Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-09

CONTINUED from First Page)
was engaged by Mr.. dobright, the general
manager OF the Associated Press In the
national capital said he. TO assist him
ana Major Ben Perley Poore, a well
known newspaper correspondent Of those
days, with their report OF the inaugural
ceremonies OF the 9Th OF March, 1861. The
newly elected president had arrived in
washington ten days before-to be ex-
act, the morning of the 2Sd OF February
II was a Saturday. That same afternoon
he came 10 the capitol escorted by Mr.
Seward. and being on tho floor OF the
house saw him for the first time ana
was indeed. presented to him"
Tie oontinGed as follows. Early in the
morning Of the lth OF March discov-
cred thrust into the keyhole OF my bed
room, slip OF paper which read; For
Inaugural address seo Colonel Ward II
Lamon,' Who was Colonel Ward n
Lamon" ! had never heard OF him. The
city was crowded with strangers. To
find one OF them was TO look for n
needle In a haystaok, went directly &c
WIZARDS hotel. As passed through the
long corridor OF tho second floor splicoc
with little dark entrcewsys. to the apart
ments facing on Pennsylvania avenue. ;
saw through a half opened door Mr.. Lin
coin himself pacing to and fro, appar.
entry reading manuscript. 1 went
straight in He was alone. and as ne
turned and met me, he extended his
hand, called my name and said: 'Wha,
can l do for you2' I told him my or
rand and dilemma, showing him the hrle
memorandum. why said he, YOU have
como 70 the right shop; Lamon Is IN
the next room, ] VIII take you 10 him
and he viii fix you all right No sooner
said than done, and supplied with IN,
press copy OF the inaugural address.
gratefully and gleefuliy took my leave
ITO me the address meant war. AS tho
crowd upon the portico dispersed bach
into the capitol l found myself wedged ir
between John Bell OF Tennessee and
Reyerdy Johnson OF Maryland Eaef
took me by an arm and we sat dowr
upon a bench just outside the rotunda
They were very optimistic No. ther,
would be no war. no fight; all the trou
bles would be tlded over; the union stu
was safe. was but boy. Just on,
and twenty. They were the two mos
intellectual and renowned Of the sur
vlving whig leaders OF the school o
Clay and Webster. one OF them just de
feated for president In the precedinl
election. Their talk puzzled me greatly
for TO my mind there seemed no escap
from the armed collision OF the sections
secession already accomplished and
confederate government actually estab
hshed, There Is In youth prophetic IN
stinct which grows duller with advanein
years As ! look behind me / not onl
bear this IN mind Illustrated by the con
verse % those two veteran stAtesme
that day In the rotundo OF the capito
ot Washington, but feel Il and roa IL
a. 80 that am much less confident, wit
lifetime of experience to guide me
than was when buoyed by the ignoranc
and bravery, but also the inspiration. O
youth, the problems ahead read plai
and clear as out OF an open book"
He spoke OF IAneoln's teaching and ex
ample and paid a glowing tribute to Pres
ldent Tefl. as follows;
Tragedy walks hand-in-hand with his
tory and the eyes OF glory are wet wit
teaTs-With malice toward none, wit
charity for alr-slnee Christ said. 'Blesse
are the peaeemakers FOR they shall /
; called the children bf God' has heart
! man. stirred 10 lie depths by huns
eKigeney, delivered a message so sui
. Inner Irresistibly the mind reeurs TO th'