The San Francisco call., 1909-02-07

which ne was at work upon Of Stephen
4 Douglas / inquired. rs Mr.. Leon
ard V6lk in?" He replied. "rhft is my
name. ! then recounted 10 IN my
visit to Iincoln'1 tomb at Spr.agfield.
and he confirmed all that Mr.. Power
had said bout the bust that he had
made an,s stepped to one. side of the
room and took down mask and
showed it to me. saying. That is the
only mask ever taken OF - branam Lin
coin alive. and just before ne went TO
be inaugurated president at Washlns-
ton March 1. 1851 stated 10 nlhi
nv part in I.incoIns funeral in New
York and had placed my hand on his
forehead when he laid in state In the
cftv hall | then said to him. MI
yoIk. do not consider me impertinent.
but l would like to ask you few ques-
tions'' "AlI right he answered
,nnuired. What countryman are you
81 am an American he replied. My
next question was, Where We're you
born?" SIN Mohawk valley, state OF
New York" he answered. One ques-
tion more: "Of what descent are you?
In an instant the whole manner ana
attitude of the man changed 10 one OF
great dignity and pride. and the blood
as if conscious of itself mantled ms
face as ne replied. "On my mothers
side am a>lfncaI descendant OF CoHShy
and William the silent.
For a moment my feet seemed fast
ened 10 the floor. and was Speechtess-
.I4ow strange" ] said to him. that
bere in America the blood of those
two martyrs should have IN tnese
tinted states preserved and nodded
the features of America 5 greatest mar
tvr. Abraham Lincoln ! then asked
him the price of bust prcferring to
eet ore FROM him. Looking earnestly
;n,a nv face. he asked. Did You love
Abraham Lincoln? More than any
other mortal man l replied VIII
Won allow mo to present you with
bust of Lincoln? ] will carefully pack
III and send it to any place where you
want it shipped" he said. thanked
him most sincerely, ana as ne "ouiu
take no pay for it. | directed him TO
sent IL to me at Virginia City. New.
then said. Mr. VoIk [ want to get an
other. which / will pay for. to be sent
To me at TIE Oriental conSlStory- Ma
sonic hall. in Chicago. To my utter
astonishment he asked, .Will you allow
me To present you with another bust2
AS he was SO earnest | could not re-
fuse and he sent IT TO that Masonic
hall. where | used it and left il with
my Masonic breathVen. On my return
70 Nevada | found that bust all safe.
and on my removal to san Francisco.
i'm the fall of 1877, / brought the bust
with me- On one Memorial day
loaned il TO Lincoln post No. l. G. A r..
To use in Dashaway hall. and one of the
members. being careless. with the butt
of his musket broke in one side of the
neck. l employed a sculptor to repair
lit. and at the same time from it 10
make the moIds and cast 10 more from
il. which he did. as also 10 each OF
Coligny and William the Silent (two OF
the latter 1 sent TO Lincoln's tomb,
where they now are)- AT the celebra-
ton of the seventy-fifth anniversary OF
Lucolns birthday. February II, 1884
at starr King church, in Geary street
San Francisco, when Horace Davis and
Irving NJ. Scott were the principal
speakers, 1 presented Lincoln post No
1. G. A r., and the Soldiers home al
Yountville one each, and still later
Company A. Veteran reserves, here ir
Oakland, retaining one only for my
self Lincoln post No. lost its bust
of Lincoln in the Pioneer building BY
earthquake and fire, the others being
distributed in California, Oregon enc
Washington.