Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-12

the war President wished JEFF
fersOn Davis 60 Escape.

fersOn Davis 60 Escape.
Senator Depew in Leslie's Weekly.
Mr.. Lincoln was a thin. spare man, large
boned, and apparently rather loose-limbed,
and six feet four inches in height. He had
a very homely face, with a sad expression,
as IL Weighted heavily with care and
anxiety. But when earnestly discussing
some question. and especially when telling
a story, his c-ountenance fairly beamed
with the fife of his talk or the enjoyment
OF his anecdote. He always wore a black
broadcloth suit, the coat a long skirted
frock. and a high vest, and out of doors,
the invariable silk top hat. His towering
figure in this dress made him the marked
man in every assemblage, and especially
so when he rode horseback every after
noon to his cottage at the Soldiers home,
accompanied by a staff Of brilliantly uni
formed officers. In speaking. he had a
peculiar cadence in his voice. This was
caused by special emphasis on some word
near the middle of the sentence and a
stronger one on the last word. He spoke
very deliberately, and his sentences were
so carefully constructed that the two words
thus made prominent gave particular point
to the remark. For instance, he said to me,
after narrating several stories: They say
l tell a great many stories. / reckon 1 do;
but l have learned from long experience
that plain people, take them as they run,
are more easily influenced through the
medium OF a broad and humorous i%llustra-
ton than in any other way; and what the
hypercritical few may think l don't care. 80
General Sherman told me Of an experience
Of his own with Mr.. Lincoln and his sug-
RegtiNa method Of en1xip4 Igfegonlt w~,A-
lens. The general said that the president
was anxious that jefferson Davis and the
other leading members of the confederate
government should escape. He felt that IL
they were in custody It would embarrass
the object he most de~sired-the pacifica-
ton of the south and the restoration of
the union with the late rebels participating
as loyal citizens in all the privileges Of
American citizenship as before the war,
under the old flag except slavery. After
the confederacy broke up and its president
and cabinet were fugitives, the general,
asking for orders, informed Mr.. Lincoln
that he could locate them every night. as
they were fleeing along the coast, seeking
transportation to Cuba or Europe. Mr..
Lincoln knew that in the inflamed condition
OF the popular mind the people would not
suomlI 10 an order for their release, but
were crying for their arrest, trial and
punishment. So, instead of giving any di-
rectlons, he looked the general steadily
in the face for a few minutes, and then re-
marked: Il knew a brilliant lawyer who
took to drink and sank into the gutter.
The temperance folks reclaimed him. and
then he became their most successful lee
turer' Returning to Springfield, the bar
gave a dinner of welcome. When the toast
IN his honor was proposed, the hosts in
sisted the guest should take spirits, as
water would not express the warmth Of
their regard, and he finally yielded, by
saying: Gentlemen, If you can put some
whisky in my glass unbeknownst to me, 1
VIII be happy to respond jefferson
Davis was captured against the wishes of
the president and the orders of General
Sherman.