Evening star., 1935-04-14

ing. across the street from the theater
building, then occupied by William
Petersen. a tailor. The little back
room to which Lincoln was taken was
modestly furnished On the walls
were pictures of the "Village Black
smith" Herring's Stable and Barn
yard Scenes" and Rosa Bonheur's
Horse Fair" The furniture con-
sisted Of a bureau covered with
crocket, a table. eight or nine plain
chairs and the low, walnut bedstead
upon which Mr.. Lincoln lay when he
died, the covering being badly stained
with his blood. The headboard of
the bed was from two to three feet
high, and the floor was covered with
Brussels carpet. badly worn.
OF the condition of the President
until he passed away the next morn
ing, the minutes Of DR.. Abbott state:
Eleven pm, pulse a; ll:05.
growing weaker. At 2:l0 am. Mrs.
Lincoln present, retired with Robert
Lincoln to an adjoining room; 3 am,
visited again by Mrs. Lincoln: 3:35.
prayer by the Rev. Dr.. Gurley; died
at 1922 am" Two hours later the
DOuS NdS lCIuONCO W ALlC nIlllt
House, in hearse, wrapped N the
American flag, and the funeral took
place from the east room, thence to
the Capitol.
And thus passed into eternity the
greatest President since the days of
George Washington.
Lincoln's favorite poem was "Oh!
Why Should the Spirit of Mortal Be
Proud?" And he, no doubt, read the
following concluding lines over many
times before the grim reaper called
him home:
Yea, hope and despondency, pleasure
and pain,
Are mingled together in sunshine and
rain;
And the smile and the tear, and the
song and the dirge
Still follow each other like surge
upon surge.
! 'Tis the wink of an eye, It's the
l. draught of a breath.
From the blossom Of health TO the
! pallor of death,
From the gilded saloon to the bier
! and the shroud:
Oh! why should the spirit of mortal
be proud?'
EVERY now and then a new re-
minder of the assassination Of
President Lincoln makes its appear
ance, after having been hid away
from the public all these years.
Recently the writer came across an
old relic in the nature of a Scotch
plaid shawl, which was used on the
evening Lincoln was shot to cover
him as he was being transferred from
the theater to the Petersen house.
where he died. 1t is the property
Of Mrs. William R. Harr, a sister
to the late Gen. Harvey, and has
been in her family ever since the
fatal l4th of April. 1865, having been
given by Mrs. Lincoln to Alexander
Williamson. who married. for his sec
ond wife, Laura Catherine Beach, a
sister TO Mrs. Harris mother.
1t is a large wooden shawl with
small plaid design, and is in color a
light muddy green, which was prob
ably somewhat darker more than
~ SCoAo dsO ~ was
by Mr.. Williamson's mother. then re-
siding in Scotland, TO President Lin
coin, and who acknowledged 1t in
the following note:
Executive Mansion.
Washington. July 20. 1854.
Mrs. Anne Williamson.
Madam: The Plaid you sent me
is just now placed in my hands by
your kind and worthy son. I thank
you for that pretty and useful pres
ent. but still more for those good
wishes to myself and our country
which prompted you to present IL.
Your ODD. servt..
"A. LINCOLN"
MRS. LINCOLN'S letter to Mr.. Will
hanson, in which she refers to
the shawl, follows:
Chicago. September 9, 1855.
"Mr. Williamson:
My Dear Sir-Your letter was re-
ceived on yesterday. AS to the car
riage. had you not better ascertain
at what shop in N. Y. you can deposit
it before you carry 1t there? Surely
there are persons Of means, there or
in Phila., who would purchase 1t, If
for no other reason than it having
been the property of my lamented
husband. I received the newspaper
containing the sad intelligence Of DR..
Henry's death. The story 1t contains
that we were married at his house Is
entirely unfounded. I believe both
his wife and himself we're present ut
our marriage. Taddie is going to q
school and for once in his life he is
really interested in his studies. After
all, few children learn well without
some one sharing their lessons. II his
darling, precious brother Willie had
lived he [Tadl would have been much
further advanced.
II do not wonder that you shrink
from the White House! All the sor-
rows Of my life occurred there and
that Whited Sepulcher broke my
heart
II presented you the shawl, dress
, ing gown and slippers as . private
gift, out of respect for your kind
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