Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1915 — Page 3

LINCOLN'S THREE DREAMS of ASSASSINATION

AN incident extraordinary in its curious significance occurred in the White House on April 14, 1865—just 50 years ago. On that day President iZgwJ Lincoln told his personal B bodyguard, William H. Crook, that he had dreamed of his impending assassination during three successive nights—those of April 11, April 12 and April 13. ' ■ '

In recalling the occurrence Colonel Crook said he had never forgotten the shock which these words caused. “After the first shock caused by Mr. Lincoln’s words,” said Colonel Crook, “my natural impulse was to make light ■of the affair. I was then a young man, strong, accustomed to deal with practical matters and not inclined to place much Importance on the Intangible and mysterious. But now, 50 years afterward, 1 am willing to admit that Mr. Lincoln’s remark made me very uneasy. For one thing, the whole country was strained, anxious, distraught, notwithstanding the belief that hostilities soon were to end with a complete victory for the Union.

“Much had been said and suggested about the possibility of the president’s assassination. As his personal bodyguard this possibility waa always in my mind; and every moment when on duty I was constantly on the lookout for some sudden attack. It was my business to see that Mr. Lincoln did not expose himself needlessly; and especially to see that no stranger approached him with hands covered or ■concealed in any way. f “When Mr. Lincoln told me that for the third successive time he had ■dreamed of being assassinated I said that in my judgment further and unusual measures should be undertaken without an* hour’s delay for his protection. He looked at me In silence for a moment, a kindly smile in his great, tired eyes, and then slowly shook his head. “ ‘No,’ he said. If anybody Is wicked enough to want to kill me we can do nothing to prevent it’ “‘Possibly that is true, Mr. President,* I made bold to answer with all respect, 'still the very knowledge of the fact makes me all the more anxious.” "‘Well, Crook, what do you want to do?’ he said, tolerantly, so as not to hurt my feelings. “‘The first thing I want you to do, Mr. President, Is to cancel your engagement for this evening—to stay away from Ford’s theater.’ "'I can’t do that very well,’ he replied. "Finally I urged him to let me stay on duty and accompany him to the theater, but he would not hear of this either. , “ ‘No, Crook,’ he said kindly but firmly; ‘you have had a hard day’s work already and must go home to sleep and rest. I cannot afford to have you get all tired out and exhausted.’ “Then the president turned and with his kind, grave face, said:

WORK OF MANY PLAYWRIGHTS

Fifty-Three Thousand Dramas Have Been Copyrighted In the United States. An unusual work, which will be ot literary and historic interest, is now well under way by the copyright office es the library of congress. This IS a list of an dramas copyrighted in the United States firom 1870. to the present time. In the editorial comment of the

** ‘Good-by, Crook.’ And he went into his own room, leaving me standing there in the corridor. “As the door closed after him his final words repeated themselves to me, seeming to echo over and oyer again. What he had said was, ‘Goodby, Crook.’ It was the first time he had ever used the words. Invariably when we parted for the night, he to seek rest in his own room, leaving me to pace up and down that corridor outside the president’s apartment on the second floor of the White House, he had said ‘Good night, Crook? But now, for the first time, he had said ‘Goodby.’ “As I turned to leave for my own little home, there to get what sleep I could, I wondered if Mr. Lincoln’s final words meant anything. By the time I had walked through the White House grounds I tried to put them away as being of no . importance whatever. I tried to pull myself together, remembering that for a long time there had been widespread fears lest some murderer should succeed in getting near Mr. Lincoln. Of course, he knew of such fears and possibly this knowledge had in some way recurred to him while asleep and had caused the thrice repeated dream. “It was not long after I had left the White House for my own home on that fourteenth of April, 1865, when Mr. Lincoln started for Ford’s theater. Within a few hours the world knew of the awful deed accomplished there. But the world did not know until afterward, in fact, the world at large may not know today, just how Wilkes Booth was enabled to rush into the box where sat the president and shoot him to death, although the incident is mentioned in a volume of recollec--1 tions which I have prepared with a colleague. “The president’s box, occupied by Mr. Lincoln’s party that evening, was not on a level with the stage. It was what would now be termed a box in the second tier and on a level with the dress circle of the theater, just above the orchestra seats. “When Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and their party sat down in their box that fateful night the guard who was acting as my substitute took his position at the rear of the box, close to an entrance leading into the box from ths dress circle of the theater. He was fully armed. His orders were to stand there and to permit no unauthorized person to pass into the box. His orders were to stand there and protect the president at all hazards. “The house was practically in darkness save the stage whereon the play was being enacted. The bodyguard 'knew why he was stationed just outside of the president’s box. He knew of the fears that some assassin would make an attempt on Lincoln’s life at the first opportunity. He knew how long and how carefully that precious life had been protected in every possible way. He knew how much it meant to the nation, perhaps to the future of civilization. But as he stood there on the post of duty the substi-

Monthly Catalogue of. United States Public Documents it is estimated that there are about 53,000 of these plays. Then a note of discouragement is sounded for would-be. playwrights, for it is stated that estimates show that less than one In fifty of the dramas has been produced on the stage. The new list therefore means the resurrection of the titles of many thousands of long-buried compositions, some of which, it is suggested by the editor of the Catalogue, “may even yet see the footlights through the benevolent

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

tute guard could not see the stage nor could he see the actors, although he could hear their voices. “As the moments sped by he became more and more Interested in the play as it unfolded itself beyond his sight, and, incredible as it may seem to those of the present generation, his curiosity overcame bls sense of responsibility. Feeling himself to be unwatched, unnoticed in the theater, this man deliberately deserted his post of duty, quietly walked down the dimly lighted side aisle of the theater and took a seat In the very last row in the dress circle then, while President Lincoln was thus left absolutely unprotected through this guard’s amazing recklessness, that Booth rushed through the entrance to the box to murder in cold blood one of the greatest and noblest men God ever

placed on earth. When the substitute guard realized afterward his own part in th© tragedy he was so overwhelmed by remorse that he died of its effects.”

He who has revealed this chapter of history connected with Lincoln’s assassination is now a man of seventysix, who has occupied a responsible position in the White House during all the administrations that have come and gone since he first was called there to serve Lincoln neatly half a century ago. He had spent nearly all his boyhood and youth in a small village in Maryland and after serving two years in the Union army had obtained an appointment to the Washington police force, with which he was connected when called upon to act as Lincoln’s bodyguard. It was on Thursday, January 5,1865, that young Crook was in his home, near First and M streets, N. W., off duty and resting, when a fellow member of the police force called and asked to see him. Crook went to the door and was told to report personally to President Lincoln at the White House, and to be there at precisely eight o’clock that same evening. “Of course I was surprised,” said Colonel Crook, in speaking of the occurrence. “Shortly before eight o’clock that evening I walked from my home to the White House, went directly upstairs to the president’s office and told the doorkeeper just outside that I had been ordered to report to the president personally. He at once threw open the door and I walked in. It was then exactly eight o'clock, and there for the first time I sftw Abraham Lincoln. He sat In a revolving chair on the farther side of the room before an old-fash-ioned desk, over which he was bending while examining some papers. “He looked up as I entered and said: “ ‘Mr. President, my name is W. H. Crook, I have been ordered to report to you for duty as your personal bodyguard.* “ ‘All right, Crook,’ the president responded, and turned to his papers again. I at once left the office and went downstairs and sought Thomas H. Pendell, who told me to stand near the Resident as soon as he should appear for the regular Thursday evening levee or public reception, which soon was to commence. The president and his party appeared at precisely nine o’clock, coming from the living rooms of the president’s household to the main floor* of the White House by a private stairway at the western end of the great building. From that night until the night he was shot it was my great privilege to look after the life and safety of Abraham Lincoln.”

agency of the new list now being made.” The list will be comprehensive in scope, and, in addition to the .names of dramas and authors, will carry the names of copyright proprietors, translators, adapters, and the names of original authors in the cases of adaptations. Three volumes may be required for this addition to the dramatic literature of the United States. Montana and Idaho now have a ninehour day tor working women. ,

MAKING THE MOST OF LAMB

Housekeeper Will Find Ttrts Arrangement a Help to the Cutting of Her Bills. jßvery housekeeper is on the lookout to save in these days of high cost of living, * especially in meats. Here is one way to save mutton or jamb. If, on Saturday, a forequarter of mutton or lamb is purchased, weighing from seven to ten pounds, ft should be divided as follows: Shoulder, neck, breast, French chops, bones and trimmings. The shoulder is boned, pocket cut for filling, that makes the roast; stuffed shoulder of lamb or mutton for Sunday dinner and cut cold for Monday luncheon or supper. Then the neck is boiled with the shoulder bone and trimmings, making two quarts of lamb broth, to be used for soup for Monday’s dinner. The meat is trimmed from the neck bones for lamb croquettes, meat salad or loaf. The breast is stewed, oi curried with rice. The choicest part Is left, that is, one dozen frenched lamb chops.

Of course, you must be able to tell ydur butcher just how you want it cut and trimmed. The chops are frenched, chine removed, but the chops are not cut apart. That is left for the housekeeper to do, cutting just as needed. The trimmings from the chops are boiled with the neck and bones, strained, and when cold all fat is removed and clarified for drippings. From this forequarter you have the following dishes, always for four persons: Roast stuffed shoulder, hot for Sunday dinner. Roast stuffed shoulder, cold for Monday, witli soup (two quarts for soup stock). Lamb croquettes or meat loaf for Tuesday. Stewed or curried lamb for Wednesday. Lamb chops which can be kept for Thursday.

POLISH FOR COFFEE BOILER

By the Use of Oxalic Acid the Utenall May Be Kept In the Best of Condition.

A shining copper hot-water boiler adds much to the appearance of a kitchen, as all housekeepers know. The boiler may be kept in a state of brilliancy by the use of a solution of oxalic acid and water. Five cents worth of the acid dissolved in a quart of warm water will last through many cleaning days. Best results are retained by applying the solution to a warm boiler. After one application of the solution the boiler should be gone over with a cloth wrung out in warm water and then polished with a dry cloth. The best part of the process is that no “elbow grease” is required. In a few minutes a dull, dingy boiler becomes bright and shining with but little effort. All copper articles not having a lacquered surface may be cleaned with this solution, and it also serves as a brass polish. Keep in a safe place, as oxalic acid is poison.

Cocoanut Candy.

Remove the shell from a half a cocoanut and shred or shave it with a silver knife. Spread it on dishes in the open door of an oven until It is soft and elastic. Dessicated cocoanut can be used instead, but the fresh sort is better. Then boil a cupful of molasses and a cupful of sugar, brown or white, a teaspoonful of vinegar and a tablespoonful of butter. When this is cooked enough so that it is brittle when dropped in cold water add the warmed cocoanut and pour into buttered dishes. Mark into squares when it is thick but before it is cold.

Soft Ginger Cookies.

Cheap and good. One cupful of molasses, two-thirds cupful of lard, twothirds cupful sugar, two-thirds cupful hot water, one teaspoonful ginger, two dessert spoonfuls of soda and one dessert spoonful cream of tartar. Pat the molasses in mixing bowl first, then add cream of tartar and soda. Add also a pinch of salt and flour to roll. Cnt out imd bake. Do not roll too thin.

Crust for Chicken Pie.

The ingredients are three cupfuls of sifted bread flour, three teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one-half teaspoonful of salt, one-half cupful of lard and butter, one cupful of milk. Sift all dry ingredients together. Rub in the shortening with finger tips, then stir in the milk, using a fork and handling it lightly. As soon as combined place-on floured board and.with a rolling pin pat into the required size.

Deviled Ham Rolls.

Make light, rather rich pastry, roll thin and cut into squares of’about four inches. Spread upon each square a small quantity of deviled bam. leaving about half inch around the edge uncovered. Moisten the edges with cold water and roll each sheet of ham and pastry compactly, pressing the ends together, and bake.

Beet Relish.

Cook beets the same as for the table, one quart of beets chopped fine, oqe quart of raw cabbage chopped fine, one cupful grated horseradish as prepared for the table, one cupful granulated sugar, one tablespoonful of salt, one teaspoonful black pepper. Vinegar enough tb mix well.

Juja Farm

OUT in British East Africa, almost directly under the equar tor, lies Juja Farm, the immense ranch owned by William N. McMillan, once a business man in St. Louis. After twenty years of exploration and adventure, he ha« settled down there to the relatively quiet life of a farmer and hunter, and his greatest excitement nowar days comes in the entertainment of some noted hunter of big game, like Theodore Roosevelt, the sultan of Zanzibar, Lord Lonsdale, Aga Khan and Chase Osborn of Michigan.

The 40,000 acres of Juja Farm, and the smaller 15,000-acre holdings of Mrs. McMillan, Mua Farm, some 15 miles away, stand 5,500 feet above sea level, on the great Mua escarpment of Eastern Africa, 325 miles inland from Membasa, principal British African port in the Indian ocean. Here, in a long, low, one-story farmhouse, with vine-covered verandas and numerous outbuildings, Mr. McMillan lives the life of a British landed proprietor, in almost feudal splepdor, ruling the natives residing on his holdings, hunting the elephant, the rhinoceros and the lion, and protecting his herds and flocks and people from their ravages. On his broad acres, the lordly lion and his vicious spouse, king it over their follow creatures; here are rhinoceros, hideous hyena and beautiful leopard; here graceful gazelle and powerful, ungainly gnus, alert and wary, cross the endless flats; from the vine-covered veranda of the lowbeamed house can be seen black and white striped zebra and ruddy hartebeest, reed buck and waterbuck, immense eland and tiny dikdik, and all the other half hundred antelope varieties that disport on the equatorial plains. In the papyrus marshes dotting the bosom of the swamps and rimming every sea-green* lake, the terrible

buffalo and the queer, strange looking wart hogs make sinuous lanes of passage, while in the deeper waters lie sluggish hippopotami and voracious, insatiable crocodiles. The mincing oatrich preens itself among the flattopped acacias, and in the taller, sturdier mimosa growths the giraffe keeps keen-eyed vigil for the approaching foe. Overhead, from the taller branches and under foot in the jungle growths, come the trills and calls and reed-like notes of the bewildering wealth of bird life that fills the tropic forests, while threading serenely through this nature’s wonderland, pass to and fro the natives of the estate, the well-nigh naked savage, primitive Wakamba, and unsmiling, serious Kikuyu, warlike Masai and more civilixed Mohammedan Somali. An Army of Servants. There are some 600 natives of the various tribes employed on Juja Farm, house servants and farm hands, laborers, horse boys, shepherds, porters and askari, or native soldiery. Over these Mr. McMillan rules with a kindly rein, being mayor and chief of police, board of city fathers and municipal justice, all bound up in one stalwart, impressive presence, for under the colonial system of British government, as a landed proprietor, holding acreage under purchase from the crown, and more than 15 miles from town or other seat-of permanent justice, he is endowed with magisterial powers, and may settle all cases of minor misdemeanors, theft and petty savage knavery, which carry with them no deprivation of liberty. Of this vast plantation only a small

RHINOCEROS HUNTING ON JUJA FARM

part is under cultivation, but the wide fields of sprouting maize, the great stretches of sisal hemp and coffee, the clustering blossoms of the American orchard and the sweet fragrance of the gardens all testify to the wealth and generosity of the soil of the farmstead. Cattle and sheep, horses and monkeys graze in the thick lush grass of the high slopes, beside the queer, beehive huts of the natives, under the care of Masai shepherds. Buffalo Most Dangerous. Unlike Mr. Roosevelt, who has e» pressed the opinion that the lion is the most dangerous of African animals to hunt, and Sir Samuel Baker and other mighty hunters, who yield the palm to the elephant, Mr. McMillan, after almost 15 years’ experience, unhesitating places the water buffalo as the most dangerous foe to human life, when wounded and brought to bay by the huntsman.

The rhinoceros, in Mr. McMillan’s opinion is of little actual danger to an experienced and thoroughly alert man. of the most savage and eiratic temper of any of the larger animals, it can see but poorly out of those red, pig-like eyes, being scarcely able to distinguish a man a sho t distance away. Then, when he charges, he runs blindly, throwing his huge bulk forward in a straight line from which he seldom deviates. The hunter, if he be sure-footed and collected, should his fire fail to stop the gigantic beast, can easily evade him by dodging, stepping aside when the charge is almost upon him, and there is but little likelihood of the rhino returning to the attack. These animals are much given to wanton attacks, seemingly running amuck at times. On one such occasion, a rhino came out of the nearby brush and charged wildly through the Juja Farm garden. Coming upon one

of the native laborers who, squatting savage style on his haunches, was weeding the flower beds, he impaled the unsuspecting negro on his long horn, tossed him high into the air, and trampled on in his errand*of destruction. He reached* the road outside, charged lengthwise through a 16-yoke oxen team, upsetting the wagon, and then, going out to the plain beyond, charged the’ farm overseer and was promptly shot by that experienced huntsman.Future of East Africa. Mr. McMillan sees a great future ahead for that part of Africa in which he is settled. Though at present there are dangerous beasts that prey upon the flesh of man, and he finds fresh dangers wherever he may go, overhead and underfoot, foes that crawl and bite and sting and poison, that kin his flocks and ruin his growing grain, 'yet for all that he is positive in his belief that It la essentially a white man’s, country. It Is almost directly under the equator, yet with Its high altitude, its clear, cool nights, and It* dry, bracing atmosphere, there is but little of the tropic sicknesses, malaria is unknown, the terrible sleeping sickness is being rapidly eliminated, and the soil is so amazingly fertile that in a few generations it should prove the granary of the world. Almost any ordinary European and American fruit or vegetable will flourish cotton is already being extensively cultivated along the coast lewlands; sisaJ hemp, com and apples have proved most successful crops, and he think* the coffee of the future will all ship out of Mombasa and other East Afri can ports.