The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-12
LINCOLN.
As Remembered by u Neighbor Of His
In SprlngA field.

sVbus
TO THE Enron OF THE suN-Sir. Have
the little personal stories about Abra-
ham Lincoln lost favor? have gath
cred a few that may he OF general in
terest. DIR. William Jayne, who is still
living in Springfield. ILL.,. and who by
President 1.incoln's first official act was
appointed Governor of the Dakotas.
says: Lincoln had a happy home. The
husband was kind and considcrate. the
wife bright. impulsive. educated. gem
erous. industrious and lovable. a good
wife and Il fond mother" She had the
reputation, when ! lived in Springfield.
of being quick tempered and easily
provoked. but people Of this disposition
are not necessarily unpleasant to live
with.
shortly bcfos" their marriage Miss
Todd's girl friends leased her by so yiny.
Mary, IT you ever rest on Abraham's
bosom you will have to take n ladder"
She replied. His heart is rs large as
his legs are long Another story is
that at "a dance MIR. Lincoln said !;
Miss Todd. ! wan to dance with YOU
the worst way When the ~cotillon
was over tsquarc dances we're once
called cotillons) she could not resist
saying: mfr. Lincoln. you've had your
wish. you have danced with me-the
worst way
Stories OF Llncoln's care and consid-
GRAFTON Tor her are spoken Of, how he
always hurried home when It thun-
dered. because storms terrified her. The
moment he was nominated for the
Presidency he hurried ITO tell n little
woman, who would like to hear the
news"
Mrs. Lincoln was fond OF dress. Old
Springfield people tell OF her r~ustling
proudly into the church. the last sun
day before going to Washington.
gowned in an ashes OF roses hayadere
stripe. with bonnet to match and a
black lace shawl. That she possessed
a kind and charitable heart was proved
IN one case In particular. Baron Non
Ellsner. an erratic musical genius. lived
near by. lie had an ailing wife and
many children. and IL seemed iinpossi-
Bile for him to earn enough for their
needs. lie mentioned to me that Mrs.
Lincoln had sent them food and cloth
ing many times. Possibly Mrs. Lincoln
gave aid to his gifted daughter. Marie.
who became a grand opera singer. a
star. making her debut In London and
known on the stage az Mile. Litta.
DR.. Jayne's account of Llncoln's life
is probably the most truthful and
courageous yet written. nothing being
unduly colored or suppressed. He
speaks Of Lincoln's birth and ancestry
az being a subject about which he was
never communicative. When Nj. Scripps
Of the Chicago Tribune went to Spring
field to visit Lincoln and gather from
him materials for A campaign hiog-
raphy Lincoln hesitated whether to aid
in the publication or not. lie said to
MIR. Scripps: There is no romance nor
~ there anything heroic in my early
career the story of my life can he
rp.jangaI iysn npn linn .nh that Nnt
can find in Gray's 'F:legy.' the short
and simple annals Of the poor This &
all YOU or any one can make out Of
me or my early life"
In the otunda Of the old state
House. now used as a county court
house. Mr.. Lincoln held an informal re-
ception after his election 10 IN. Presi-
dency. \ number OF schoolgirls heard
the booming ~ tho cannon that an
nounced Mr.. L.incoln's election. Upon
learning that he was IN the state House
We ran as fast as We "ould. about a
dozen or more. and upon arriving there
"" decided to march in in single file
one Of the girls. daughter OF the GOV
ernor Of Illinois. who happened to he
carrying a Gag. took the lead. We saw
Mr.. Lincoln standing in the centre of
the rotunda surrounded by a few men
The news had not reached all Of the
' N'N' 'l~'ib'lll1N wv kits WI
among the first TO shake hands with
him. He laughed outright when he
saw us. AS he took one little girls
hand "A man standing neat by shouted
Don't shake hands with her. Mr.. Lin
coin she's A Democrat I never could
understand this demonstration of rude
ness until recently one Of the girls Of
the party told me ''she carried "A Con-
fedcrtte Tag and was the daughter of
a democratic Governor who was AN in
innate friend OF stephen 4. Douglas -
Mr.. Lincoln only smiled and pat;-d her
shoulder. and shook hands AGAIN. 1t
was the only time | had ever seen MIR.
Lincoln smile.
I have a picture q Lincoln taken
after a debate with Douglas. He was
seated before the photographer with
his hair plastered down tight. Sud
denly he ran his fingers through his hair
and sad. My friends would not know
me looking like this. want to look
natural" This picture. the tousicd Look
ing head. has been Endorsed by his son.
by Shelby NJ. cullom u q number OF
other friends as being the best likeness
ever taken 81 him. The wooden framc
~ a piece az the flooring Of NJ Lin
coins bedroom. removed when the
state Of Illinois took possession Of the
homestead. CARRIE ~ ANN.