Evening star., 1917-02-11
Last Writing of Lincoln Now i'm Library of Congress


had decided to 90 to the theater that
night. His mind WAS freer from care
and anxiety than II mad peen during
surrendered. and his whole mind was
bent on setting the country to rights.
The play was one Of the limited
means of recreation President Lincoln
could enjoy. for he could not at that
time indulge in any of the sports later
Presidents have taken part ins> not
even hunting, of which he wasevery
fond and good shot.
Hay and Nicolay relate. in their biog-
raphy Of Abraham Lincoln. that it was
always q matter of surprise In Europe
that the President should have beer, at
a place of amusement on Good Friday.
But that day III this country. being
kept largely by those in the Latin COM
munion. was even less observed in the
COS than now. Besides, Mrs. Lincoln
had expressed q desire to see the com
edy. Our American Cousin" playing at
Ford's Theater.
At about s o'clock that Friday even
ing of April IA. 1885, George Ashmun.
a former member of Congress and
warm personal friend OF Mr.. Lincolp's,
Colfax. just az the President and
Mrs. Lincoln were ready to.start to the
play. Mr.. Ashmuu was Chairman OF the
republican national convention OF 1860,
nominated Mr.. Lincoln for the presi-
dency and was one of the notification
committee sos y -
He was a member of Congress at, the
time Lincoln. was, serving continuously
from 1S45 to 1851. He exerted strong
influence in the administration, his per-
sonal grace and brilliancy drawing men
to him While he had retired to pri-
vate life. he was one of small group
of older statesmen who could be de-
pended upon for counsel and advice:
1t was Ashmun who, after the fall
OF Fort Sumter, gained from Stephen
A: Douglas-long the political rival of
statement that he would Sustain LIN
coin in the exercise OF all his constt-
tutional functions to preserve the
Union, maintain the government and
defend the federal capital" This an.
nouncement from the former foe of
Lincoln had great weight throughout
the north, for there were thousands
of men who voted for Douglas and
We're ready to follow him.
Mr.. Ashmun and Speaker Colfax, after
stating their errand. were told by the
President to call next morning-Sat-
urday-at o'clock On Mr.. 4Ashmun
expressing fear that he might find 1t
difficult to see the President at so early
an hour without card or note. Of
admittance Mr.. Lincoln turned back
and wrote with pencil on q card the
size of a visiting card of that time:
ALLOW Mr.. Ashmun & friend to come
in at 9 AN. tomorrow. A. Lincoln.
April IA. 1865"
He left Immediately for the theater.
and within two hours of the time he
signed this card the bullet from the
pistol of John Wilkes Booth had killed
him and the hand that had so recently
held the pencil to do service for a
beloved friend was convulsively closed
The exact time of Lincoln's arrival
al Ford's Theater has not been POSI-
lively agreed upon. In the elder
Sothern's prompt book, preserved by
his son, the entry is late in the first
act at half after s. or a quarter to 8:
The shot was fred during the second
scene of the third act. Maj. Rathbone
swore that on April IA, 1865. at about
twenty minutes past he left his resi-