The Washington herald., 1915-04-14

In the last afternoon OF his life Lin
coin rode out in the White House car
riage with his wife The weather was
lowering, with heavy clouds, gusty
wind. and occasional showers, but the
Presidents mood was in contrast to its
gloominess
He talked to the good woman at his
side of their future, in "A happy, hope
full vein. speaking as if all the cares
and pcrils of their years of stress and
war We're behind them.
Mary" he said. we have had a hard
time since We came to Washington, but
the war is over and, with God s blessing.
We may hope for four years of peace
and happiness. Then we will 20 back to
Illinois and pass the rest OF our lives in
quiet. l will open 4 law office in Spring
field or Chicago, and at least do enough
10 help give us a livelihood.
His mind reverted in a tender, remi-
niscent way to his early days as law
yer He spoke of the brown cottage that
was their home, of his old office. of his
green bag. of the courtroom and of his
experiences when riding the circuit. He
| seemed like a boy out of school. In his
joyous spirit he was already back among
his old friends, in the courts and among
the homely scenes of his beloved ILL.,
nois.
When the drive was over the Presi-
dents time was taken with callers. Two
friends from Illinois came in and found
him reading from ono of his favorite HUI
morouS authors ('Petroleum " Nasby'D.
Schuyler ColfaX, Speaker of the House,
called on the eve of departure for Cali
fornia and to him the President in
trusted message of cheer to the miners
OF Colorado.
When dinner. time came the President
u absorbed in hook
several calls We're needful to get him TO
come to the dinng-room. He knew that
a theater party had been arranged for
that evening, but he had no desire to go.
He was too happy to wish then the di-
version afforded by play, though he
was fond of the theater.
Party Planned for Grant.
The theater party that was to bring
Lincoln within the assassin's reach had
been planned as an honor to Gen. Grant.
who, his work in the war done, had ar
rived in Washington the day before
from City Point. Va, with his wife. who
had been with him in the closing weeks
at Petersburg.
But the Gen. and Mrs. Grant were
anxious to keep on and see their dauGh-
ter. who was in school at burlington,
n. J., and on Gen. Grant explaining this
10 tile fItSlueNt, hdu
~ excused them from the engagement
that had been made for them. At that
afternoon Grant had said farewell for
ever to his great chief, and before night
fall he boarded a train for Philadelphia.
Meanwhile. the managers of Ford S
Theater had advertised that the Presi-
dent would witness that evenings per
Torrance at their house OF Our Ameri-
can Cousin to be given for the heneht
OF Laura Keene.
Rather than disappoint the theater peo-
pie and public. Lincoln had decided to
attend the theater without Gen. Grant.
To make. up a party. Mrs. Lincoln then
invited a young couple Of the official
circle, Miss Clara II. Harris, daughter
of Senator Ira Harris. of New York,
and her fiance, Maj. Henry r. Rath-
bone.
The theater management on receiving
an order for the Presidents box (No. Z,
on the balcony level. on the right of the
house,. had prepared it for the evening.