Evening star., 1944-02-13
BY John Clagett Proctor.

VCll0 l1Adg-~IAAC IlAOSt AlAiO1 tdllt udyc VI
his life were spent in this city, when
he served in Congress and later when
he occupied the White House for little
more than four years.
OF course, we all know, or should
know at least, that this truly eminent
American was born in log cabin near
Hodgenville, in Hardin, now La Rue,
County, KY, of very poor parents, on
February IL. 1909, just 135 years ago,
yesterday and he died in the National
Capital on the morning Of April Is, 1865.
Mr.. Lincoln first came to Washington
on December 2, 1847, as Representa-
tive-elect from the State Of Illinois, and
took his seat in the House of Repre-
sentatives four days after his arrival
here.
His first stopping place was at
Browns, or the Indian Queen Hotel,
later called the Metropolitan, removed
a few years ago. 1t stood on the north
side of Pennsylvania avenue between
Sixth and Seventh streets in down.
town Washington.
Evidently Mr.. Lincoln did not like
hotel life, and so, on December 3, we
find him taking quarters at Mrs. Sprigg's
boarding house in Carroll Row. This
boarding house stood on First street
NE, about where Is now the fountain
of the Congressional Library.
A Personal Description
AS is customary, soon after Represent
ative Lincoln took his seat, he was
called upon to submit sketch Of him.
self for Lanmans Dictionary of Con-
gress for 1848, and the following is his
own personal description
Born February IL, 1909, in Hardin
County, KY.
Education, defective.
Profession, lawyer.
Have been captain Of volunteers
in the Black Hawk War.
POSTMASTER at very small Office.
-Four times a member of the Illinois
Legislature.
And was a member Of the lower
house Of Congress.
yours, etc. "a. LINCOLN.
If any personal description of me is
thought desirable, 1t may be said I am
in height feet inches, nearly; lean
in flesh, weighing on an average l80
pounds; dark complexion, with coarse
black hair and gray eyes. No other
marks or brands recollected.
1T seems as if the question whether
my first name is Abraham or 'Abram'
will never be settled. 1t is Abraham
and if the letter Of acceptance is not
yet in print, you may, if you think
fit. have my signature thereto printed
Abraham Lincoln"
His Secret Visit
Thirteen years later when Mr. Lincoln
came to Washington to be inaugurated
President. he travelled here secretly and
in disguise, and he did not reach this
city until late at night being driven
directly to Wizards Hotel, where he
entered the building by way Of the
Fourteenth street side entrance, where
he was received and welcomed by the
proprietor, Henry A. Willard, as his
guest. He was also accompanied by
his private secretary and particular
friend, Col Ward Lamon.
When Mr. Lincoln arrived, he soon
found that in transferring his baggage
his slippers had not arrived or had
been mislaid. At any rate, he badly
needed pair to rest his feet. And In
telling OF this incident, Mr.. Wizards
son. Henry Kellogg willard, has left us
this account:
My father had none large enough,
for Mr.. Lincoln had very large foot.
Nor did my father know of any slippers
of adequate size in the hotel He hap
pened to think, however, of a pair of
slippers belonging to my great-grand-
father, Hon. William c. Bradley, who was
a guest of my parents in their private
home across the street. for they then
lived in a double brick house which
they had purchased on the site where the
Willard Building now stands. My great
grandparent was much delighted to
loan his slippers to such distinguished
parsonage, for he was a great admirer
Of President Lincoln, and, as he had
good, large foot, the slippers were found
to fit Mr.. Lincoln we'll. The President
wore them for quite while and, when
they were returned, wrote handsome
note of thanks to my grandfather. On
the back of one of these slippers my
grandfather, in his own handwriting,
made a correct transcript of the Incl
dent, and the slippers have come down
as precious heirloom to me-"
1t was also from the Willard that the
President-elect went to the Capitol to
take the oath of office And it was at
the old Willard that Julia Ward Howe
wrote THE Battle Hymn of the Re-
public" after visiting the military camps
around Washington
First Inaugural Ball
Lincoln's first inaugural ball was held
In building erected in Judiciary Square
for the purpose, little to the north of
the Courthouse. Referring to this event,
The Star Of March 9, 1861, has this to
say:
But the downright serious hard work
of the evening was performed by Presi-
dent Lincoln, who for more than two
hours g. e., from quarter past o'clock
till half past 10) shook hands in right
good earnest with all comers at the rate
of Is per minute Gas timed by gentle
man in his vicinity or 1900 per hour
That last scene of the levee was
tragic one. The mass of coats, hats and
caps left in the hall had somehow got
inextricably mixed up and misappro-
priated, and perhaps not in 10 of