Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-02-03

SS aHA
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. l look back at my youth and
manhood and tell. with n eye upon
the clock, Of those years of fulhllment
In the progress Of our beloved pilgrim
There are te5dr and twenty of Them
that l shall try to review in as many
minutes. At this distance I see only
the high places-one looming above
another like steps in a stairwsS.
The years of building and sentiment
ended on the fourth of November.
1912. when he and Mary Todd were
Joined in marriage. Now. like n hav-
ing taken note of the storm clouds, he
strengthens the structure.
Mary tried to teach him fine man.
ners. Ii 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-
RE 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-sleeves
and slippers with a pillow under his
head and a book in his hand. He had
a liking for ample accommodation, Dot
fully satisfied by a bed or a lounge.
Mary undertook to turn him into new
ways and naturally there was irrita-
ton in the house, but l think they got
along very well together for all that.
Mary grew fond of him and proud
Of his great talents and was a 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 al home.
Annabel and l, having Just been
married. went with him TO Washing
ton on our wedding tour in 1s47. 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 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 assembled the platform, took on
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. 1t was a memorable
night. He spoke of it often. Such
contact with the great spirits of that
time, of which he studiously awaited
himself in Washington, was of great
value to the statesman from Illinois
His experiences on the floor were il
no way important to him, but sine,
1914 I have thought often Of what ht
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 hat
always been involving and ~impoverish
ing their people in vars. pretending
generally that the good Of the peopl
was the object. This onr convention
understood to be the most oppressiy