An Historic Ilittle City
Some Recollections of the Early Days of
Abraham Lincoln's Town.
(Lincoln, 111., Letter.)
While the city of Lincoln cannot
boast of having the home of tho Illus
trious president Its residents are Just
ns proud of their little city, for In the'
fifties the prominent figure of the mid
dle west wns often on the streets, and
In the old courthouse ho made many
speeches and carried on n goodly share
of his practice. The whole placo Is
teeming with reminiscences, and the
old timers who were hero lu the good
old days llko nothing better than to
give their memories full sway. The
first county teat of Logan county was
Postvlllo, named for Its founder, Rus
sell Post, In 1835. Post was followed
by other pioneers, and finally the little
settlement became tho regular stop
ping place for tho stages, It being on
tho direct road from Chicago to St
Lonls, It being tho county seat, It
soon arrived at the dignity of a court
house, a rude, two storied building,
which remains to this day, and this
-was followed by a jail of the type to
ho found In frontier towns, guaranteed
burglar proof. Built of logs one foot
Fquare, hewed by hand, It was strong
enough to hold any criminal, and es
capo was out of tho question, as the
only entrance wbb from a trap door In
the ceiling, the malefactors descending
by means of a ladder and then loft in a
pit twelvo feet underneath an Iron
trap door. The county seat was after
ward removed to Mt. Pulaski, and
Postvlllo Immediately lost prestige,
and when It was united to the city of
Lincoln In 1865 numbered only 200 In
habitants. The late Col. It. D. Latham
secured the right, of way through
Logan county for tho Chicago & Alton
railway, and was promised by tho
FIRST HOUSE ERECTED
chief engineer the location of a station.
Ho then bought tho land on which Is
now tho original town site of Lincoln,
on behalf of himself, John D. Gillet,
the cattlo king of Illinois, and Virgil
Hlckox of Springfield. This was In
February, 1853, and the sale of lots
took placo In the following August.
The grass was so long on tho town site
at that time that the organizers had to
have It mowed to find the streets.
Tho town 'was named for Mr. Lincoln,
then a prominent attorney In Spring
field, and a warm personal friend of
Latham, Glllett and Hlckox. He was
among tho number, who came up. from
tho capltol to attend tho sale, and
walked over tho sito Inspecting the
lots, pointing out those he would llko
to own, and In the next breath regret
ting his Inability to buy. At that
time ho was not thought of as a presi
dential possibility, but wus popular
with everybody in central Illinois, and
had already been given tho name of
"Honest Abe." The courthouse whero
he tried many of his cases still stands
and In outward appearance Is the same
as when ho entered It with his green
bag nearly fifty years ago. Hut the In
terior has been remodeled until there
Is no semblance to Its former self,
groceries have been sold through what
were once tho portals of Justice, money
has been wagerod on the tables whero
tho circuit riders once placed with
abandon their dusty boots, and fami
lies have been raised lu the rooms of
tho Jury. But tho memory remalnB,
and stories of Lincoln the lawyer nnd
Lincoln the president are numerous as
ever. It was In the old courtroom
whero tho man destined to become ono
of tho greatest presidents wo have
over known conducted several of Kc
cases, and by his known honeety won
tho hearts of the people. ,s an illus
tratl ( of this latter tho following In
clde is given: Mr. Lincoln had been
cmpl t by a Mr. Brown to conduct
a caso for him, and which was to bo
heard In the Logan county court,
Thinking ho could better ndvanco his
Interests and supposing ho could es
cape detection, Brown gave Mr. Lin
coln a very false view of his cose.
Thlp developed In the trial, when Mr.
Lincoln, vexed at tho falsity of tho
man and caring only for tho truth,
turned to him In open court, exclaim
ing, with considerable earnestness,
THE OLD COURTHOUSE, FA MI LI
"Brown, what made you He to me so?
If I had known the truth In your case
I would have advised you not to bring
suit." This unflinching regard for
principle gave "Honest Abo" a stand
ing among Logan county people which
In after years was never lost.
Lincoln's fund of humor and his
capacity for having thousands of anec
dotes concealed about him is known
IN LINCOLN IN 1853.
all over civilized America. Tho old
courthouso will pass Into oblivion in
a few years more, but the memory of
tho great lawyer, who afterward led
the nation through Its darkest hours,
will ever be a 6wcet one.
Tho new town of Lincoln, which now
has Postvlllo for its fourth ward, Is
a busy place of twelve thousands, re
plete with factories, railroads, paved
streets, electric car lines and every
thing that goes to make a central 1111-
IN A NAVAL
Tho picture shows ono of the dry
docks nt the Brooklyn navy yard. The
boat In tho basin Is ono of tho torpedo
variety that was engaged In tho battlo
of Santiago bay last year. Sho has late
ly gone Into thla hospital, as the tars
call tho naval dry dock. These basins
will usually hold nnythlng from a 10,-000-ton
battle-ship to a common lino
tug. When she has been tenderly
propped up on the blocks which have
been fitted accurately to the outline of
nols town n desirable place of resi
dence. The first house that was erect
ed on tho town stto In ISM Is still
standing and Is habitable. And to add
local color to this sketch, when tho
cottago was visited by tho artist he
was met at the door by a dear little
old woman with a most charming
brogue. After stating his mission sho
nsktd, 'An' phwere might ye bo from?"
'Chicago," was the answer. "And do
Alt TO LINCOLN THE LAWYER.
you ever see me daughter Katy up
there?" C. L. SHERMAN.
OSAGE INDIANS' SMOKE DANCE
Annual
Jollification Which
Always
Tjt u Week.
Tho annual smoke dance of the
Osago Indians took wlace at PawhuBka.
Oklahoma, the last of Juno. The
smoke danco Is always u gala event
among tho Indians of the territory.
Tho danco was held In a secluded place
on tho hank, of a creek. At night the
placo is lighted with pine knots, and a
circle of dark faces around the half
naked dancers presents weird pic
ture. Two hundred white persons vis
ited the dance, nlthough usunlly "pale
faces" aro not allowed to witness tho
ceremony. The neighboring tribes aro
always Invited to take part, and gen
erally the different tribes nro as
signed certain days on which to send
delegations. Usually the vlstors bring
ponies and other presents to the
Osagcs, but sometimes tho visitors are
the recipients of gifts. Tho Delawarea
were presented with fifty ponies and
fiOO yards of calico by the Osages. One
night several of the Indians, who were
evidently tired out, were whipped by
tho chief's order becnuse they did not
displny enough energy lu the dance.
Four of tho drummers and five of tho
dancers were graduates of Indian
schools. St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Scnroil 111 Hair Out.
Tho Paris Progres Medical records
a most remarkable recent caso show
ing tho effect of fright on tho hair.
A vigorous peasant with abundant
hair not yet Bhowlng gray saw his
small child trampled under n horso's
hoofs and wub overcome by fright. He
trembled and- had palpitations and a
feeling of cold nnd tension In the fnco
and head. On the following day tho
hnlrs of the head, beard and eyebrows
commenced to full In quantities so that
after eight days ho was absolutely
bald. In a few weeks a new growth
of hair put In an appearance.
TrancAtlantln Trnnic.
There nro 1,000 vessels which cross
tho Atlantic ocean regularly every
month, some of them twice a month.
It Is always n great shock to n
woman to hear a preacher express a
desire to go to Pari?; his longing
should bo to visit the Holy Land.
DRY DOCK.
her keel, and the caisson, or floating
bulkhead which (Its snugly across tho
sea side of tho dork, hits been towed
Into position, nnd when tho wntor has
been sucked out by tho great pumping
engines, then tho naval doctors can
get down below the region of tho wnter
line and find out what Is tho trouble
and take tho propor remedial meas
ures. The horizontal spars aro tho
"shores" that prevent tho vessel from
toppling over on Its side.
SARA THE DIVINE.
INTERVIEW WITH
QRuAT ACTRESS.
THE
ilio T1U the Corrmpomlrnt Abant Hir
t.lfp, Hrr Sticrrr nnct (he Mnnj
Thins She llnpo Yet to Arcoin
illh. (Paris Letter.)
"I will tee you at 3." So ran n
ilno from Madnme Bernhardt to me,
ind nt 3 I .was well on my way to the
(ashlonnblo part of Paris, whero the
lueen of the drama, ','Sarn, the Di
vine," ns they call hef In Paris, lives.
Approaching Bernhardt's hoii30
through the tiny courtyard, I saw
hanging nlongsldo tho door a big bunch
of purple grapes, and behind tho
rapes was tho door signal, in answer
to my touch the neatest of French
mnlds opened the door and showed mo
cross to n very pretty square hall
way with stairs leading up. Tho hall
way Is used by madamo as a reception
room.
Scarcely had I seated myself when I
saw a figure upon the stairs. It was
Bernhardt. She had been standing
upon tho top step rending by tho un
certain light of o colored lamp, but as
Bho saw me she camo down the steps
with outstretched hands nnd a hearty
"I am so glad to seo yout"
Of course she spoko U French, for
Bernhardt does not know English. Sho
has always declared that sho would not
learn It for fear It would spoil her
French. A charming Idiosyncrasy,
truly, and ono that Is appreciated by
bpth French nnd English niullcnccs. It
foreign stnrs, says a well known critic,
would cling to their own language, wo
should not bo put to the mortification
of hearing our own tongue murdered
upon tho stage. Speak correctly or not
nt all should be the rule for public
speakers. But wo Americans are so
good naturcd! I thought of nil this as
Bernhardt's smooth, musical tongue
struck upon my ear, as she came for
ward with both warm liandB out
stretched. Sho shook mine cordially
and pulled 1110 toward a curling tete-a-tete,
ono of tho sort In which you
face ench other, though Elttlng on op
posite sides. "You see me at a dis
advantage," declared madame, laugh
ingly, "for I am alone. My friend who
has been visiting me is away, and I
like never to bo alone. This house
was built for many guests, and I nm
never without some one."
"Your son?"
"Oh, now," said madame, touching
the lace upon tl)0 gown as though bho
would place her hand upon her heart;
"you mention tho dearest and kindest
fellow In tho world. I love Maurice
and he loves mo. He Is the most de
voted of sons. Every day he comes,
and many times some days, to too how
I am. Am 1 lonely he does not leavo
inc. Am I sad he brings me bright
flowers and pets and books. Ho Is a
darling, Maurice."
As madame spoko sho glanced around
tho room which wns filled with many
beautiful objects, perhaps the gifts nt
Miiurlce. There woro many small
clocks, for I learned afterward that sho
Is very fontl of tlind-pleccs, and thero
were vnses and easy chairs and rugs.
Yet tho room was relieved from Bono
mlnnlty by tho similarity of the stylo
of ornaments, which all belonged to
the pure French rcnnlssaneo, and
were not scattered articles of virtu and
bric-a-brac of all nations. "I nm vest
ing now," said mudamo, "for In n few
days I start upon my tour of tho prov
inces. I shall play my Hamlet entire
ly, for It Ie the gcrntest success of my
life. Yes, I llko to play It. Thero la
a novelty about It. Shall I go to Amer
ica? I hope so, for 1 love your people.
They aro so appreciative. J could play
for tnem rorever." And now you must
have a pen picture of Bernhardt. Sho
Is petite, though so slight that you
SARAH BERNHARDT.
inkft her for taller than she Is. I do
not think she Is Over five feet three.
She weighs about 145, pounds, and her
hair Is n light shade of natural red.
It Is curly, and she wears It In n French
coll from which ripples curl around
her faco. Her complexion is pink and
her teeth are white and even. Her
hands nro the long slim ones of tho
artist, but so delicate that you wonder
how she could ever havo handled tho
large figures which she will tell you
that she modeled. "Tho future? Of that
1 cannot speak accurately," said inad-
nme," but I shall play hero next year
In my own theater, which I am build
ing now. But my next play? That Is
not decided yet." Bernhardt can bo
haughty, and there Is Just n suggestion
of haughtiness ng she speaks. She has
tho habit of carrying tho head well
back and speaking with her eyes cnBt
down slightly, yet looking down at you
Instead of up. it Is n stage trick, very
pretty and effective, which gives dig.
nlty. That Is Bernhardt's way.
"You aro very busy, madamo?" 1
asked.
"Oh, dear, yes. What can I say? I
have promised to write my recollec
tions and experiences for n publisher
and to soon finish the bor:. I havo
contracted to complete my theater by
the opening of the Exposition, and that
means tho earning of tho necessary
money for It. Business reverses havo
brought mo low In money, ami 1 must
be active. Then there Is a new play
to select and rehearse, and the com
pany always needs much drilling. Ah,
If It were not for Sardou, what would
I have dono?"
Madame sighed and bowed her head.
It was a dramatic moment. Then u
merry laugh burst from her Hps, for
she 1b a creature of moods. "Hut Hint
Is nothing. I am so glad that my Ham
let Is a success."
At that moment there was n sound at
tho curtains, nnd the maid ushered In
a caller. It was madame's reception
day, and 1 knew that I must not take
up too much of her time.
"Como again," she murmured, as I
departed, and then sho stood up nnd
held out both hands again nnd smiled
upon me ono of her wonderful dazzling
smiles.
As I walked out Into the warm Au
gust sunshine I pondered upon this
wonderful woman, who, upon tho sun
set slope of life's mountnln, still ro
taliiB the fnco and flguro of a girl. Ab
solutely babyish In complexion, youth
ful In eyes nnd expression, fresh In
volco, lithe as a cat and possessed or
nil tho strong qualities of manner, this
woman, though over 55, Is today tho
greatest living actress.
At the age when most of us nro will
ing to settle down Into old ago sho Is
planning new achievements, and at tho
time when many of us arc counting our
grandchildren she Is counting tho new
deeds thnt lie before her for accom
plishment. And she has grandchildren.
Maurice lu a great man of over thirty,
nut Bernhardt aluno of all who sur
round her In fresh and youthful.
You havo heard how this woman
forty ycaiH ago went on tho stage at
the Theater Francalsc, In a small pnrt,
nnd how she made a failure. She was
so thin, so untaught, yet so earnest
that the audlenco ridiculed her. For
ten years sho struggled, then ennio suc
cess. In 1880 sho wns nt tho very height
of her first famo, nnd In that year sho
modolled statuary, painted for tho
Salon, played to packed houses, suc
cessfully toured America and set all
Paris gossiping with her eccentricities.
Ono of these was to sleep In her coIIln,
which sho continually decorated anew
with handsome bits of Ince and choico
silk for tho beeomlngness of the final
moment.
Her latest and greatost success Is In
tho role of Hamlet, the part which was
played by Charlotte Cushmnn with In
different Biicress, and by Anna Dicken
son with failure. Other women huve
tried Hamlet and failed. Ellen Terry
predicted defeat, though sho hoped for
tho host. And no ono presnged mic
cess. But Bernhnrdt's Hamlet Is tho
Wonder of tho century In stngoland.
As I passed awny from Bernhardt's
home I looked back. Mndamo was
standing nt the window, her back to
the pauo. The lovely, long, unbroken
lines of her celestial blue roho showed
through the glass, nnd her clear, red
hnfr glcnmed nbovo. Around her neck
whs a string of ninny colored bends,
which supported, I remember, a
lorgnette. As I looked mndamo moved,
and tho long, sinewy line of her flguro
passed out of sight. "Wonderful wo
man," I snld. And n passer-by stopped
and echoed my Words. Yes, Bernhnrdt
Is wonderful! ANNIE R. UUD.
PRESIDENT SAM OF HAITI,
lion- In (let mt Intrrrlrw Mlth the
U'fut Indian Itttlrr.
It Is far less ensy to got to the presi
dent of Haiti than to Mr. MCKIulcy of
tho White House. The pavlllon-llko
palace In the Chnmp do Mnrs, sur
reunded by Its llttlo park, Inclosed by
a tall Iron grating, with lookout boxes
at the angles, n largo and strong mili
tary barrack nt tho rear, nnd field can
non posted here and thero, could stand
a considerable siege nnd with a faith
ful garrison would bo proof ngnlnst
almost any mob nttnek. Thero Is no
need of etiquette Involved In tho ap
proach to excellence. Yet I was
favored with fortunate opportunities
for seeing Simon Sam, says n contrib
utor. Tall and mnsslvc, with an Im
mense paunch, and features and hue
that nre typlrnlly African, ns you gaie
at htm In his sumptuous uniform,
gorgeous with gold lnco and n bril
liant silk ncarf, you cannot help pic
turing to your mind's eyo his hypo
thetical npprnranco ns n mld-Afrlcnn
chief, with hugo feathers In his top
knot, only a rattle-beaded clout nbout
his loins, a nnll-Btudded war club In
one hand, and about him n band or
dusky savages, more naked than him
self, Instead of theso strutting gentle
men In tall hats nnd European clothes,
nnd these other prancing gentlemen ia
gaudy trappings, with tinkling spurs,
nnd Jingling swords. President Sam,
however, Is not as It appears thus far
n man to bo pcrBonnlly feared. His
selection was n compromise, nnd ho Is
only tho figure-head of tho present
oligarchs, posing ns a inodernto stntes
ninn, whlln in truth he Ib only n
rather dcnse-brnlncd, Blow-wltted nnd
lethargic old soldier. It Is understood
that In state affairs he Is wholly guid
ed by his ministers, of whom Brutus
St. Victor, In charge of the foreign de
partment, mid Tnncrcdo AugtiBlo or
tho department of the Interior, nro
probably the ablest. Leslie's Monthly.
YOUNG WOMAN
That I.ovrn Drilling, Whlln Another
Kymimthlxrs with Monqnlliiui.
Sympathy and affectation for a cor
taln Insect pest wero openly expressed
nt a recent meeting of a thoosophlcal
club lu Philadelphia, Ono feminine
speaker declared that It was sinful to
kill tho unpopular bedbugs. Sho snld,
"I caught two bedbugs biting mo bo
hlnd the car, took them gently lu my
fingers, placed them outside tho win
dow nnd exclaimed: 'Benr llttlo bed
bugs, I love you, but you must go homo
to return no more.' " Tho bedbugs de
parted and never camo back. Another
speaker nindo an appeal for tho mosqui
to, which, sho snld, "led at least a brlof
and painful exlstcnco, signing Its death
warrant when It took Its first tnsto of
human blood. True Esotorla Bud
dhism required that all windows nnd
doors should bo screened so that tho
sum total of animal suffering might bo
lessened." A giddy girl sitting behind
tho speaker tickled her nock with tho
tassel of a parasol and tho vicious slnp
this broad philanthropist gavo at tho
Btipposed Insect drew forth u rlpplo of
laughter from tho rather unbelieving
part of the audience.
GREATEST HUNGARIAN NOVEL
IST. Maurua Jokal, who at tho age of 7t
Is about to tako unto himself an 18-year-old
wife, Is the greatest novelist
of Hungary, and one of tho most fa
mous In Europe. Ho la tho author of
160 books, twonty-flvo romances of
several volumes each, 320 novelettes,
and six plays. His books havo had n
sale of nearly a million copies lu Hun
gary alone, nnd his romances, playo
nnd many of his novelettes havo been
translated Into every Europenn lan
guage. Jokal was tho founder of tho
new school of Magyar lltornturo, tho
literary pursuits of his race having be
come partially obsoloto. Tho bcsl
known of his books to Americans h
MAURIS JOKAL
I proimniy tno "iinmnnre of tho Nest
Century," although his "Poor Rich
Man" Is also popular. Tho Hungarian
has also gained fame ns an editor, his
nowspaper, tho Nation, being the most
Influential organ In Hungary. Thla ?
his second matrimonial venture, hla
first having hem mado fifty years hsq
when ho wedded Rwa Laborfalvl, tin
greatest of HingRrlm notrsssea.