The Washington herald., 1908-02-16


main so few Of the buildings associated
with his life and public career that can
be converted into patriotic shrines. Wash
ingtons home, at Mount Vernon, on the
Potomac, and latterly the famous Nc
Kinley cottage" at Canton, Ohio, have
taken on the dignity Of meccas for cit-
zens from all parts OF the country, and
while the Lincoln homestead at Spring
field, IL, IS. IN a sense. in the same cate
CORY, it has scarcely received the same
measure Of attention from the public.
The tendency 10 dedicate memorials
OF this kind 20 the man who piloted the
republic in the most critical period IN
its history Is manifested IN the movement
lately inaugurated to make a great ma
tional park OF the historic old farm in
Kentucky where Lincoln was born and
where his boyhoOd was spent. However,
these landmarks Of Lincoln's career are
few, indeed, compared TO the similar me
mentcs Of our other great hero Presi-
dent Houses which George Washington
used as military headquarters or in
which he lived, tarried over night danced
or visited, are to be found in "a number
Of different States. but only Illinois, Ken
lucky. and the District Of Columbia have
notable buildings associated with the per
sonanty and lie Of the martyr President
Lincoln Not "A soldier.
The explanation is found no doubt. in
the fact that Lincoln was neither a sol
dler who campaigned over wide range
Of territory nor wealthy man who
could afford the luxury Of several homes,
says the Baltimore American.
Although the Mississippi Valley holds
the two most important structures iden-
titled with the early life of Lincoln. il Is
at the National Capital that we find the
most interesting group Of buildings as
sociated with his notable career as Pres
ident Of the United States The White
House has been changed very materially
since the days of the Lincoln administra-
ti0n. but most of the other buildings
around which cluster memories of this re-
markable man remain to-day just as
they were in the stormy days OF the early
sos Several of these structures are
well known TO the public Every visitor
70 Washington has pointed out to him
=
down b- the hand of the assassin, and
the plain brick house opposite, TO which
the wounded man was removed and
where ne died However, there are other
buildings yet more interesting. in some
respects which are almost unknown 10
siEhtseeTs.
Lincoln n ChuFchgoer.
Prominent among these is Lincoln's
church a large portion Of the public has
always had the impression that Lincoln
was not much of a churchg0er. and. iu-
deed the edlfce known as the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church in Wash
ington Is the only place Of worship inti-
mately associated with Lincoln. This
stately old church. which stands less
than three blocks from the White House,
- presents to-day an appearance unaltered
from that Of the period when Lincoln
was a regular attendant there
The picturesque red brick church which
might ntIHEly be called THE Church Of
Presidents had important historical as
EoC!atons ere Lincoln became member,
but it was the War President who sup
piled a yet deeper significance TO its ira
diuOus TIE church was founded I'm 1902
and in the early days John Quincy Ad-
ans saved it from bankruptcy by ad-
yaEcing 20 the congregation the sum Of
s2Cl0 Other Presidents who attended
this church were Andrew Jackson James
K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, James Buch-
anan and Andrew Johnson.
Jackson Cults In HUFF.
President Jackson. however. severed re-
lations with the congregation IN a huff
as the result Of a controversy relative to
the famous Peggy sO'NeaL who upset
things generally at the National Capital
about that time. The dashing Peggy was
a member OF the church at the time, but
the pastor was antagonistlc to her and
refused to recognize her, whereat her
champion, odd Hickory" left the church
and never went back.
The pew occupied by Abraham Lincoln
and his family during the years he served
as President is still reverently preserved
at the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. Ii is located on the middle aisle
and we'll toward The front of the church
and bears a silver plate inscribed with
the name Of Abraham Lincoln and the
years OF his occupancy. The church has
been refurnished since Lincoln's time, but
this historic pew was left undisturbed
and is distinctly Old-fashiOued and con-
spicuous amid the modern appointments
OF the chuTch's stately interior. The pew
is readily recognizable from all oarts Of
the large edifCe by reason of the fact
that it has q black walnut finish. suc-
gestlve of mourning, whereas all tbe
other pews have the contrasting golIen
oak finish
Another Lincoln Relic.
Near this old church. where Lincoln
and his family spent so many hours. is L
Lincoln relic whose very existence is AN.
known 40 the general public, yet whicn
is nevertheless one Of tile most interest
ing Of all the buildings associated with
this famous man, since its history sheds
new and illuminating side light on the
simplicity and kindness Of his private
life. This hidden tribute TO the big
heartedness of the venerated Chief Mag
i5trate is nothing less than a toy shop. 10
which the busy man. bowed down by tha
weight of devastating war, stole away
time and again 20 buy wooden soldiers
and other playthings for the mischiavous
Tad, who constituted during shat stormy
period the one ray OF sunlight in his
Founded by stuatz.
4 iiis most interesting OF toy shops was
founded by Joseph Stuntz, a color-bearer
Of Napoleon, In the year 1855. and is still
in possession Of the family, having pur-
sued the even tenor Of its way despite
the changing conditions OF the passing
years and the competition Of department
stores. Years ago toy shops were not 50
numerous as they are at present and
this juvenile fairyland, situated within
walking distance Of the White House.
has had as its regular patrons the chill
dren Of half a dozen different Presidents.
Id I lrncar.- en-. hara not irfra--,o.,.l. ~.