaps q hundred and twenty
bounds, and his department was extreme
Y polite. On one occasion Mr.. Lincoln
wanted to refer to the Bible and asked
Johnson to bring il. johnson danced
mt Of the room hastily. to get 1t but.
Tot nnding i quickly, and fearing the
PRESIDENT might become impatient. he
an back TO explain that be had not
ound It yet, bat would have it presently
nd finally brought it with an apoloRv
OF the delay, and with very low and re-
'eated bows, retired. After Mr.. Lincoln
lad made the desired use Of the book. he
an nimbiy into the adjoining room Just
: johnson had done, reappeared with
ne same bows and explanations and de-
'Vered the book at the desk where be
'ad been sitting. greatly to his own and
ur amusement. This may not strike !
nybody as funny. but the extreme con-
rast IN the size and movements of the
"o men, and the close imitation Of the {