The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-08
Random Sketches
A Memory Of Lincoln.


Everybody pays homage to the
memory Of Abraham Lincoln. Every
incident connected with his eventful
life has a charm about it which at
tracts the most reverential attention
as IL 1t were linked to holy things.
Even in the south, where dwelt his
alleged foes. heads were bowed in
sorrow. when the news flashed over
the trembling wires that he had fall
en- at the hands Of crazed or vii
latnous assassin. Nashville. Tenn.
presented the aspect Of city in
mourning. Every yard q black
goods in the dry goods houses in the
city were soon draping the walls of
the prominent buildings OF the city.
All the cheaper goods we're soon dis
posed of and not many hours passed
until the costlier black dress goods
were exhausted, and the shelves,
drawers and counters We're bare or
them. There was not yard OF
mourning goods to be found for sale
in the city at any price. The streets
from one end to the other. formed
long lines OF sorrow. Most of the ma
tive residents of the city had near
relatives or dear friends in the Con
federate army, many Of whom had
already fallen. The women OF near
~ every family were in mourning
| for their dead. The women appear
ing on the streets in black and the
buildings deliberately draped IN
mourning, in a universal sorrow, pre-
/ re cir
which cannot be described, neither
can it be imagined. 1t is one Of
those scenes in life that comes with
thrills and in after years reappears
only with a memory and shudder.
| But the intention is to give an al
most forgotten incident in the life OF
! the great and good man. which hap
pened over a half century ago. 1t
was an errand Of love and mercy he
nent incidents of his life were on
| just such errands. Therein lies the
strength of this rough ashlar chisled
into as near a perfect ashlar as may
be attained by man.
Many citizens, especially the vet
Grams OF the civil war. will remember,
perhaps dimly, OF the battle OF Fred
erick, Maryland, in which General
| Hartsuff was wounded. It was not
far from Washington, the republics
capital. President Lincoln. In tender
sympathy for the wounded command
er, made call upon General Hart
ruff at Frederick. During his brief
visit amidst the cheering Of the
throng OF citizens and soldiers, he
made one of his short and character
istic addresses such as he made at
Gettysburg, though not yet so famous
i in the minds Of the country. He re-
turned thanks to the cheering throne
as follows, October 6, 1862:
4 yellow citizens: / am surrounded
!, by soldiers, and little farther off. by
the citizens of this good city OF Fred.
erick. Nevertheless I can only say,
as did five minutes ago, that 1t Is
not proper for me to make speeches
lin my present position return
thanks to our soldiers for the good
service they have rendered, the en-
ergy they have shown. the hardships
they have shed for this union of ours
they have shed or this union OF ours
and I also return thanks not only to
/ the soldiers, but to the good city OF
! Frederick, and to the men, women
and children of this land Of ours. for
their devotion to this glorious cause;
and I saw this with no malice in my
heart towards those who have done
otherwise May our children and our
children's children for thousand
generations, continue to enjoy the
benefits conferred upon us by
united country, and have cause yet
to rejoice under those glorious insti'
buttons bequeathed to us by Washing
| ton and his compiers. Now, my
! friends, soldiers and citizens, can
only say once more, farewell"
| 1t was not in me to longer hold
this little gem in secret archives,
where it has lain SO long, shut off
from eyes that will be pleased to
read it and hearts that will be bene-
fitted by the scored sentiment present
/ ed by the big mind and heart OF
I; Abraham Lincoln, among the noolest
! Romans of them all. In this week
has come the sixth day Of October.
| the fifty-second anniversary or the
delivery of this heart gem from
great American, in whose integrity
and loyalty to duty no man can
doubt. It is only few lines. but
there is nobleness Of character, pa
triotism and honest statesmanship
and loyalty to official and brother
i hood duty shown in every word.