Year: 1876




sassination-A Cincinnati Hotel Bill.


Mr.. J. Gillespie, of Edwardsville Hi
nois writes to the ST. Louis Globe Demo-
crGt as follows:


1 met Mr. Lincoln one day coming alone
'across lots" from the War Office to the
White house. There was no one in sight.
l demonstrated with him for exposing him
self to the danger of assassination and re-
marked that he, perhaps, had adequate con-
ception Of how impartant the preservation
of his life was to the country and the policy
and measures he was carrying out. He
said he thought he realized to the full ex-
tent the necessity of avoiding Interruptions
to the course events were taking, "but,
said he, II can't see clearly how this dan
ger is to be fully guarded against. The
military men have been talking of provid-
ing a body guard for me- but [ tell them
they can't always be with me, and | don't
believe that it is worth while to put up a
fence if you are obliged to leave any of the
gaps down.


How conscientious he was about paying
debts will be shown by the following In
1858 Il think he was invited by COM
mittee to deliver political address in Gin
cinnati. Shortly after his return from the
performance of that duty was at his room
| one evening when his mail matter arrived.
After reading one of his letters he handed
it to me, saying that 'it mortified him to
think he had been so negligent as to leave
without inquiring about his hotel bill. "
He said ''he supposed it had been paid by
the committee, but that did not excuse
him for not inquiring about it." | saw from
the latter that the bill was for fifty dollars
for a suite of rooms at the hotel Said [,
''Lincoln, you have been going it On the
big figures, perceive How long did you
stop?" "Only one night" said he. II ar
rived in the evening, delivered my address,
and left next morning" but, | see you
had suite of rooms" "Well'' said he
"that is news to me. | did not know that
[ had more room than ordinarily occupy
| neither called for any more, nor was [ in
formed that more was allotted to me. [
thought | was an ordinary guest" "Well,"
said l. ''if | were in your place [ would in
vestigate this matter L think you will
find something wrong about it. 1t is hard
ly possible that the committee who invited
you and prepared for your reception neg
lected to pay your hotel BILL 1t is still less
likely that they refused to pay it, for it
must have been presented to them before
being sent to you, if not paid in the first
instance | think this is a case of black
mailing by the clerks in the hotel, and you
owe it to yourself not to be victimized
They have a wonderful faculty for discern
ing whom they may fleece or neglect with
impunity." | had learned from compar-
ing notes with him that he and ] were ft
subjects for their designs. | had heard
him say that he stood in greater awe Of a
hotel clerk or water than of any other hu-
man being that he never had such realiz-
ing sense of his utter unworthiness as when
he was confronted with one Of these in
tensly frigid and inefably dinifed hotel
clerks. MIR. Lincoln rather agreed that he
would write to Cincinnati about the bill |
saw him in few days and inquired about
the matter. He told me he had sent on
the money and settled it. Said [, elm
coin, you are more tender footed with these
chaps than ever l am. viii dispute with
them sometimes | made a clerk strike
out charge of fifty cents day for fire in
the month of July. He did it reluctant
ly, because he said | could have had fire if
| wanted it." "Well, said Lincoln, ''that
was not exactly the reason l paid the BILL
l did not believe any one would be guilty
of trying to cheat me in that way, and |
did not know the rules and necessities of
| botal EaaparS ond SO eOncluAa1 that thew
had served me as they did others and |
felt it to be my duty to pay it, although |
confess it looked a little mysterious"