Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-02-09


authenticating many L7Dsz7Iz0EzS I7zzoe %/
OF the objects that lincoln Hz1uSeLE
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 widey-separated localities in
Kentucky, Illinois, etc, has further complicated
the task Of tracing his one-time belongings. Lin
coin relics when they do come into the market
via the medium Of collectors auction sales, in.
varably bring big prices. A Lincoln autograph
or especially autograph letter will always pro
woke spirited bidding; damaged and discarded
pieces of the White House china made for Mrs.
Lincoln and used 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 are believed to be in the possession of Mr..
Robert Lincoln, the only living son 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 T. Lin
coin collection is that which represents the life
work of Osborn H. Oldroyd veteran OF the
Civil war and most devoted admirer of Lincoln
It stands today as the greatest collection ever
complied by one man in tribute to a popular hero
and its value has been variousy estimated at
from 100000 to $250,000.
The collector began to accumulate Lincoln
relics some time before the Springfield lawyer
was nominated for president, and he has contin-
ued his labor of love ever since, with the result
that he now has considerably more than 900
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 now owned
oy Uncle SAM has since been the home rent
nee Of this persistent collector and the treasures
which he has gathered together from all parts OF
the country al great expense.
What is generally accounted the most valuable
Eo all Lincoln relics has prominent place in this
. selfsame collection. It consists of a heavy
frame, shetering under glass the last communi-
cation ever penned by Lincoln and, attached to
tue precious missive, lock Of Lincoln's hair
lhis souvenir, which originally in the posses
SION of the who was steward at the White
House during the Lincoln regime, is valued at
! 9o00O but it is doubtful if even that sum would
Isuy 1t today Persons who have been ignorant
the existence of this relic have designated 9TH
sr communications the final handwriting Of
the martyr president but in reality the honor
unquestionably belongs to this small white card
Win Its few hastily-penned lines. Novel and in
.efestng are the circumstances connected with
the origin of this priceless memento
AS Lincoln emerged from the White House on
the fated night of April a. 1865 on his way to
Fords theater, the steward hurried after him to
explain the predicament of two gentlemen who
uad been waiting at the White House for some
une In order to obtain from the president per-
mt to pass through the Union lines to Peters
oufg, Va. 1t was the theater hour and Mrs Lin
coin was already seated in the carriage, but the
Wer-obliging president paused few minutes to
Nrlte a few lines explaining that no pass was
necessary to go and return from Petersburg and
Aehmond and that People go and return just
- they did before the war" He handed this to
ue steward, reiterating verbally the statement
ulaae In the penned memorandum. The steward,
'eazing that the written explanation was really
superhuous, and Selling a longsought opportu-
nity to secure a trophy of the beloved president,
etaned in his possession the bit of hand
"Fi'ng and repeated to the waiting visitors the
Ifsldent's 9Tai assurances on the subject. Later,
'F tie leah of Lincoln, the steward Induced