Evening journal., 1915-10-04
New News Of Yesterday
A Man Who Warned
Lincoln
D. Holland.

Thomas Merrick, who has been for
many years postmaster Of the -four
ishing town of Henniker, n. H.. and
who is to retire at the expiration of
his term. on January / next, was in
Civil War days brought, by reason of
his vocation, frequently into associa-
iton with the leaders both in Lin
coins administration and in Congress.
Mr.. Merrick was the manager, or as
sistant manager, of the National Ho-
tel. In war days that hotel ranked
in public favor with Wizards. AS it
was nearer the Capitol than Willard's
it was a favorite temporary home for
politicians and statesmen who visited
Washington.
Mr.. Merrick narrated to me, at
time when 1 was fortunate enough to
meet him, some interesting reminis-
censes which were associated with
! President Lincoln, with his war sec
retary, Edwin NJ. Stanton, and with
some Of the leaders in Congress. He
was personally known to almost all OF
these leaders.
Il esteem it now my great good for
" nave AAan a R1A oRAAeA eNNi ee----N
ance with President Lincoln" Mr..
Merrick told me. II never met him
without being impressed with the per-
feet spirit of democracy and with his
complete freedom from any ostenta-
ton or sense of self-importance. BY
the way, that was more or less true
Of all the really great men whom
I met during my sojourn in Washing
ton. The bigger the man intellectual
ly and in achievement the less stuffed
up with pride he was sure TO be.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Lincoln always
maintained a certain dignity which
was not inconsistent with real mod
esty. No man would dare to try to
be familiar with Abraham Lincoln,
and yet he made every man whom he
met feel at home.
Il recall vividly my last meeting
with Lincoln. II was just after he had
visited Richmond, after General Lee
and the Confederate government had
gone from that city. I heard many
persons, guests at the hotel. say that
they feared that the President had
made a mistake in going to Richmond
He would be exposed to danger of
assassination by some lunatic or fren-
zied person. they feared I recall the
Expressions of relief which l. heard
lwhep it was announced that the Pres
|ident had left Richmond and was in
excellent health and perfectly safe
"A day or two after he returned to
Washingon, he was out riding and told
the driver to stop the carriage in
front of the National Hotel Some one
was there whom he wanted to see OF
leave some message for. went tC
1.-THE carriage and the President shook
hands with me and told me the oc-
casion of his stopping in front of the
hotel
81 told him that did not believe hs
could know how thoroughly relieved
we all were when we heard that h,
: had made his Whit to Richmond il
safety and had left that city alive an,
well
1 'He asked me why we should fee
relieved. and I told him that we werl
afraid some crank or infuriated per
70 son might try to assassinate him.
( "In reply he said, smiling hal
\ sadly Why, nobody wants to xii
me. I never thought anybody wouli
n want to kill me-
e But said |. some crank or in
/ sane person might take it into hi
r head to attack you
o "In reply he said oh. that is
e danger to which every man who walk
e the public streets is liable
i yet within a few days the natio
h learned that Lincoln was gone. Fo
there were conspirators who plotte
e successfully to kill him"
! Copyright. 1915. by f. J. Edwards
= All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will te
= "When Grant Was Made Lieutenar
. General"