Evening star., 1936-04-12

House early in the morning, and await
the coming of the newsboy. He felt
that if he we're to be assassinated,
| there was no way to prevent it. And
/ his conclusions proved true, for, on
the evening of April IA. 1865, he was
believed to be amply protected from
harm. and yet We know what hap
pened.
Upon the date of his second IN
auguration, just Al days before he was
shot, Booth made an attempt to reach
his person at the Capitol during the
ceremonies, but was prevented from
doing so by Capitol Policeman Robert
Strong, Commissioner B. B. French
and Lieut.. John w. Westfall. 1t was
the last named. We are told, who
thrust him bodily from the passage
leading to the platform reserved for
the President and his party. though it
intruder was Booth.
1t was the writer's pleasure to be-
come acquainted with Lieut.. Westfall
many years later, when the lieutenant
was a guard at the National Museum.
and though he knew he had been a
guard at the CAPITOL, still he never
heard him say anything about this
| incident. There was nothing strange
in this, however, for Mr.. Westfall was
a very modest man, and as fine gen.
/ tleman as one might meet in life.
time. He was of medium build, had a
kindly face, and wore mutton-chop
whiskers. like Chauncey Depew and
many another old-timer Up to the
! time of his death, which occurred
about 80 years ago, he was employed
in the Museum.
WE HAVE heard it said that Presi-
dent Lincoln went to the theater
on that unfortunate Good Friday at
the urging of Mrs. Lincoln. and many
things have been said about this good
woman, which since have been proven
false. The deathbed scene at the
Petersen home, SIG Tenth street, vas
pathetic in the extreme. and may shed
some light on this particular phase Of
the tragedy. John P. Usher, who was
Secretary of the Interior at the time.
tells Of one Of the first visits Of Mrs.
Lincoln to the stricken President,
when she inplored him to speak TO
her, and said she did not want to 60
to the theater that night. but that he
thought he must go. because people
would be expecting him. as he had
been so extensively advertised. "She
called for little Tad" according to the
Secretary, "and said she knew he
would speak to him, because he loved
him SO we'll, and, after indulging in
dreadful incoherence for some time.
was finally persuaded to leave the
room"
Indeed, as We approach the day OF
the death Of this great American,
would 1t not be well to repeat some
OF the worthy sentiments he was
known to have expressed-all forceful
and full Of righteous wisdom. One
in particular, which appeals greatly
to the disfranchised people Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, is the one in which
he says: Those who deny freedom
to others deserve It not for themselves,
and, under q Just God, cannot long
retain it."
Would 1t not be well for those who
control the affairs Of the District In
Congress to read, digest and heed
these words. They have all the rights
pledged to the American citizen; why
should they deny 1t to the people
of the Federal Capital, the very heart
and home Of o liberty constituted and
liberty-loving people.
Understanding the spirit Of our
institutions to aim at the elevation
Of men, am opposed to whatever
! tends to degrade them," he says. And
II putting the people Of Washington
In the class Of convicts, idiots and
Indians. is not degrading, then, what
Is 1t?
Other sayings read:
What is the presidency worth 10
me II have no country"
Il shall do less whenever I shall
believe that what I am doing hurts
the cause; and shall do more when-
ever I shall believe doing more will
help the cause"
Quoting Lowell, he said:
IF you ave o sword and dror 1t,
AN stick a feller creetur thru,
"Gov'ment haint to answer for it,
"Godll send the bill to you"
His charity for all is well stated In
the following words: 81
"Let LIS express nor cherish any
CONTINUED on Sixth Passl