The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-02-11

IOrn, as ne leaned against the grand
piano that faced the door, appeared of
hero mold. Speaking with US pleas
antly, he made no illusion to the dis
astrOus news, but it was soon evident
that, while he stood there with courteous
greetings, he was almost oblivious of
his surroundings, and that heart and
soul were lost in CO.. nmplation of the
country's peril. 1t Wa my first view
of him, and have never ~gotten the
infinite dignity of his pr,.,0ce that
evening and the melancholy. far-otf
look in his eyes-a dignity and elevation
quite beyond and above what any mere
manly beauty could give. AS | watch
ed him | thought no words could better
describe him than these: "A man of
sorrows.
There was little conversation, but
one Of the party remarked: 1 hope Mr..
President, you are able to sleep, not
withstanding your heavy burdens.
''At that moment General - was
ushered into the room-a short, stout
man, with clustering, pompoIs man
ner. He heard the remark, and imme-
dia ely added in bold, confident tone,
1 presume, Mr.. President, you sleep as
much as the private soldiers on the
Rappahannock.
Mr.. Lincoln looked down on him
with loftiness that was almost scorn,
and said distinctly and with indescrba-
lie pathos:
. For that matter, sir, l would glad
ly change places with the poorest SOL
der in the ranks.
/ ''N soon made our adieux, but the
brief interview has remained a treasur-
ed memory.
/ The incidents of Lincoln S forbearance
and sympathy are legion, and in many
/ instances are not more valuable as rec
ords of kindly deeds than because of the
unerring quality of some accompanying
word. A typical episode is that of Mrs.
Winston's appeal for her 17-year-old
boy, who was attending a Southern
school AID, without his mothers con-
sent, had entered the army He was
wounded at Nashville and taken to the
garrison hospital at Fort McHenry.
! Hearing of his extreme illness, his
mother, wild with grief, followed him,
but owing to the order prohibiting all
communication bet y cen prisoners and
citizens, she could not see him, While
concerning with the post surgeon she
caught sight of her emaciated boy
through an open door, and broke from
the surgeon, flew to her son and took
him in her arms. A day later she ap-
pealed to Secretary Stanton for the re-
lease of this wounded boy, but he order
ed her roughly from his presence and re-
fused to see her. She then made her pc
tition to the President, and when asked
afterward how ahe was received said:
with the kindness of a brother"
Tell me what | can do for you.
madam, - he said, and when he had read
the appeal:
'Are you the mother of this unhappy
wounded boy?"
4 am, she said
and do you believe that he will
honor his parole if permit him to go
with your"
Il am ready to peril my personal lib
erty upon it" she answered.
Then you shall have your boy" said
Lincoln, ito take him from the ranks
of rebellion, and give him to a loyal
mother is a better Investment for the
Government than to give him up to en-
einies. God grant that he may prove a
blessing to you, madam, and an honor
to his country"
He then wrote an order for the boy s
release.
Certain striking characteristics of
Lincoln have impressed themselves for
chilly upon his biographers and now
stand out in their relations to the mean
ing of the man. First came that of his
faith in God and of his all-unconscious
mastery of men through sympathy and
liberation. Robert Ingerso'l has said
that Lincoln is the gentlest memory OF
our world. Complex in brain, single
IN heart, direct as light. Never afraic
to ask, never too dignified to admit that
he did not know. No man had keenei
wit or kinder humor. He was logician
and logic is the child of clear head anc
a good heart. He had intellect without
, arrogance, genius without pride, reli
gion without bigotry.'
:. Richard Watson Glider, speaking t.
Col. Hay of these traits said:
Colonel, as you continue your study
of Lincoln and your writing about him
v does he seem to you greater or less?"
n To this John Hay answered:
LAS go on with the work Lincoln
e grows greater and greater"
: Again Mr.. Glider alludes to Lincoln
faculty of strong statement as exceed
e ing that of Webster and Burke, and al