Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-11
"SUCH WAS HE, OUR MARTYR CHIEF
Man Who Bound the Nation and Unbound the SlaveSo
Something of Many Sided Personality.

Sometimes Lincoln was pe5tered with viz
itors who came on foolish errands. oncs
when his burden of sorrow and toll was
almost greater than he could bear, woman
came to him and said in an imperious de-
clamatory manner: "Mr. President, you must
give me colonel's commission for my SON.
Sir, l demand 1t not as favor, but as 4
right. Sir, my grandfather fought at Lexing-
ton. Sir, my uncle was the only man who did
not run away at Bladensburg. Sir, my father
fought at New Orleans and my husband was
killed at Monterey" II guess, madam" Lin
coin replied dryly, your family has done
enough for the country. 1t is time to give
somebody else chance"
Lincoln had little conception of his own
greatness or Importance. When General Fry
called at the White House to escort the Presl-
dent to the train which was to carry him to
Gettysburg for the dedication of the national
cemetery he found that MIR. Lincoln was not
quite ready to start The General suggested
that they had better hurry. 'I feel about
that" said the President, "as the convict in
one of our Illinois towns felt when he was
going to the gallows. AS he passed along the
road in the custody OF the Sheriff, the people
eager to see the execution, kept crowding and
pushing past him. At last he called out:
Boysyou needn't be in such hurry to get
ahead. There won't be any fun till I got
there" After delivering that beautiful and
immortal address at Gettysburg he sat down,
thinking he had not done himself credit, and
said to his friend Lamon: "Lamon, that
speech won't scour."
Sorrow Mixed with Humor
Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, after the
battle of Fredericksburg, was summoned 20
the White House. The Governor had jusi
viewed that field of national disaster. Lin
coin showed great anxiety about the
wounded and asked many questions about
the dead. AS Allen Thornton Rice describes
the interview, Governor Curtin replied: INF,
President, it was not a battle, 1t was butch
cry" and proceeded to give a graphic
description of the scenes he had witnessed
Lincoln was heart broken at the recital, ana
soon reached a state of great nervous excite
ment.
Finally, as the Governor was leaving the
room" says Mr. Rice "he went forward and
taking the President by the hand, tendery
expressed his sympathy for his sorrow ne
said, Mr.. President, am deeply touched "
your sorrow, and at the distress. | haHa
caused you. have only answered your
questions No doubt my impressions nave
been colored by the sufferings I have seen
trust matters will look better when tps
Official reports come in. I would give all
possess to know how to rescue you from tnN
terrible war
'Lincolns whole aspect suddenly changed
and he relieved his mind by telling story
This reminds me. Governor he said 2
an old farmer out in Illinois that used Z
know. He took it into his head to 80 inEs
hog-raising. He sent out to Europe ana
imported the finest breed of hogs he cow
buy. The prize hog was put in pen ana 10
farmers two mischieYous boys-James an-
John-were told to be sure not to let him oa'
But James, the worst OF the two, let W
brute out next day. The hog went strals-.
for the boys, and drove John up tree ihss
the hog went for the seat OF Jaihss
trousers. and the only way the boy eops
save himself was by holding on to the nos
tail. The hog would not give up MS nv.
nor the boy his hold After they had mace
good many circles around the tree, the Pos
courage began to give out. and he shoutsa Z
his brother. say, John, come down qul.es
and help me let this hog sol Now, HoYs''1.'
that Is exactly my case. 1 wish some ~
would come and help me let this hog go