The Jasper news., 1921-12-29

Being 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 l 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 stairway.
The years of building and sentiment
ended on the fourth of November,
1912, when he and Mary Todd were
joined 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 difficult undertaking.
Often, as might have been expected,
she lost her patience. Mary was an
excellent girl, but rather Wholesome
and prngmatic. Like most of the prai-
rie 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 indolent
and unbecoming. He enjoyed sprawl.
ing on the floor In his shirt-sleeyes
and slippers with pillow under his
head and a,book in his hand. He had
a liking for ample accommodation, not
fully satisfied by bed or a lounge.
Mary undertook to turn him into new
ways and naturally there was Irrita-
ton in the house, but think they got
nlong very well together for all that.
Mary grew fond of him ard proud
Of his great talents and was 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 ]. having just been
married, went with him to 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 to hear
Emerson lecture. 1t was motley au-
dience-busines men, fashionable
ladies' and gentlemen, statesmen, polIti-
clans, women with their knitting and
lion-hunters. The tall, awkward ora
tor assembled the platform. took OF
his top-cont and drew manuscript
from his pocket. He had a narrow.
sloping forehead, a prominent nose,
gray eyes and a skin of singular trans.
parency. His voice was rich and mel
low. but not strong. Lincoln listened
with Tgpt attentlon 70 his talk about
DtmO;iicy. 1t WIS a memorable
ghl He spok. o. 1t often. Such
contnc; with tho great spirits OF that
time, If which lie studiously aralleL
himself in Washington, was Of great
value to the statesman from Illinois.
His experiences on the floor were 81
no way important TO him, but since
1914 have thought often of what he
said there, regarding Folks invasion
Of Mexico. unauthorized by congress
as It was:
''The provision Of the Constitution
giving the war-making power to con.
gress was dictated. as l 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 kIngly expressions and they pro-
posed to so frame the constitution
that no man should hold the power OF
bringing this oppression upon u.s."
The next year he stumped M,ssa-
chusetts for zach" Taylor and heard
Gov. Seward deliver his remarkable
speech on slavery. which contained
this striking utterance:
Congress has no power TO lnhibit
any duty commanded by God on Mount
Sinai or by Hts Son on the Mount Of
olives
fro nm CONFINEMENT