The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-09
Brings LINCOLN
BEFORE HEARERS
James A. Sample Gives Rec
elections Of Martyred
President.
SAW HIM IN WAR DAYS
Gettysburg Address Not Written on
/, Train Going to Battlefield. but
Prepared Here.
SAW HIM IN WAR DAYS
Abraham Lincoln came back to life yes

Abraham Lincoln came back to life yes
terday.
The Martyr President visited All Souls
Church at Fourteenth and l. streets
northwest. and for full hour fingered
among the congregation. They saw him
in his different moods, in the different
stages of his eventfuI life; they heard
his voice in its different shades; they
saw his face as it was sad, and they saw
It when it bore a smile-the Abraham
Lincoln smile
Not that a miracle occurred: but It was
almost the same. James A. Sample pres
ldent of the Citizens Savings Bank, gave
his personal recollections Of the Martyr
President
Probably the most Important thing Mr..
Sample said in his story was that con-
trary to the general belief, Lincoln did
not write the famous Gettysburg address
while on the train bound for the field
of battle but that he had written II
weeks before and submitted 1t to Mr.
Samples father-in-law
1T has been said that 1t was composed
and written by Mr.. Lincoln on the train
which was carrying him to Gettysburg
the day 1t was deiivered-a most absurd
story" Mr.. Sample said. Lincoln was
a Great man and often seemed to be in
spired, but he was neither a god nor
demi-god.
shows Gettysburg Speech.
o. My father-in-law, John d. Defrees.
was Public Printer at that time and en-
Joyed the friendship of the President
Weeks before the ceremony at Gettys-
burg Mr.. Defrees was sent for one night
and asked into a room where Mr.. Lin
coin awaited him. After locking the
door, the President took paper out OF
his pocket and said:
John, 1 want you to read this care
fully, and make any changes your judg-
ment dictates.
That paper was the famous Gettys-
: burg speech.
After reading it, MIR. Defrees handed
1t back with Il, injunction, Mr.. Presi-
dent don't change a word of tit is
perfect
Following Lincoln's denomination and
reelection, in 1854. Mr. Sample heard
Lincoln speak from the portico of the
White House to great crowds Of admir-
ing citizens.
with my father I stood for hours on
March 4, 1855, to see Lincoln take the
oath and hear his address," continued
the speaker. Tt is not a fairy tale, but
singular fact that just as he uttered
that wonderful sentence, With charity
for all, with malice toward none,' the
pail Of clouds opened over his head and
through the momentary rift a star was
distinctly shining
The following picture of the National |
Capital during the days when the Con- |
federacy was tottering toward its end. |
was drawn by Mr.. Sample.
Night of Assassination.
|. Mr.. Sample told in detail the happen
'ings of the night of President Lincoln's
assassination. Although he had an in
yitation to go to Ford's Theater that /
night, he said he preferred to go TO the
National, where the beautiful Efiie Ger
mon was appearing in Aladdin, Or The
Wonderful Lamp The leader of the
orchestra at that theater,' Mr.. Sample
said, had composed the music of a song
written on Sherman's triumphant march |
through the heart of the Confederacy
The refrain of this song was And the
stars of our banner grew brighter, when 1
Sherman marched to the sea-"
TT had been announced that Miss Ger
mon would sing this song that night. She /
had received numerous letters warning
her not to attempt it, as she would be |
Missed. hooted and have still more dread |
full things happen to her."
This is Mr. Samples description Of /
what followed:
The place was packed with a nervous
audience When Miss Germon started /
the song she showed fright and came
near a failure. but gaining courage, her
voice filed the theater.
With the refrain came a storm of ap-
plause, mingled with Kisses and groans
while flowers, cabbage and carrots were
thrown upon the stage. At this juncture
there was a commotion about the door.
and in another moment the whole audi
ence was on its feet, surging toward
the exits. The crowd was on the verge
of panic when the voice of the man
ager rang out sit down. sit down, there
is So fire. 1t is false alarm They
needed him and disaster was prevented |
Boy like, 1 wanted to know what had
started it all, and was working my way
out when a friend whispered: They say
at the door that the President has been