LINCOLN'S "MUST” j
THE ONE STRIKING WORD THAT COWED THE IMPER
IOUS STANTON.
Original Lincoln Stories by George T. Ferris, Who Spoke From the Same J
Platform as Lincoln—John Wilkes Booth's Blazing Eyes.
By George T. Ferris In Columbian Magazine. |
Nicolay and Hay. the most authentic |
Mographers of Abraham Lincoln, have
taken assiduous pains to minimize as
tar as possible the impression as to
ils litter lack of physical comeliness.
Nicolay said of the great war presi
ient's personal appearance: "President
Lincoln was of unusual stature, 6 feet
, Inches, and of spare but muscular
Suild; he had been in youth remark
ably strong and skilful In the athletic
tames of the frontier, where, how
ever, his popularity and recognized Im
partiality oftener made him an umpire
than a champion. He had regular and
Prepossessing features, prominent
iheek bones, deep set eyes, and bushy
Slack hair turning to gray at the time
pf his death."
As a young man, scarcely more than
% boy, recently emancipated from the
llolsters of an eastern college, saw him
lor the first time In 1859, this descrip
tion seems in memory a little highly
lOlored. The tall, gaunt figure was
Somewhat round shouldered and bent,
lessening the great stature, the face
tot regular in outline though bold and
Salient In features with a crag-like
forehead. The mouth large with rather
ihin lips and sunken cheeks with their
pan, strong Jaw certainly did not com
ilete an ensemble which may be called
•good looking,” in Its conventional
noanlng. But the eyes were magnifi
cent and would have redeemed a much
Plainer face. Large, bluish-gray in eol
pr, deep set under the cliff-like brows,
joftly brilliant ns those of a stag,
Jhd centered with a piercing light.
Sheir lrradition was magical, especially
When he smiled. A scrawny neck, all
pinew; large, bony hands and big feet
Wore accented by great carelessness of
Utire, a habit from which Mr. Lincoln
jn the days of his anchored greatness
Was never graduated.
' On the occasion referred to the man,
whose rising fame was beginning to
■make the west clamorous and the east
Equally Inquisitive, was garbed in a
style that would have made a New
Fork macaroni sniff. Large, baggy
trousers that did not come well down
l»/er the Instep, an alpaca coat, rather
«hort sleeved, with nankeen waistcoat
(ind a wilted collar exposing the brown
torded neck, certainly did not alleviate
what at crude glance was an ungain
ly exterior. How in later conversation,
jn which the writer took a very humble
part, Mr. Lincoln slipped easily into a
transfiguration which stripped from
him everything of the commonplace,
was like the effect of an enchanter's
Wand. This did not so much appear
ft that time in his platform talk as
m the familiar touch-and-go conversa
tion with a group of friends, when the
Individuality of the man gleamed at so
many facets and prisms. It is impos
sible to recall details of what was said
in an occasion more than a half cen
tury since, but the impression left
Was intensely vivid.
It was at an independence day fes
tival at an Illinois town in 1859 that
•he writer first saw “Old Abe," as the
Vnan encased in that homely chrystalis
■destined soon to burst into immortal
tame was generally known to the peo
ple of the state. Hon. Owen Lovejoy,
the congress representative from the
district and an intimate friend of Mr.
Lincoln, had been scheduled as the ora
*.or. But impending illness prevented,
«.nd Mr. Lovejoy had persuaded his
good natured friend to take his place,
«. change which was more than wel
romed. Mr. Lovejoy’s brother had
been killed and his printing press de
stroyed the year before at an “Egyp
tian'' town by an angry "pro-slavery”
Snob. The natural radicalism of tem
termanent and convinction inherent in
ir. Lovejoy's mental habit had been
embittered into gall by this political
jrhne, and some of the more prudent
Republicans had dreaded a firebrand
touch in his Fourth of July talk. When
It was known that Mr. Lincoln was
doming, the feeling of satisfaction was
something like a relief, for the repub
licanism of that day was tentative and
elieved in making haste slowly. Lin
coln’s wonderful public debate with
'he "little giant" the year before had
Set him in the limelight, as one who
imbodied the terms of an inexorable
logic with an illuminating force, which
was also tolerant and fair minded. If
*ny one ever united the "suaviter in
jnodo" with the "fortiter in re," it was
that glorified “country bumpkin," as
many of his opponents were in the habit
of calling him.
The audience numbered some thou
.anils who had streamed in from the
sontiguous portions of three counties,
for there was to be a grand barbecue
»fter the platform exercises; and the
oeautiful .green was alive with happy
folk attired in all styles from broad
cloth to jeans and cowhide boots, with
their women folk in progeny. Horses
gnd mules picketed at a great cordon
of Conestoga wagons lent their accent
to the human din.
When Mr. Lincoln upheaved Ills
awkward length from the chair where
he sat coiled up, It was with a tense
and active spring and a face beaming
with smiles which transfigured it.
Through the general clamor hundreds
of voices cried "Howdy—Abe” with a
more specialized welcome. The speak
er's voice at the outset was a shrill
falsetto, that cut like a knife; but after
talking a few minutes—for indeed it
was rather an informal talk than an or
ation—it steadied Into a strident, com
pelling tone that, never ceasing to be a
little harsh, obsessed attention and
transmuted dissonance into a more sub
tile music. One could wish to have re
membered and quoted, for the address
bristled with homely epigrams and tel
ling stories. But a half century ob
literates detail in such matters, and
only two little episodes stand out clear.
Though the speech was largely non
political, adressed to familiar every day
interests as they had grown out of the
evolution of the nation for three-quart
ers of a century, he made some preg
nant allusions to Senator Douglus, many
nf whose admirers were in the audience
Just at this time some restless mu'es
began to bray. There was a laugh al
the interruption, and a loud volet
shouted satirically "That’s your answei
Abe.” "Very well!” responded the or
ator, “it seems to me the mule’s hee
haw Is about the only answer that car
be given to the four-square truth
’Steve’ tried to do It last year anc
couldn’t.” The audience roared.
An illustration that Mr. Lincoln usee
stuck fast in memory. Farmers were
everywhere then sinking artesian wells
in a state where good water was r
problem. "That’s the way,” sale
he. "that the plain people of the eountrj
will meet their troubles; drill down tc
where the truth stands on a steady leve
unchanged by rain or shine, winter 01
summer. We don't want any more sup
ply from the surface.” Kverybody, ol
course, recognized the illusion to th<
doctrine of "Squatter Sovereignty”—
that shallow and delusive panace!
♦ hraham Lincoln Taking the Oath at His Second Inauguration, mmrr,„ 1865.
which hart been the main Issue In the
great battle which Lincoln hart fought
with Stephen A. Douglas, the year be - ;
fore. More came out on this fascinat
ing subject after the speuklng exercises
were over and the barbecue side of the
celebration with its Jovial noise and
free chat ruled the roast.
“Abe"—thus was Mr. Lincoln ad
dressed by some of the gToup among
whom the writer was standing—said
one of them, "I wish you had told us
more about that ‘Freeport speech of
yours last year.' " The readers of to
day may be reminded that in that
speech Mr. Lincoln put the query to
his brilliant antagonist, the answer to
which proved in its effect to have had
as much to do in precipitating the civil
war as did the John Brown raid. The
Lincoln question was whether on the
‘‘popular sovereignty" theory the legal
possession of slaves in a territory
could be averted by any possible
means. His friends adjured him not
to put that proposition; that if Doug
las answered It to the satisfaction of
Illinois audiences, he would lie re
elected to the Senate and Lincoln de
feated in his effort to obtain the prize.
Mr. Lincoln insisted and (lung out that
challenge. He Justified it on the
ground that the answer might secure
the senatorslilp; but that almost cer
tainly it would defeat the candidacy
of Douglas for the presidency at the
next general democratic convention,
and that that was by far the more
Important object. The fertile mind of
Douglas had at once found a solution.
Whatever the theory and conditions of
territorial government, the police pow
er of that government could meet any
exigency, was the marrow of his
answer.
“We should like to know more about
your reasons," Mr. Lincoln’s friend
•went on, “for believing that you had
put Steve Douglas betwixt the devil
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
and the deep sea.” "Because," said
lie. "the slave democracy next year
will have no use for a candidate who
dares to carry water on both should
ers, and the party will be rent to the
bottom, as the northern fragment will
accepted no other man but Douglas,"
JVith that he abruptly changed the
subject, and no one ventured to press
it further. With ail his free and fa
miliar geniality there was that in Lin
coln which at once imposed silence
and deference when he chose. Such,
in substance, are the main Incidents
which the writer recalls.
The firmness and resolution that lay
under the tendpr sympathies and kind-,
ness of Mr. Lincoln’s temperament
were abundantly illustrated during
1 that wonderful four years which made
him such a salient figure in modern
history. Such a characteristic can he
1 displayed in trifles as well as In crit
ical affairs. It is such a trifle that
• came authentically within the writer’s
ken. It had indeed more quality in its
revelation than many incidents touch
ing big events. It was the experience
of a near relative, who had official
business at tile White House In 18(13.
He had been appointed by the gov
ernor of his state to act as its legal
representative in straightening out a
certain tangle, relating to the state
apportionment of troops under the
conscription of ttiat year. There had
been much correspondence with the
war department, in which the imper
ious temper of Secretary Stanton, who
always tended to ride rough shod over
all opposition, and who resented what
seemed to be the slightest interference
with his will, had been almost insol
ently displayed. He had absolutely
refused to permit any adjudication or
compromise of the issue; refused
even to discuss it. Governor
Buckingham's instructions to his
commissioners were to refer the whole
question directly to the. president. Mr.
Lincoln’s strong sense of equity was
widely recognized. It was also believed
that no man in the cabinet had so much
influence over his chief as the great
war minister, and It was with some
misgiving that the two impressions
were balanced in the scales. The truth
seems to have been, as shown by ail the
memoirs of the war period, that Presi
dent Lincoln saw in Stanton the man of
men in a most onerous position to do
things, and to get them done by others;
a man, who had no patience with fail
ure: a human dynamo who never ran
down, and kept the Immense war ma
chinery humming with his own electric
energy. Such an invaluable instrument
as this was permitted so much license,
sometimes verging on Insolence, that
ether officials who looked on sometimes
marveled at the president’s patience
with tlie American "Louvois.” But if
Lincoln knew Stanton, Stanton also
knew Lincoln.
The state commissioner was most
courteously received by Mr. Lincoln,
who was satisfied with the elucidation
of tile affair. He endorsed his opinion
on the papers, and Mr. F„ with a card
of Introduction, proceeded with them
to the war department. He made his
The Lint
business known with Its latest creden
tials, but Secretary Stanton burst into
a furious tirade against bis chief for
Interposing In matters whereof his
knowledge was nil, stormed up and
down his office for half an hour, and
metaphorically kicked his visitor out
with n curt refusal. A second call at
tho White House etched a stern wrin
kle over tho president’s habitually kind
eyes, now, however, with a little blaze
In them, as ho received tho report of
that sinister reception; but 111 a mo
ment he laughed. Snatching a pen he
wrote one short word, "Must," under
scored three times, and signed “A.
Lincoln" on tho document enevelope.
"Perhaps Mr. Secretary will be a
llttlo more civil tills time. Come back
again and let me know. I’ll tell you n.
story- then, which Stanton knows all
nbout,” he snld, with a squeeze of vice
like knuckles.
Tho secretary glanced nt that one
word, nnd at once ironed all resentment,
from bis face, which became one of
fascinating complacency. He had come
down from Ills perch like "Captain
Scott’s Coon." The necessary busi
ness was adjusted In 10 minutes. The
writer’s relative, however, missed the
Stanton story over which Mr. Lincoln
had chuckled, as circumstances pre
vented another Interview with tho
president.
Tho last living vision of Abraham
Lincoln was tho most vivid nnd thrill
ing of all. It is strangely linked In
memory by a sinister trifle with that
final glimpse of the murdered body as
It lay In the capltol, around which
surged the threnody, "the noise of the
lamentation of a mighty nation," which
cried:
“O. fallen nt length, that tower of
strength,”
Which stood four square to all the
winds that blow.”
The re-elected president tow'ered be
fore a vast throng of hushed and rev
erent listeners in the delivery of his
second Inaugural, that masterpiece,
which In Its exaltation -was almost
lyrical, charged like the immortal
Gettysburg speech with tho highest
tension of human emotion. This was
the figure, as of some mighty arch
angel, trumpeting a message of grief
dashed triumph which was heard
around tho World, resonant abovo all
the clamor of that world’s events and
still ringing In the pages of history.
Who. then, would have thought of
the arch-joker, who seven years be
fore, at an Illinois barbecue, had rallied
a friend In tho writer’s hearing with
’’John, hero Is the ugliest man In the
state, with the exception of myself, and
my only advantage Is that I wear a big
ger hatband,” Yet these antipodes lay
In that strangely complex nature.
As tho rapt audience hung spell-bound
on tho rapt speaker and solemn words,
another face, a short distance away, and
not CO yards from the president, ex
pressed a different kind of emotion.
Those wonderful words were making
the nlr one great electric throb: as they
came with sustained passion of utter
ance: "Fondly do we hope, fervently de
we pray that this mightly scourge of
war may speedily pass away. Yet If
God wills that it will continue all
the wealth piled by the bondsman’s
250 years of unrequited toll shall bo
sunk, and until every drop of blood
drawn by tho lash shall be paid by
another drawn with the sword; as was
snld 3,000 years ago, so still It must be
said now. that the judgments of the
Lord are true and righteous altogether."
That face was distorted with rage,
hate and fury, making the handsome
features almost demoniac as the man
muttered and scowled. It was the face
of one whom the writer bad seen a few
weeks before In New York, playing
“Mark Anthony,” with his two brothers,
at Winter Garden theater for the
Shakespearian fund benefit, nnd who
had wrung from the audience greater
plaudits than the others by the fiery
genius of his acting. It was John
Wilkes Booth, who a little less than six,
weeks later was to imbue his assassin’s
hand with the blood so sacred to the
nation, and go down In chronicle os
the most detestable criminal of the cen
tury. Perhaps at that time the half
crazed fanatic was debating whether he
should not pistol the president from
that present coign of vantage and make
his escape through a dazed and dense
oln Cabin.
iress. But tho histrionic In the inan
•raved, perhaps a more spectacular
stage-setting as well as a surer mark.
It was a passing fact which at tho time
stirred no second thought, but which In
he relation of things to come, loomed
lull of tragic Import.
John Wilkes Booth struck a far more
lisastrous blow at tho south than at the
lorth when he shot down the man who,
done of his generation, could have
irought tho sections together In heart
felt reunion, without tho strife uml
tragedy, the dishonor and abasement
ivhlch attended reconstruction. So far
is Lincoln gave Indications of his pur
pose and plans for bringing the van
quished south back to loyalty and fra
ternity, and ‘binding tho nation's
wounds,” there Is ground lor believing
that bis policy would not have been
different In any essential degree from
that of Andrew Johnson. But the great
mil signal difference would have di
rected tho resteratlen of peace and
unity with all tho prestige, the hold on
tho popular heart amounting almost to
Idolatry that Lincoln possessed and
Johnson did not. That which In John
son seemed encroachment and usurpa
tion, in Lincoln would have been ac
cepted as tho natural and logical exer
cise of a Judgment tried and tempered
and purified In the fiery crucible of a
four-years' struggle to save the na
tion’s very life. Johnson, tho petty
white of a border state, vainly attempt
ed to wear Lincoln's hoots and clothes.
It was as if Richard Cromwell, Instead
of seeking the retirement for which he
was best fitted, had sought to com
mand the Ironsides.
Johnson meant well. Looking hack
at his course from the clearer atmos
phere of today It Is easy to perceive
that Johnson was animated by tho best
motives In his attitude toward the tre
mendous problems which confronted
him, and that the success of
the Impeachment proceedings would
have been a blot upon our national
history. The problems und the position
were too big for him—like tho sword
of Wallace In the hands of an aver
age inan.
It may be added that John Wilkes
Booth represented a class with whom
the real fighters of the south had no
fellow-feeling—the "copperheals" who
had nst the courage to risk their lives
for the cause with which they professed
sympathy; who set fire to hotels and
spread contagion, who shot and stabbed
In the dark. That the former confed
erates had no responsibility for tho
crime of Booth and that they were
overwhelmed with horror and dismay
when they heard of it Is an undisputed
fact, and It Is nlso well known that
Abraham Lincoln has today no warmer
admirers than the survivors and de
scendants of those who, DO years ago,'
hated Ills very name.
The spectacle witnessed in Washing
ton, in December, when Edward Doug
lass White, a former confederate sol
dier, was sworn In as chief Justice of
the United States by his associate Jus
tice, John Marshall Harlan, a former
•olonel In the Union army, was typical
if the effacement of civil war animos
ities and of the spirit of harmony
which prevails among the citizens of
jur common country. That complete
reunion is the greatest monument to
the labors, sacrifices and achievements,
life and death of Abiaham Lincoln.
Pennsylvania’# New Provost.
From the Philadelphia North American.
Dr. Josiah II. Pennlmnn, for many
years dean of the college of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, has been
elected vlce-provost of that institution
to succeed Edgar Fahs Smith.
The selection of Dr. Penniinan Is a
popular one. He Is an alumnus of tho
university and professor of English at
the Institution. He was born, July 20,
1868, In Concord, Mass., and was grad
uated from the college department of
the university in 1890. He Is a mem
ber of many educational organizations.
Another Mistake.
From the Galveston News.
”1 hope I'm no chronic kicker,” so
liloquized Adam when he waked up
and missed his rib, "but If they had
to remove something I don’t see why
they didn't take my appendix.”
. Tomb of Abraham Lincoln, Springfield, III.
. ..rzrvi
An Evening Prayer.
Tonight I lay the burden by,
As one who rests beside the road.
And from his weary back unbinds
Tho whelming load.
1 kneel by hidden pools of prayer—
Still waters fraught with healing power)
rn God's green pastures I abide
This longed-for hour.
1 know that day must hid me face
Courageously my task again.
Serving with steady hand and heart
My fellow-men.
To hold my sorrow In the dark.
To fight my fear, to hide my pain.
And never for one hour to dream
The toll Is vain—
This be tomorrow; now, tonight,
Great, pitying father, f would be
Forgiven, uplifted, loved, renewed.
Alone with Thee.
—Grace Duffleld Goodwin.
TWO ANECDOTES OF LINCOLN.
A Story Told in Old Wyandotte—Reply
to Rival Candidate.
Itocorded by David Morgan Edgerton la
the Century.
In June, 1S87, at a dinner given b#
David M. Edgerton, formerly president
of the Kansas Pacific railroad, a!
Wyandotte, Kan., John P. Usher, sec
retary of the Interior under Lincoln,
said:
"When the war broke out, I Unet*
that tho railroad from Baltimore to
Harrisburg, the Northern Central o(
Harrisburg nnd Northern Central o(
Pennsylvania, was bound to be good,
property, for soldiers nnd people de
voted to the preservation of tho union
traveling to Washington would neces
sarily be transported over it. Tho
stock was then worth only a few cpnts
on the dollar. 1 knew that from the
necesslt" of the case It would advance
In value to par or nearlv so. I bough!
largo blocks of It, and told Mr. Lincoln
that If ho would give me, $10,000 I
would make him all the money he
wanted."
Being asked If Mr. Lincoln was In
clined to do it. Mr. Usher said no. He
himself considered tho Investment
proper, but evidently Lincoln though!
otherwise.
Another anecdote related by Mr,
Usher ran as follows:
"While yet a young lawyer, Mr. Lin
coln concluded to run for the state leg
islature, and In those days anyone who
desired to run for office had only tc
announce himself a candidate in the
papers or at a public meeting. Mr,
Lincoln rode to an adjoining town,
where a political meeting was to b»
held.
“As he rode along the street, his at
tention was attracted to a new house
more pretentions than Its neighbors
Erected upon tho. roof he notleed point
ed Iron rods. At the tavern he Inquired
their purpose, and learned that they
were lightning rods. •
"At the meeting he found the person
then speaking to be the owner of this
house and his rival. The latter made st
much sport of Mr. Lincoln that Lin
coln's friends became discouraged and
dejected. But as the meeting wa»
about to break up, Mr. Lincoln rose and
said that he would like to say a few
words.
"Beginning modestly, he soon en>
gnged and held attention, until, as he
concluded, he added: 'My friends, I
am a young man, and whether I shall
live a few years or many I do not know
but I hope that while I do live I shall
so conduct myself that It will not b«
necessary for me to put a lightning rod
on my house to save me from the ven
geance of Almighty God.' He had
struck the key note, and he was carried
from the meeting by his friends, and
was elected."
Helen Taft, Debutante.
From Harper's Bazar.
When Miss Taft forsook her studlea
at Byrn Mawr college In her sophomor*
year In order to beceme one of thli
season's recruits In official society»
some surprise was occasioned to per
sons who had taken It for granted
that she was to continue there until
graduation. However, Miss Taft’s clos*
friends recalled that she lmd an
nounced two years ago, before enter
ing college, that she might remain
there only two years. Indeed, In her
forethought, she even went so far as
to map out a special list of studies
that she eoulil cover In two ynajrs. Tlia
plan was tentative at that time, but
since then an unexpected factor mads
its appearance to urge upon Miss Taft
a return home. The new turn of af
fairs arose through the nervous attack
suffered by Mrs. Taft a few months
after her entry into the White House,
which has kept her a partial Invalid
since that time. With her health thus
impaired she naturally longed more
than ever for the presence at homo of
her only daughter. Miss Taft will b*
able to take her mother's place as host
ess at many formal functlonss, thus
relieving Mrs. Taft's sisters, one or an
other of whom has acted as mistress;
pro tern, of the White House much
of the time during the past two year*
How a Senator Is Elected.
From the New York World.
The election of a United States sen
ator Is controlled by federal law, not
by state law. The act of 1866 carefully
defines tho procedure.
On the second Tuesday after lti
meeting and organization the legisla
ture Is to convene for the purpose oil
electing a senator. "Each house shall
openly, by a vlvavoce vote of eaci,
member present, name one person fo»
senator In congress from such state.
The following day the two houses con*
veno in joint session at noon, and 1{
the same person has received a major
ity of all votes In each house he shall
be declared senator. Otherwise thi
joint assembly shall proceed to choose
"by a vlvavoce vote of each membc*
present, a person for senator, and th«
person who receives a majority of all
the votes of the joint assembly, a ma<
Jorlty of all members elected to bott
houses being present and voting, shall
be declared duly elected." If there it
no majority the joint assembly Is re
quired to meet each succeeding day
during the session and lake at least
one vot ■ until a senator is elected.
Miss Taft’c Characterictics.
From Harper's Bazar.
Miss Helen Taft, at 19, Is a whole
some. attractive girl, with never a trace
of pose or affectation in manner or con
versatlon. She possesses a sufflclenl
sense of humor, inherited from hei
father, to prevent her head beln|
turned by tho attentions she has re
ceived. Most of the Intimate friends
of the Taft family are wont to declar*
that in features as well as In tem
perament, Miss Helen favors her fa
ther, hut there Is no doubt that ths
daughter of the house has many oi
her mother’s traits as well.
To suppose that Just because Miss
Taft has always been an inveterat*
reader, and won a scholarship at Ryr»
Mawr and all sorts of prizes at school,
she must necessarily be a bookish son
of person, Is to do the young lady a
distinct Injustice. Although she eacll
summer indulges in a wide range ol
outdoor athletics.
An Encouraginq Sign.
From the St. lands Post-Dispatch.
The purchase of senatorial seats Is
no longer a conventional crime. This
is a high sign of reform.
Hear It.
From Harper's Bazar.
Ball—What is science?
rlall—The college yell of the school
experience.