Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-23
PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND MRS.
HARVEY.


terest a chapter in DR.. ]. G. Hol-
lands biography of Abraham Lin
eoln,-with SO much interest that
desire to put it where others can
read it, too. 1t was written just at
the close of the war: 1t should be
understood that the lady of whom
Or. Holland here speaks was none
other than our own Mrs. Governor
Harvey; aud that the hospital thus
established stood on the bank OF
Lake Monona in the 900 block in the
9Th ward, Madison The story shows
that like the most of us the great
war president had his faults,-that
at times, under great trial, he was
irritable, petulant The average
woman in Mrs. Haryey's place would
not have stuck to her task so heroic
ally as she did,-with such logical
persistence. She would have cried
and gone home. Neither would the
average man, once opposed to her
plan, have yielded TO a mere woman.'
But Mrs. Harvey and President LIN
coin We're not like the most of us.
Dr. Holland s Recital
Let us look deeper into the life in
the whitehouse. The writer has be-
fore him private letter written by a
lady of great intelligence and the
keenest powers OF observation, from
which he has the liberty to draw
some most interesting materials, IL
Illustrative Of Mr. Lincoln's mode OF
dealing with men and women, ana
with the ques tons which were pre-
sented to him for decision. They
will Illustrate as wen his weakness as
his strength; and show, better than
any direct statement, how the duties
Of his position had worn upon his
nerves and his temper The lady
was the widow of one who had died
while serving the soldiers Of the
state of which he was the governor;
and she had taken up his work Tor
charity, and pursued it from the time
Of his death.
The lady said she was received by
Mr. Lincoln after a BRIEF delay. lie
was alone, IN a medium-sized, Office
Ike room, with no elegGlce arounu
him and no eloquence in him. He
was plainly clad in a suit OF black.
THAI fitted him poorly; and was sit
ting in a folded-up sort Of way, in his
armchair. At his side stood p huge
writingdesk and table combined:
under his feet vas simple straw
mating; and around him We're sofas
and chairs, covered with green
worsted Nothing more unpretending
could be imagined As she entered
his head was bent forward, his chm
resting on his breast, and his hand
holding the letter she had sent in.
lie made feint of rising; and.
looking out from under his eyebrows.
said nquiringly; Mrs. ?' Has
tening forward. she replied: Yes.
and ] am very glad to see you, Mr..
Lincoln" He took her hand. ana
hoped she was Wei" but gave no
smile OF welcome She had come on
business which interfered with his
policy and plans; and she anxiousiy
read his face. full Of its lines of care
and thought, and almost stern in its
expression. He motioned her IN a
chair: and while he was reading her
letter, she continued the perusal OF
MS features After he had finished
ne looked up, ran his fingers through
ms slightly silvered brown hair. and
with an air of sad severity said
Madam, this matter Of northern
hospitals has been talked of a grear
deal, and | thought it was settled:
but 1t seems this is not the case.
what have YOU got to say about it,"
simply this she replied, that MANY
SICK in our western army on the
Mississippi, must have northern air.
or die. There are thousands OF
graves along the Mississippi and va.
ZOO Tor whoich the government is re-
sponslbie-ignoEantly, undoubtedly.
out this ignorance must not continue
II you viii permit these men-t0 come
north, YOU, will have ten men in one
year where you have got one now"
Mr. Lincoln could not see the logic
q this. Struggling his shoulders. and
smiling IN his peculiar. oai2zical wav
ne said: IL your REASONING we're
correct, Your argument Wcuid he a
good one. ! don't see how sand,np
one Sick man aorth is going 10 give
us ten ven ones" The la6y r4n1ied.
'Yon understand me. j TINT YES
yes. said he. Il understand a bur
II they 90 north they viii desert ana
where is the diGerence?" Her ron,,
was. Dead men cannot fight ana
they mas not desert "A fire uav
to dec!mate the army!o excJaimea
the president We shoald mover gar
man baek-not one-not oro !.
Pardon MS" responded the la6v
but I believe you are mfztaren
You do not understand our naonia
They are as true and as loyal n ~
government as yourself. The loyaItv
Is among the common soldiers ana
they are the chief sufferers" Almost
eontemptuously Mr.. Lincoln rebiaa.
This is your opinion,~
The reader viii see in the er,,ih,.
iion Of petulance, evidence tbot ne
president vas conscious Of beine
undermined II, bic v.-,-7.-.