The San Francisco call., 1909-02-14
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INTERESTING REMINIsCENCE
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DOUGLAS

E II T
hang from Oshkosh, Wis, who alb
ruptly walked into his studio saying that clerk in
his dry goods wanted him to hand father $40 for
statuette of Douglas The little man remarked that
he was republican himself and asked if father had
anything of Lincoln. 1t was after the time of
the sitting, and father showed him the recently
pleted likeness He looked at it moment and then
said, Well-hes too d homey to buy, but I'll
vote for him just the samep and out he went.
My fathers first meeting with Lincoln was in 1858
He was with Douglas party during the debates on
one occasion when they stopped at Bloomington.
The party went to the only hotel. While they were
sitting in the Office. after supper, Lincoln entered.
My father used to describe him as having an old
carpet bag in his hand and weather beaten silk hat
on his head apparently far too large for him. He had
long, loosely fitting frock coat of black alpaca,
with vest and trousers of the same material. He
walked up the counter passed the carpet bag
and asked pleasantly if he too late for supper.
The clerk replied that he was, but thought that
thing might be scared up
All right, said Lincoln, L don't much
- p +
"Hs clothes very dusty, and he commenced to
dust himself when several of his rieads rushed in to
see him. How are you, Old Abe?' was the way they
greeted him. Lincoln shook each hand with both of
his in his usual way His smile of the broadest
and pleasantest kind 1t the first time my father
had seen him closely. On the following day he met
him.
"At Springfield my father got another impression of
Lincoln which he forgot. The train had stopped
and the people in the direction of the staging
which had been erected at distance off. Most of
them climbed the fence and crossed the field to take
short Lincoln went, too, and my father drew a
word picture of the tall lean figure, of immense
strides with carpet bag and umbrella, and coat tails
flying in the breeze. The gaunt angular form, with
the head craned forward appeared to him to be much
over the balance like the leaning tower of Pisa. My
father tried keep pace with that furious speed
the stubble field, till Lincoln a rail fence. He
lost sight of him then The angular figure had leaped
over it as nmbly as boy
= 2
Father heard him speak the same evening. The
impression which Lincoln's manner of speech made
upon him was of something very deliberate and
earnest He seemed to detect note of sadness in
the voice"
Two years afterward Mr. Volk saw him again. He
was in Chicago conducting law case. The young
sculptor determined that he would remind him of his
promise
81 found him in the United States district court
Is the elder Volks description of the circumstance
"He had his foot the edge of the table and his
long, dark hair stuck about him as if it had been
uncombed for a week"
He greeted the sculptor cordially, smiling at him
with his beaming dark eyes. He remembered his
promise and it arranged that he should come to
the studio the following Thursday.
"But I'll have to go to barber to have my hair
cut before come" he said.
II told him that would rather that he would leave
it as it was" the sculptor is related to have re-
marked. But Lincoln would not consent to this.
On the appointed morning he appeared punctualy.
1t of his characteristics that he failed
TO be time
The sculptor to be able to recognize his foot
steps upon the stairs leading the studio. Lincoln
UP at great rate, taking three steps at
time.
"Mr volk, have never before sat to sculptor or
painter What shall dor" he asked
He was told that measurements only to be
taken upon the first occasion. On the second visit
the mask was to be taken. He to have his face
anointed very lightly with OIL The hair about the
temples and forehead to be matted down with