Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-02-24

scarcely ask for that for which
| plead They expect to sacrifice the1l
lives for their country. know that
| if they could come north, they could
live, and be well, strong men again.
at least, many of them. / say know
because was sick among them last
spring, surrounded by every comfort
with the best of care. and determined
to get well. / grew weaker, AND
weaker, day by day, until, not being
under military law, my friends
brought me north. / recovered en-
tirely by breathing northern air.
While she was so earnestly speak
ing, Mr.. Lincoln's expression of face
changed often, but he did not take
his eyes from her. He was evidently
distressed, for he was convinced thai
she was speaking the truth. His face
contracted almost painfully as he
said: "You assume to know more
than / do" The tears almost came
to the lady's eyes as she replied:
Pardon me, Mr.. Lincoln, intend no
disrespect; but it is because of this
knowledge, and because | do know
what you do not know, that come to
you. II you had known what know,
and had not already ordered what /
ask, should know that an appeal to
you would be in vain; but l believe In
you. believe the people have not
trusted you in vain. The question
only is-do you believe me, or not :?
If you believe in me, you will give US
hospitals; if not-well."
you assume to know more than
surgeons do" said Mr.. Lincoln,
sharply. ooh, no. she replied; 81
could not perform an amputation
nearly so well as some of them do.
But this is true. | do not come here
for your favor. ] am no aspirant for
military favor or promotion. While 1t
would be the pride of my life to com
mand your respect and confidence,
still, even this / can waive to gain
my object-waive for the time. You
will do me justice, some time. Now
the medical authorities know as we'll
as you and l do, that you are opposed
to establishing northern hospitals;
and they report to please you. They
desire your favor I come to you
from no casual tour of inspection, hav-
ing passed rapidly through the general
hospitals, with a cigar in my mouth
and rattan in my hand, talking to
the surgeon in charge of the price OF
cotton, and abusing our generals in
the army for, not knowing and per-
forming their duty better, and finally
coming into the open air with long
drawn breath as though | had just es-
capped suffocation, and complacently
saying to the surgeon: A very fine
hospital .-ou have here, sir The boys
seem to be doing very we'll A little
more attention to ventilation is de-
sirable, perhaps. 1t is not thus that
| have visited hospitals. For eight
long months-from early morning I'M
til late at night, sometimes have
visited the regimental hospitals on
the Mississippi, from Quincy to Vicks-
burg; and l come to you from the
cots of men who have died, and who
might have lived if you had permitted
it. This is hard to say, but it is
r-na'
While she was speaking the last
sentences, Mr.. Lincolns brow had be-
come severely contracted; and
panied, hard expression had settled
upon his whole face. Then he
sharply asked her how many men her
state had sent to the field. She
replied: about fifty thousand" THAT
he responded, chat she has
about twenty thousand now" With
an unpleasant voice and manner he
continued: you need not look so
sober; they are not all dead" The
veins filled in his face painfully, and
one across his forehead was fearfully
large and blue. Then, with an I'M
patient movement of his whole frame,
he said: II have good mind to dis
miss them all from the service ana
have no more trouble with Them
The lady was astonished, as she
might well be, for she knew that he
was not in earnest. They sat looking
at one another in silence. He had be-
come very pale, and at last she broke