Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-05-14
An interview With
President Lincoln
3, F A Mitchell

and al the srme time made a martyr
will soon be here. Those who" lived
during AIR. Lincoln's time remember
him as well for that kindliness. that
humorous pathos. which characterized
him as for the marvellous adf0itness
with which he steered the ship OF state
through the turbulent waters OF four
years of war. His assassination was
one OF the most tragic events of the
worlds history.
Ii was away back In the autumn or
1860. was Their twenty years old.
had been graduated from one OF the
large eastern colleges and had selected
Journalism for Il profession. When
asked what was my vocation | did NOT
reply Il am "a reporter" but journal
ISM" From this it is to be inferred
that | bad u high opinion OF the news
paper business and a correspondingly
high opinion of my own attributes. be-
ing In so exalted a calling.
My work was with q Chicago news
paper. and some time after Abraham
Lincoln's election to the presidency OF
the United States | was directed by
the managing editor to go to Spring
field. see Mr.. Lincoln. II possible. and
get an interview. arrived in Spring
field In the morning and In the after
noon went to Mr.. Lincoln's home. 1
was surprised at being admitted with
out any ceremony whatever and was
ushered into a living room, wherein
sat the next president In a rocking
chair. There were two little boys. his
sons, with him. the one sitting on his
shoulder, maintaining his position by
his grip with both hands ON the presi-
dent elects hair. The other boy was
climbing up behind with a view TO dis
pute his brothers seal and 70 effect a
similar Judgment ON the other shout
der.
Mr. Lincoln was restrained from ris-
ing with one boy on his shoulder and
another hulding on to his coal collar.
He excused himself for not doing so
and put out his hand in a very friendly
way. But be made no move to stop
the boys from their athletic amuse-
ment- This did NJ seem to me quite
in keeping with his dignity as the
coming chief executive of u great ma
fion-to me. Il journalistic representa-.
tive of q great newspaper. However.
/ repressed my feelings and began the
interview. first drawing forth with as
much importance as | could assume
a notebook in which to lay down those
remarkable facts which the president
elect would announce through me to
the
"Mr. YES the figl said. II shall be
much obi. tcKp you If you will give
your cabinet as you may have decided
upon. If any. and what policy you in
tend to pursue. II you have settled
upon a policy"
Mr.. Lincoln looked at me in so kind.
~. SO fatherly a way that | believed
he would give me such information as
would enable me to astonish the
world.
Il shall be glad" be said, ito do
anything for yon in my power
"Have yon settled on your cabinet
Mr.. Lincoln?"
"Oh. yes. Every member has been
decided upon"
'And your policy?"
THAT has been determined too"
There was something in his eye that
puzzled me.
Would you have any objection TO
giving them to meY"
''NOne whatever. You are welcome
to 1t all. Nothing would give me more
pleasure than to give
He was trying to put his hands in
his pockets somewhat difiieult mat
ter with "a boy on each shoulder maui
ing him-to draw forth something. hut.
o finding what he wanted, he con
tinued:
''The truth is that a list Of my cabi-
net and an outline of my policy are in
that desk over there. and have lost
the key"
I cast a quick glance at his eye and
saw a merry spark in it, while the cor
ners of his mouth were quirked up. I
took in the situation at once. Shut
ting my notebook. | arose and. abash-
ed. was about to withdraw when he
stopped me.
'Sit down. young man." he said.
Perhaps | may give yon some other
points that are not locked up and the
kew lost Ton have come all the way
from Chicago for facts, and If you
go back empty handed they won't like
it. There may be something can say
to help you out"
He proceeded to tell me humorous
Incidents of the election that had given
him the presidency and other items
that would not pledge him to any par
ticular course. all of which ! took down
verbatim. When he had finished he
shook of the boys and, rising-i
thought thai he would surely go
through the ceiling-put out his great