The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-11-10
CHAPTER XIV.

Being a Brief Memoir by the Honor
able and Venerable Man Known In
These Pages as Josiah Traylor, Who
Saw the Great Procession OF Events
Between Andrew jackson and Wood
row Wilson and Especially the Max.
ing and the End Of Lincoln.
Now, as I have done often sitting
In the chimney corner at the days
end, ] look back at my youth and
manhood and tell, with one eye upon
the clock, OF those years OF fulfillment
In the progress OF our beloved pilgrim.
There are four and twenty OF them
that / shall try to review In as many
minutes. At this distance see only
the high places-one looming above
another like steps in q stairwa<.
The years OF building and sentiment
ended on the fourth OF November,
1912, when he and Mary Todd were
J,eIed In marriage. Now, like one hav-
ing taken note Of the storm clouds, he
strengthens the structure.
Mary tried TO teach him fine man.
ners. II was n difficult undertaking.
Often, as might have been expected,
she lost her patience. Mary was an
excellent girl, but rather Wholesome
and prHgmatic. Like most OF the prai-
rle folk, for instance, Abe Lincoln had
been accustomed to reach for the but
ter with his own knife, and TO find
rest in attitudes extremely indoleBt
and unbecoming. He enjoyed sprawl
Ing on the floor In his shlrt-sleeves
and slippers with pillow under his
a liking for ample accommodation, not
fully satisfied by a bed or n lounge.
Mary undertook to turn him into new
ways and naturally there was irrita-
ton In the house, but think they got
along very well together for all that.
Mary grew fond OF him and proud
OF his great talents and was n devoted
wife For years she did the work OF
the house and bore him children. He
MIXED the COW and took care OF the
horse when he was at home.
Annabel and l, having Just been
married, went with him 10 Washing
ton on our wedding tour in 1847. He
was taking his seat In congress that
year. We were with him there when
he met Webster. Lincoln was deeply
impressed by the quiet dignity OF the
great man. We went together 20 hear
Emerson lecture. II was a motley au-
dience-business men, fashionable
| In MI
clans, women with their knitting and
lion-hunters. The tall, awkward ora
tor assembled the platform, took OF
his top-coat and drew a manuscript
from his pocket. He had a narrow,
sloping forehead, a prominent hose,
gray eyes and a skin OF singular trans
parency. His voice was rich and mel
low, but not strong. Lincoln listened
with rapt attention TO his talk about
Democracy. II was a memorable
night He spoke OF II often. Such
contact with the great spirits OF thnt
time. Of which he studlously avniled
himself In Washington, was Of great
value 10 the statesman from Illinois.
His experiences on the floor were IN
no way important TO him, but since
1914 l have thought often OF what he
said there, regarding Folks invasion
OF Mexico, unauthorized by congress
as II was:
''The provision OF the Constitution
giving the war-maklng power 10 con-
gress was dictated. as ! understand II,
by the following reasons: Kings had
always been involving and impoverish-
ing their people In wars, pretending
generally that the good OF the people
was the object. This our convention
understood to be the most oppressive
OF all klngly expressions and they pro
posed TO 80 frame the constitution
that no man should hold the power OF
bringing this oppression upon us
The next year he stumped Massa-
chusetts for zach" Taylor and heard
Gov. Seward deliver his remarkable
speech on slavery, which contained
this striking utterance:
Congress has no power to inhibit
any duty commanded by God on Momt
Sinai or by His Son on the Mount VI
Olives"