The Yale expositor., 1912-02-08

b, rs,
purport to be Lin.
coin relics The
martyr president rose from comparative obscur
ity and this in itself has made it difficult to locate
minor objects connected with his boyhood and
early life. Then, too, the circumstance that his
activities covered wdely-separated localities in
Kentucky Illinois, etc, has further complicated
the task of tracing his onetme belongings. Lin
coin relics, when they do come into the market
via the medium of collectors auction sales. in
variably bring big prices. A Lincoln autograph
especially an autograph letter will always pro-
woke spirited bidding; damaged and discarded
pieces of the White House china made for Mrs.
Lincoln and used on the presidential table dur
ing the Lincoln administration command prices
of $50 to $50 each; and lock of Lincoln's hair
recently brought $500 when sold at auction.
Some of the most interesting of the Lincoln
relics believed to be in the possession of Mr..
Robert Lincoln, the only living of the martyr
president. However. Mr. Lincoln, who has but
lately retired president of the Pullman Car
company has not only never exhibited his relics
publicly, but has never taken the public into his
confidence regarding the exact character Of the
mementoes he possesses or what ultimate dis
position he has planned to make Of them. Even
more valuable, however. than the Robert r. Lin
coin collection is that which represents the life
work Of Osborn II. Odroyd, veteran of the
Civil war and most devoted admrer of Lincoln
It stands today as the greatest collection
compiled by one man in tribute to popular hero
and It's value has been variously estimated at
from 100000 to $250000.
The collector began to accumulate Lincoln
relics some time before the Springfield lawyer
nominated for president and he has contin
ued his labor of love ever since, with the result
that he now has considerably more than 5000
articles pertaining to the great idol. Some years
ago the Congress Of the United States gave him
permission to place his relics in the house in
Washington in which Lincoln died, and this I'M
pretentious brick structure which is owned
by Uncle Sam, has since been the home rent
free, Of this persistent collector and the treasures
Wish he has gathered together from all parts OF
the country at great expense.
What is generally accounted the most valuable
of all Lincoln relics has prominent place in this
self-same collection. 1t consists of heavy
Frame shetering under glass the last communi.
cation ever penned by Lincoln and, attached to
the precious mssve, lock of Lincolns hair.
This souvenir, which originally in the posses.
sion of the man who was steward at the White
House during the Lincoln regime, is valued at
$4,000 but it is doubtful IL that sum would
buy IL today. Persons who have been ignorant
of the existence of this relic have designated 9TH
communications the final handwriting OF
The martyr president, but in reality the honor
nnquestionably belongs to this small white card
with its few hastilypenned lines. Novel and in.
teresting are the circumstances connected with
The origin Of this priceless memento.
AS Lincoln emerged from the White House on
the fated night of April ID, 1866, on his way to
Ford's theater the steward hurried after him to
explain the predicament OF two gentlemen who
had been waiting at the White House for some
time in order to obtain from the president per-
NIT to pass through the Union lines to Peters
burg. Va It was the theater hour and Mrs. Lin
coin was already seated in the carriage, but the
ever-obging president paused few minutes to
write few lines, explaining that pass was
necessary to go and return from Petersburg and
Richmond and that People go and return Just
as they did before the war" He handed this to
the steward, reiterating verbally the statement
made In the penned memorandum. The steward.
realizing that the written explanation really
supcrfuous, and selling a long-sought opportu-
nifty to secure trophy OF the beloved president,
retained in his own possession the bit Of hand.
writing and repeated to the waiting visitors the
presidents oral assurances on the subject. Later.
after the death OF Lincoln, the steward induced