The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-04
WASHINGTON CHAT.
b THE srEcTAToR.

known ia Official circles here, where both
her father and her husband occupied
prominent positions in several admins
tratons. tells the following story TO Illus
trate the tender. human side OF President
Lincoln's character;
During the war my father was navy
agent. sn Office that no longer exists. but
which was at that time one Of the most
important Ia the Navy Department. We
lived in p street opposite The Ebbitt
House, which business center was then
the fashionable residence quarter OF the
city. Our house was fun Of children. and
It WAS a fine place for children tc live. for
there was always something going on in
the street IN front-soIdiers. on foot and
on horseback; military professions. mes
sengers hurting 10 and fro: hardly an
hour IN the day but some thrilling scene
was enacted on our corner. Il was safe
enough. however. being so near the White
House, and my father permitted our nurse
to take Us walking without any guard.
save that OF my brothers. who we're
stable boys Of ten and twelve One
day the nurse, Mary O'Neil, started out
with her little company for their morning
airing, with me in the baby carriage,
when, discovering that the air vas more
biting than she had expected, she went
back in the house for some extra cover
ing. where she was detained, explain
ing the reason for her return 70 my
mother. In her absence a long process
sion OF soldiers came gayiy up the street,
4 company Of troops on their way TO the
White House to be reviewed by the Pres
ident. II wss q brave sight. the long,
glttering line and il was the most nat
uraI thing IN the world that my brothers.
who. Ike all boys OF their age 81 that
time. were enthusiastic over things mill
ta-y. should follow that wonderful pro-
cession, and, since their hands were on
ny carriage. that they should trundle
me along. too. forgetting in their excite
ment al about the nurse = forgetting
everything under the spell Of the waving
flags, the music Of the bands. the tramp
/ Ing OF many feet, the prancing Of the
horses, as they pushed along abreast Of
the procession until its objective point
was reached.
Meantime. poor Mary O'Nen came out
to find her little charges gone and not
trace Of them anywhere. nor had any OF
the passers-by seen her baby or boys She
rushed hither and thither, calling wildly
in picturesque Irish brogUe. afraid 10 &C
/ into the house TO tell my father and
mother, who. however. attracted by the
/ commotion. soon hurried into the street
Their excitement was great, for those
were violent days. and the disappearance
I OF TWO boys and q baby carriage fl ths
middle Of the day in a well-populatec
and exclusive part OF town was occasion
/ for alarm The idea that We had beer
! kidnapped was the first thought thai
came to everybody, for there were des
] perate people among the camp followers
and ny father was a rich and prominent
man who could have paid a handsome
ransom A council OF war was held theT.
/ on the pavement. messengers qUicki,
sent to notify the proper authorities
and every member OF the family starteS
out 10 aid in the search II finally occur
red to one Of my fathers clerks delib
crate, sober-minded man. who seemeC
20 be the only one not affected by the ex
/ citement-that We children might havl
followed the parade, and 50 he and III
father started out toward the Whit
House They went through the gates
and, walking up the driveway 70 the por
tico, saw Us comfortably ranged, wit
the President and his suite, reviewing
the procession. my brothers seated to
Kether on the steps 81 his feet and hel'
I'D high IN bis long arms. stroking hi
I rugged face With my tiny fingers, Ehii
he divided his attention between ne an
the troops. giving, It is said 10 HI
1 strange little guest more than her share
He surrendered his new found tTeaSu7
/ laughingiy. and reluctantly. he said. be
cause Il was rare he had a lovely visitor
but he did not let me 90 until he ha
/ kissed my cheek many times and give,
me several beaF-uke hugs Ey fsthe
4 had the greatest enjoyment in repestin
I this story. which he always finished b.
I saying that the picture OF this gresI
+ strong, earnest man, reviewing the troop
Il that were soon to 90 TO The front Will
+ be held and caTessed the fran little bah
with as much tenderness as though ,
were its mother, was one never 70 b
/ forgotten"
j Mention OF President Lincoln brings {
the minds OF those who knew him the
!, fine old statesman. Hannibal HamIin, c
Il Maine. who was Vice President n hi
first administration. and one OF the mos
81 I'll