Connecticut western news., 1922-07-20
CHAPTER XIV.


 able and Venerable Man Known in
 These Pages as Josiah TrayIor, 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, I look back at my youth and manhood and tell, with one eye upon the clock, of those years of fultillment in the progress of our beloved pilgrim. There are four and twenty of them that I shall try to review in as many minutes. At this distance l see only the high places-One looming above another like steps in a stairwaS.
 The years of building and sentiment ended on the fourth of November, 1842, 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 sman- ners. It was a difficult undertaking. Often, as might have been expected, she lost, her patience. Mary was an excellent girl, but rather kindlesome and pragmatic 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 unbeooming. He enjoyed sprawl ing on the floor in his shirt-sleeves and slippers with a pillow under his head and book in his hand. He had liking for ample accommodation, not fully satisfied by a bed or a lounge. Mary undertook to turn him into new ways and naturally there was irrita- tion 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 devoted wife. For years she did the work of the house and bore him children. He miIked the COW and took care of the horse when he was at home.
 Annabel and I, 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. It was a motley au- dience-business men, fashionable ladies and gentlemen, statesmen, pOliti- clans, women with their knitting and lion-hunters. The tall awkward ora tor ascended the platform, took of his top-coat and drew a 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 rapt attention to his talk about Democracy. It was a memorable night. He spoke of 1t often. Such contact with the great spirits of that time, of which he studiously availed himself in Washington, was of great value to the statesman from Illinois. His experiences on the floor were in no way important to him, but since 1914 I have thought often of what he said there regarding Folks invasion of Mexico, unauthorized by congress as 1t was:
 "The provision of the Constitution giving the war-maklng power to con- gress was dictated, as I understand 1t, 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 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 Mount Sinai or by His Son on the Mount of Olives"
 On his return home Lincoln con- fessed that we had soon to deal with that question.
 I was In his office when Herndon said:
 "T tell you that slavery must be rooted out"
 .t'What makes you think sop MT.
 7T