Greenfield Evening Republican, Greenfield, Hancock County, 19 June 1895 — Page 3
PLEASUREJJTRIPS,
Numerous Excurslous the Coming Summer at Reasonable Kates.
Whether the tourist's fancy directs him to the New England States or the Atlantic seaboard to the South or to the lake region of the North or to the Rocky Mountains and the wonderland beyond the Mississippi, he will be given opportunity to indulge his tastes at a small cost for railroad fare this year. There will be low rates to Baltimore over the Pennsylvania Lines in May, account the American Medical Association to Decatur, 111., account the German Baptist (Dunkard) meeting, and to Pittsburg for the Presbyterian General Assembly. There will also be low rates over these lines to Meridian, Miss account the General Assembly Cumberland Presbyterian church the same month. In June excursion tickets will be sold over the Pennsylvania Lines to Omaha account the National Jr. O. U. A. M. to Chattanooga, Tenn, for the International Convention of Epworth League to Cleveland, Ohio, account the National Republican League Meeting, and to Roanoke, Va., for the German Baptist meeting. Excursions for July include low rates over the Pennsylvania to Baltimore for the Baptist Y. P. Union Meetina to Asbury Park for the L. A. W. meeting, and to Boston for the Christian Endeavor Convention, and to Denver Col., account the National Educational Association meeting. In August excursion tickets will be on sale over the Pennsylvania Lines to Boston, account the Knights Templar Conclave. The sale of low rate tickets will not be- restricted to members of the organizations mentioned, but the public generally may take advantage of them.
The Asbury Park excursion will doubtless attract many to that delightful ocean resort. Atlantic City, Cape May, Long Branch aad all the famous watering places along the New Jersey coast are located on the Pennsylvania Lines, hence this will be a desirable opportunity to visit the seashore. The Denver excursion will be just the thing for a sight-seeing jaunt thro' the far West, as tickets will be honored going one way and returning a different route through the most romantic scenery beyond the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Variable route privileges will also be accorded Boston excursionists. enabling them to visit Niagara Falls,
Montreal, Thousand Islands and
St. Lawrence Rapids, the White Mountains, the Hudson River territory, and to return by steamer on Long Island Sound, after sight-seeing at Newport. Narragansett Pier, Nantucket and the Cape Cod resorts to New York and thence through the agricultural paradise of the Keystone State, along the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers, over the Alleghenies, around famous Horse Shoe Curve, through historic John^o^vn and the coke and iron regions of Western Pennsylvania. It is also expected that Boston excursionists over the Pennsylvania Lines will be privileged to return via Baltimore and Washington if they so desire.
In addition to the above, there will be plenty of other cheap excursions over the Pennsylvania Lines to various points. As the season is some weeks away, arrangements in detail have not been consummated, but it is certain that no railway will offer better inducements than the liberal concessions in rates and privileges that may be enjoyed by travelers over the Pennsylvania Lines. This fact may readily be ascertained upon application to any passenger or ticket agent of these lines, or by addressing F. VAN DTJSEN, Chief Assistant Gen. Pass. Agt., Pittsburg, Pa. apr6wd-fc-s tf
REDUCED RATES.
Excursions over Pennsyluanla Lines During: Season ot 1895.
Liberal concessious in fare over 'the Pennsylvania lines have been granted for numerous events to take place this summer in various parts of the United States. In addition to local excursions tiokets at reduced rates will be sold over these lines as given in the following paragraphs. Excursion tickets may be obtained at ticket offices on the Pennsylvania System and will also be sold over this route by connecting railroads. Some of the points to which tickets will be sold and dates of sale as follows:
To Chattanooga, Tenn., June 25 and 26 and 27 inclusive, account Epworth League International Conference good returning fifteen days from date of sale. By special arrangements return limit may be extended an additional fifteen days.
To Denver, Colorado Springs, Maniton or Pueblo, Col., July 3, 4 and 5 account National Educational Association Meeting. The return trip must be commenced July 12th 13th, 14th or 15th unless by special arrangement the return limit is extended to Sept. 1.
To Baltimore July 16th and 17th good returning until August 5 inclusive account the Convention of Baptist Young People's Union of America.
To Boston, July 5th to 9th, inclusive for tbe National Christian Endeavor Meeting. Return limit may be extended by special arrangement to August 3d.
To Boston August 19th to 25th inclusive account Triennial Conclave Knights Templar. Return limit extended to October 3d by special arrangement.
To Louisville, Ky., in September, for National Encampment, G. A, R. One cent per mile. Reasonable return lin it.
The reduced rates over the Pennsylvania lines will not be restricted to members of the organizations mentioned, but may be taken advantage of by the public generally. Any Pennsylvania Line Ticket or Passenger Agent will furnish desired information concerning rates, time of trains and other details to applicants, or the same may be obtained by addressing W. H. Scott, ticket agent, Greenfield, Ind., or F. Van Dusen, Chief Asst. Gen. Pass. Agt Pittsburg, Pa. may21dwtf
Any one desiring livary rigs of any kind can leave their orders, at the hardware store of Thomas & Jeffries and the rigs will be sent around promptly from the Fashion Livery Stable of Jeffries & Son. Good rigs and satisfactory prices guaranteed. 78tf
Parties desiring dressmaking or plain sewing are)! requested to call at No. "West Main street, 2nd door west of J. E. Hart's. 68tf MRS AMANDA A. BIXFOKD.
GALLAUDET, Ind., Marion Co., April 30, 1895. DEAR. SIR:—I have been a sufferer from chronic diarrhoea ever since the war. At times unable to follow my vocation, that of a farmer. La3t fall I was so bad with my old trouble that I became very weak which continued until about the first -of December when your special agent Mr. T. D. Cotton called on me and insisted that I give vour Liver and Kidney Cure a trial. I had taken in these many years every thing I could hear of and received no benefits. After taking one bottle of your medicine I found myself cured of my old army enemy and have had no syraptomsj of my trouble since. I continued its use for kidney and bladder trouble of which 1 was also a sufferer and at present believe I am entirely cured. I can heartily recommend your Acme Kidney and Liver Cure to like sufferers. Yours Truly.
G. D. CUMMINS.
ACTON, Ind., Marion County, April 28th, 1895. S. A. D. BECKXKR Greenfield, Ind.
Dear Sir: I *aat to say to you that I believe you have the best Kiduey and Liver cure on earth. I was troubled for 16 years with Kidney and Liver disease, was unable to work a great deal of my time on account of chronic diarrhoea. I had tried several good physicians and could get no cure. About Jan. 19th, 1895, I was induced by your agent, Mr. T. D. Cotton to buy your Acme Kidney and Liver cure and after using the first bottle I found myself greatly improved. I continued the use and find myself entirely cured. In fact have had no trouble since taking the first bottle. This is for the benefit of suffering humanity. with great respect,
T. F. MUSTS.
CAVEAISJRADE MARKS COPYRIGHTS.
CAN I OBTAIN A-PATENT? For a prompt answer and an honest opinion, write to MUNN CO., who have had nearly fifty years' experience in the patent business. Communications strictly confidential. A Handbook of Information concerning Patents and how to obtain them sent free. Also a catalogue of mechanical and scientific books sent free.
Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive Bpecial notice in the Scientific Americnu, and thus are brought widely before the public without cost to the inventor. This splendid paper, issued weekly, elegantly illustrated, has by far the largest circulation of any scientific work in the world. $3 a year. Sample copies sent free.
Building Edition, monthly, $2.50 a year. Single copies, '25 cents. Every number contains beautiful plates, in colors, and photographs of new houses, with plans, enabling builders to show the latest designs and secure contracts. Address
MUNN & CON NEW YOKE, 361 BKOADWAY.
DR. J. M. LOCHHEAD, MEOPAfHIC PilimiN and SURflEOK.
Office at 23X W. Main street, ove) Early'? drug store. Residence, 12 Walnut street.
Prompt attention to calls ir. city country. Special atteotion to Children?. Women* and Chronic Diseases. Ijate resideu physician St. Louis Childreus Hospital. 30t1
Mortality.
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud? Like a swift fleeting meteor, a fast flying cloud? A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, He passeth from life to his rest in tbo grave.
The leaves of tlio oak and the willow shall fade, Bo scattered around and together be laid, And the young, and the old, and the low, and the high Shall molder to dust and together shall lie.
The infant a mother attended and loved, The mother that infant's affection who proved, The husband that mother and infant who blessed, Each, all, are away to their dwellings of rest.
The hand of the king that the scepter hath borne, The brow of the priest that the miter hath worn, The eye of the sage and the heart of the brave Are hidden and lost in the depths of the grave.
Tho peasant, whose lot was to sow and to reap The herdsman, who tilimbed with his goats to the steep The beggar, who wandered in search of his bread, Have faded away like the grass that we tread. So the multitude goes, like the flower or the weed That withers away to let others succeed. So the multitude comes, even those we behold. To repeat every tale that has often been told.
For we are the same our fathers have been— We see the same sights our fathers have seen, We drink tho same stream and view the same sun And run the same course our fathers have run.
The thoughts we are thinking our fathers would think, From the death we are shrinking our fathers would shrink. To tbe life we are clinging the/ also would cling. But it speeds from us all, like a bird on the wing. They loved, but the story we cannot unfold They scorned, but the heart of the haughty is cold They grieved, but no wail from their slumber will come They joyed but the tongue of their gladness is dumb.
They died—aye, they died—and we things that are now, That walk on the turf that lies over their brow And make in their dwellings a transient abode, Meet the things that they met on their pil grimage road.
Yea, hope and despondency, pleasure and pain. We mingle together in sunshine and rain, And tho smile and the tear, tho song and the dirge, Still follow each other, like surgo upon surge.
'Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draft of a breath, From the blossom of health to the paleness of death, From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud. Oh. whv should the suirit of mortal bo proudt
Diamond Dealer Assigns.
•NEW YORK, June 19.—Earnest Adler, diamond dealer, at 531 Maiden Lane, confessed judgment yesterday for $8,607 to Fanny Zuckermau for money advanced. The liabilities are said to be about |90,000. Inability to obtain further accommodations is said to have caused the failure.
HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT
The Most Desperate Encounter Yet in Cuba.
THE SPANIAii&S WERE ROUTED.
Tlielr Loss Was 472 While the Insurgents Lost but 163—The Spaniards Had Fired a Village and Were Torturing and Killing on Every Side, Not Even Sparing the 'Women.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 19.—A special to the Florida Citizen from Gainesville says:
F. R. Anderfer of this city, an old friend of Major Wann of the Sixth Cuban volunteers, has received another letter direct from the seat of the Cuban rebellion. The letter is dated at Arequipa, Province of Camaguey, Cuba, via Tampa, June 14, and is as follows: "Our troops today surprised a battalion of Spanish soldiers and almost completely annihilated them. It seems that their major, hearing that a wounded Cuban officer was being nursed at this place, decided to capture him. The Spanish major, taking his command, reached the village this morning before daybreak. After searching all the houses, and not finding the wounded officer, he called some citizens before him and demanded, on pain of torture, to know his hiding place. All denied any knowledge of the Cuban. The Spanish officer thereupon put all the citizens to torture. "Meanwhile the Cuban had escaped and made all possible speed to us, reporting to Colonel Roderguez, who is in command. We were immediately ordered forward on double quick time. When we reached the village the scene beggared description. The Spaniards had fired the houses* and were torturing and killing on every side. Women did not escape. Our men were wild with rage. After firing one volley they became so ferocious that they charged, and were soon engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter. No quarter was given, and those of the Spaniards who were unhurt and had the strength fled in utter dismay. Dead and dying were lying in heaps about the place. "This was the most desperate battle I have ever been engaged in. Our loss is 163 out of a force of 500. While the Spanish loss is 472 by actual count, including officers. We captured their complete outfit and arms. This battle will delay us in reaching Gomez, but we hope to join him tomorrow."
BOLD ATTACKS MADE.
Cuban Insurgents Attempt to Capture Two Important Towns. HAVANA, June 19.—The insurgents
have attacked Cristo, not far from Santiago do Cuba, and the more important town of Dos Caminos, only a little further away from Santiago de Cuba. No details of the fighting have been received.
In the districts of Vega Alta and Yueltas, province of Santa Clara, several bands of insurgents have appeared. A detachment of 300 troops, under General Luque, started in pursuit of the insurgents. The latter attacked Vega Alta, but upon the arrival of the troops the insurgents left in the direction of the Navon coast. It is rumored that they have gone to protect the landing of an expedition which is awaited there.
The widow of Jose Marti and her son have made a request for a passport in Qrder to enable them to leave Cuba for New York.
Trying to Call Gomez Ofl". MADRID, June 19.—A dispatch to The
Imparcial from Havana says that the autonomists and several leaders of the last revolution have had a conference at Puerto Principe. After they had discussed the situation,-it is added, they decided that the separatists were not in a position to continuo the struggle, and a committee was appointed to go to Santiago de Cuba and advise Maximo Gomez to abandon the war.
Official Telegram to Madrid. 'MADRID, June 19.—An official tele
gram from Havana says that General Sorrano has inflicted two defeats upon Gomez' rear guard, and several smaller bands were routed in the district of Remedies and Agnadilla, in tho province of Santa Clara.
TAYLOR'S TALE.
lie Did Not See a Detective and None Saw Him in Mi* Travels.
Sioux CITY, la., June 19.—The Journal's Pierre special says: Defaulter W. W. Taylor reached here yesterday. He expected that a special term of the circuit court would be in session, and that he would be at once sentenced, but Judge Galley's absence prevented. The judge will probably call a special session Saturday, however, for the purpose. Taylor makes a statement in regard to his flight, in which he says: "I did not see a detective during the entire time, and none saw me. They claim they did not prosecute a very vigorous search, and while I traveled slowly they were still more dilatory. They did not trace me at all beyond Jamaica, but I understand are still in the Barbadoes following a false clew which I laid for them. I did not go to South America at all, and the reports of detectives as to my wanderings after leaving Jamaica are pure moonshine, as well as much of what tney told earlier. I finally decided to come in and give myself up."
But Slight Hope For Governor Atkinson. ATLANTA, June 19.—Governor Atkin
son has not rallied since the operation for appendicitis was performed at 11 o'clock Monday. He could not have lived without the operation, and the chances are rather against him. His physicians now fear that inflammation has set in. If so the dreaded peritonitis must inevitably follow. The next 12 hours will decide whether it is life or death.
Hiinglng Witnessed by 2,000 People. OAKLAND, Miss., June 19.—John F.
Wells was hanged in the presence of 2,000 people at Charleston, Miss., yesterday for the murder of a woman at Cascilla, Miss., a year ago.
One Killed and Another Injured. MASSILLON, O.. June 19.—By the pre
mature explosion of a blast in a coal mine near hero Edmund Griffith was instantly killed aud Thomas Davis fatally injured.
INDIANS EXCITED.
Yhm Shooting of Keil Lodge, the Indian, May Lead to Serious Trouble WICHITA, Kan., June 19.—A special
to The Eagle from El Reno vstiiit the shooting of Red Lodge, the Indian who had been arrested for assaulting an old woman at Arapahoe last Saturday, promises to become a very serious matter and may end in an outbreak of the Indians. A mutual li.ite exists between the Indians and whites and the greatest caution is required to prevent an armed collision.
Captain Woodson, the Indian agent, telegraphed The Eagle last night concerning the accuracy of the reports that the shooting of Lodge was wanton and evidently prearranged by the sheriff of "G" county. The sheriff, Captain Woodson says, took the Indian to a base ball game. Upon arriving there the Indian took the assembled crowd for a mob, as it was expected he would do, and made a break to get away, when the sheriff shot him through the bowels.
Captain Woodson thinks that all this program was prearranged to kill the Indian. He says that Captain Maekey's troop of cavalry is on the scene, and that he has sent a detachment of Indian police to mingle with the Indians and keep them quiet.
A dispatch from Arapahoe also states that the Indians are very much excited, and that a general collision is feared.
A Doctor Needed at Gray Gables. WASHINGTON, June 19.—It is stated
here on semi-official authority that the reason the president [declined to stop in New York for the opening of the Harlem canal was because his presence as well as that of Dr. O'Reilly was needed at Gray Gables. No news has come to the White House of any important advent at Buzzard's Bay except that of the yacht Oneida and its distinguished passengers.
Cyclone In Nebraska.
OMAHA, June 19.—A special to The Bee from North Platte, Neb., says: A terrible cyclone passed over this county last evening, destroying mnch property and demolishing many houses. Ben Young, a prominent farmer, was carried with his house a long distance. His mutilated remains were not found for many hours. Several others were more or less injured.
Nearly Two Thousand Immigrants NEW YORK, June 19.—Five trans
atlantic steamers, which reached their piers in this city yesterday, brought in the aggregate 1,844 steerage passengers. The Werra. Avhicli sailed from Naples, contributed 709 of these ffle Alsatia, from Genoa, 464 the Fulcla, from Bremen, 312 the Friesland, from Antwerp, 300, and the State of Nebraska, from Glasgow, 59.
Small Town Destroyed by Fire. FRANKLIN, Ind., June 19. Bluff
Creek, a small country town off the railroad, has been almost entirely destroyed by iire. Fourteen buildings, including three general stores, with their contents, were also consumed. The loss is heavy, with one-half insurance.
Condition of tho Treasury. WASHINGTON, June 19.—Yesterday's
statement of the condition of the treasury
1
shows: Available cash balance, $183,315,801 gold reserve, $99,6S9,526. Indications.
Increasing cloudiness and showers slightly cooler in the ^northern portion southerly winds, shifting to westerly.
lase Ball.
AT ALT I MOKE— E Baltimore 0 001 0 002 0— 3 73 St. Louis 00000:303 0— 5 11 3
Batteries—Hemming and Clarke liritenstein and Poitz. Umpire—Galvin. AT BOSTON— E Boston 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 x— 7 9 3 Clevuland ...1...0 000020 1 0— 3 6 3
Batteries—Stivetts and fcranzel Knell and Zimmcr. Umpire—McDonald. AT NEW YORK— E New York 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 3 1—10 14 1 Cincinnati 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0— 3 S 5
Batteries—Clarke and Schriver Parrott, Dwyer and Merritt. Umpire—Emslie. AT BROOKLYN— E Brooklyn 0 0210102 x— 6 6 1 Louisville 0 0101030 0— 5 8 9
Batteries—Stein and Grim Weyliing and Welch. Umpire—Keefc. AT WASHINGTON— II E Washington ....4 000000 0 0—4 42 Chicago .0 0 0 1 3 0 02 x— 6 9 1
Batteries—Mercer and McGuire Terry and Moran. Umpire—Murray. AT PHILADELPHIA— E Philadelphia 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 0— 6 8 3 Pittsburg 0 00100020—3 92
B..cteries—McGill and Buckley Hart and Sugden. Umpire—Campbell.
E ARKETS.
Review of the Grain aud Livestock Markets For June 18.
Wheat Spring wheat, No. 1 hard, 80}£c No. 1 northern, 79^c winter wheat, No. 2 red, ?7£@81c. Corn—No. 2 yellow, 53£c No. 3 yellow, 53c No 2 corn, 52£c No. 3 corn, 52c. Oats—No. 2 white, 35c No. 2 mixed, 32. Cattle— Prices weak. Hogs—Good mediums, $4 90@4 95 common to good heavy ends, $4 15$4 50 roughs, $3 75@4 40 pigs, $4 75@4 80 stags, $3 00@3 50. Sheep and lambs—Export ewes and wethers, $3 75$ 4 155 good to prime handy wethers, $3 50($ 3 75 fair to good mixed, #2 75@3 25 common to fair, $2 35@2 50 clipped yearlings, good to choice, $4 00@4 25 fair to good, $3 40@3 65 spring lambs, common to choice, $3 50@b 00.
Pittsburg.
Cattle—Prime, $5 50@5 75 good, $5 00@ 5 40 good butchers, $4 50@5 00 bulls, stags and cows, $2 25@3 50 rough fat, |3 50@4 25 fresh cows and springers, #15 @40. Hogs—Best Philadelphias, $4 75@ 4 85 mixed and best Yorkers, $4 65(a)4 70 common to fair Yorkers, $4 50@4 60 roughs, 83 (X@4 00. Sheep—Extra, S3 10 @3 40 good, 12 80@3 00 fair, $1 80@2 20 common to fair, 50c@l 25 best lambs, $3 60@3 80 good, $12 80(^:3 10 common to fair, $1 50(^:i 50 spring lambs, $3 00(^5 00 veal calve, $5 o0(«!o 25. ,,,
Cincinnati.
Wheat—&3($84c. Corn—50£@53. Cattle—Select butchers, $4 25@4 75 fair to medium, #3 25(&4 10 common, $2 25($ 3 00. Hogs—Selected and prime butchers, 14 7f@4 85 packing, $4 50©4 70 common to rough, $1 25(Z!4 45. Sheep—$1 50(^3 50. Spring lambs—#2 5i@0 00. ,,
Chicago.
pi
bulls, $1 75(g4 75. nlieep Spring 1«nib:i—$4 50@6 15.^
.IBS®
II 75(^5 00.
New York.
Cattle—$1 75(6i(3 0U. khoop^-td 25g3 75 lambs, $4 50(&6 7»
More Unique Letters to Mary S. Owens.
AS UNPOETUIfATE COMPOSITION.
The First Letter After the Drawn Battle. He Seems Easily Satisfied—A Peculiar Screed to a Friend—Miss Owens' Opinion. After Her Marriage.
[From "The Life of Lincoln" by William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik. Copyright, 1888, by Jesse W. Weik. Copyright, 1892, by D. Appleton & Co.]
X.
During the warm, dry summer months Lincoln kept up the love siege without apparent diminution of zeal. He was as assiduous as ever, and in August was anxious to forco a decision. On the 16tb he had a meeting with her which terminated much like a drawn battle—at least it seems to have afforded him but little encouragement, for on his return to Springfield he immediately indulged in an epistolary effusion stranger than any that preceded it:
FRIEND MARY—You will no doubt think it rather strange that I should write you a letter on the same dajr on which we parted, and I can only account for it by supposing that seeing you lately makes me think of you more than usual, while at our late meeting we had but few expressions of thoughts. You must know that I cannot see you or think of you with entire indifference, and yet it may be that you are mistaken in regard to what my real feelings towards you are. If I knew you were not, I should not trouble you with this letter. Perhaps any other man would know enough without further information, but I consider it my peculiar right to plead ignorance and your bounden duty to allow the plea.
I want in all cases to do right, and most particularly so in all cases with women. I want at this particular tune, more than anything else, to do right to you, and if I knew it would bo doing right, as I rather suspect it would, to let you alone, I would do it. And for the uurposo of making the matter as plain as possible I now say that you can drop tho subject, dismiss your thoughts—if you ever had any— from mo forever, and leave this letter unanswered without calling forth ono accusing murmur from mo. And I will even go further and say that if it will add anything to your comfort or peace of mind to do so it is my sincere wish that you should. Do not understand by this that I wish to cut your acquaintance. I mean no such thing. What I do wish is that our further acquaintanco shall depend upon yourself. If such further acquaintance would contribute nothing to your happiness, I am sure it would not to mine. If you feel yourself in any degree bound to me, I am now willing to release you, provided you wish it, while, on the other hand, I am willing and even anxious to bind you faster if I can be convinced that it will in any considerable degree add to your happiness. This indeed is tho whole question with me. Nothing would make me more miserable, nothing more happy, than to know you were so.
In what I have said I think I cannot be misunderstood, and to mako myself understood is the sole object of this letter.
If it suits you best to not answer this—farewell—a long life and a merry one attend you. But if you conclude to write back speak as plainly as I do. There can be neither harm nor danger in saying to me anything you think just in the manner you think it. My respects to your sister. Your friend, LINCOLN.
A Ludicrous Letter.
For an account of the final outcome of this affaire du coeur the reader is now referred to the most ludicrous letter Mr. Lincoln ever wrote. It has been said, but with how much truth I do not know, that during his term as president the lady to whom it was written, Mrs. O. H. Browning, wife of a fellow member of the legislature, before giving a copy of it to a biographer, wrote to Lincoln asking his consent to tho publication, but that be answered warning her against it because it was too full of truth. The only biographer who ever did insert it apologized for its appearance in his book, regarding it for many reasons as an extremely painful duty. "If it could be withhold," he laments, "and the act decently reconciled to the conscience of a biographer professing to be honest and candid, it should never see the light in these pages. Its grotesque humor, its coarse exaggerations in describing tho person of a lady whom the writer was willing to marry, its imputation of toothless and weather beaten old age to a woman really young and handsome, its utter lack of that delicacy of tone and sentiment which one naturally expects a gentleman to adopt when he thinks proper to discuss the merits of his late mistress—all these and its defective orthography it would certainly be more agreeable to suppress than to publish. But, if we begin by omitting or mutilating a document which sheds so broad a light upon one part of his life and one phase of his character, why may we not do the like as fast and as often as the temptation arises? And where shall the process cease?"
I prefer not to take such a serious view of the letter or its publication. My idea is that Mr. Lincoln got into one of bis irresistible moods of humor and fun —a state of feeling into which he frequently worked himself to avert the overwhelming effects of his constitutional melancholy—and in the inspiration of the moment penned this letter, which many regard as an unfortunate composition. The class who take such a gloomy view of the matter should bear in mind that the letter was written by Mr. Lincoln in the fervor of early manhood, just as he was emerging from a most embarrassing situation, and addressed to a friend who, he supposed, would keep it sacredly sealed from the publio eye. As a matter of fact, Mr. Lincoln was not gifted with a ready perception of tho propriety of things in all cases. Nothing with him was intuitive. To have profound judgment and just discrimination he required time to think, and if facts or events were forced before him in too rapid succession the machinery of his judgment failed to work. A knowledge of this fact will account for the letter, and also serve to rob the offense, if any was committed, of half its severity.
How H« Got Out of
The letter was writen in the same month Miss Owens made her final departure from Illinois:?
SPRINGFIELD, April 1, 18S8.
DEAK MADAM—Without apologizing for being egotistical, I shall make the history of so much of my life as has elapsed since 1 saw you the subject of this letter. And, by the way, I now discover that, in order to give a full and intelligible account of the things I have done and
-*r
suffered since I saw you, I shall necessarily have to relate some that happened before. It was, then, in tha autumn of 1836 that a married lady of my acquaintance and who was a great friend of mine, being about to pay a visit to her father and other relatives residing' in Kentucky, proposed to me that on her return she would bring a sister of hers with her on condition that I wo -.'J. engage to become her brothor-in-law with all convenient dispatch. I of course accepted the proposal, for you know I could not h::vo dono otherwise had I really been averse to it but, privately, between you and me, I was most confoundedly well pleased with the project. I had seen the said sister some three years before, thought? her intelligent and agreeable, and saw no good objection to plodding life through hand in hand with her. Time passed on, the lady took her journey, and in duo time returned, sister in company sure enough. This astonished me a little, for it appeared to me that her coming so readily showed that she was a trifle too willing, but on reflection it occurred to mo that she might have been prevailed on by her married sister to come without anything concerning me ever having been mentioned to her, and so I concluded that, if no other objection presented itself, I would consent to waiva this. All this occurred to moon hearing of her arrival in the neighborhood, for, be it remembered, I had not yet seen her, except about three yenrs previous, as above mentioned. Iri a few days we had an interview, and although I had seen her before she did not look as my imagination had pictured her. I knew she* was oversize, but she now appeared a fair match for Falstaff. I knew she was called aa "old maid," and I felt no doubt of the truth of at least half of the appellation, but now, when, I beheld her, I could not for my life avoid thinking of my mother, and thi3 not from withered features, for her skin was too full of fat to permit of its contracting into wrinkles, but from her want of teeth, weather beaten appearance in general, and from a kind of notion that ran in my head that nothing could have commenced at the size of infancy and reached her present bulk in less than 35 or 49 years, and, in short, I was not at all pleased with her. But what could I do? I had "told her sister I would take her for better or for worse, and I made a point of honor and conscience in all things to stick to my word, especially if others had been induced to act on it, which in this case I had no doubt they had, for I was now fairly convinced that no other man on earth would have her, and hence tho conclusion that they were bent on holding me to my bargain. "Well," thought I, "I have said it, and, bo the consequences what they may, it shall not be my fault if I fail to do it." At once I determined to consider her my wife, and, this done, all my powers of discovery were put to work in search of perfections in her which might be fairly set off against her defects. I tried to imagine her handsome, which, but for her unfortunate corpulency,was actually true. Exclusive of this, no woman that I have ever seen has a finer face. I also tried to convince myself that the mind was much more to be valued than the person, and in this she was not inferior, as I could discover, to any with whom I had been acquainted.
Shortly after this, without coming to any positive understanding with her, I set out for Vandalia, when and where you first saw me. During my stay there I had letters from her which did not change my opinion of either her intellect or intention, but, on the contrary, confirmed it in both.
All this while, although I was fixed, "firm as the surge repelling rock," in my resolution, I found I was continually repenting the rashness which had led me to make it. Through life I have been in no bondage, either real or imaginary, from the thraldom of which I so much desired to be free. After my return home I saw nothing to change my opinion of her in any particular. She was the same, and so was I. I now spent my time in planning how I might get along through life after my contemplated change of circumstances should have taken place, and how I might procrastinate the evil day for a time, which I really dreaded as much, perhaps more, than an Irishman does the halter.
After all my suffering upon this deeply interesting subject here I am, wholly, unexpectedly, completely, out of the "scrape," and now I want to know if you can guess how I got out of it, out, clear, in every sense of the term, no violation of word, honor or conscience. I don't believe you can guess, so I might as well tell you at once.
As the lawyer says, it was done in the manner following—to wit: After I had delayed tho matter as long as I thought I could in honor do—which, by the way, had brought me round into the ist fall—I concluded I might as well bring it to a consummation without further delay, and so I mustered up my resolution and made the proposal to her direct but, shocking to relate, she answered no. At first I supposed she did it through an affectation of modesty, which I thought but ill became her under the peculiar circumstances of her caso, but on my renewal of the charge I found she repelled it with greater firmness than before. I tried it again and again, but with the same success, or rather with the same want of success. I finally was forced to givo it up, at which I very unexpectedly found myself mortified almost beyond endurance. I was mortified, it seemed to me, in a hundred different ways. My vanity was deeply wounded by the reflection that I had been too stupid to discover her intentions, and at the samo time never doubting that I understood them perfectly, and also that she, whom I had taught myself to believe nobody else would have, -had actually rejected me with all my fancied greatness. And, to cap the whole, I then for the first time began to suspect that I was really a little in love with her. But let it all go. I'll try and outlive it. Others have been made fools of by the girls, but this can never with truth be said of me. I most emphatically in this instance made a fool of myself. I have now come to the conclusion never again to think of marrying, and for this reason—I win never be satisfied with any one who would be blockhead enough to have me.
When you receive this, wrlto mo a long yarn about something to amuse me. Give my respects to Mr. Browning. Your sincero friend,
Mrs. O. H. Browning.
A. LINCOLN.
As before mentioned, Miss Owens was afterward married and became the mother of five children. Two of her sons served in the Confederate armyShe died July 4, 1877. Speaking of Mr. Lincoln a short time before her death, she referred to him as "a man with a heart full of kindness and a head full of sense."
Not According to the Code.
While at the rendezvous at Rusbville and on the march to the front Lincoln, of course, drilled his men and gave them such meager instruction in military tactics as he could impart. In marching one morning at the head of tho company, who were following in lines of 30 abreast, it became necessary to pass: through agate much narrower than the lines. Tho captain could not remember the proper command to turn the company endwise, and the situation was becoming decidedly embarrassing when one of those thoughts born of the depths of despair came to his rescue. Facing th%lines, he shouted: "Haiti This company will break ranks for two minuteff aud form again on tho other side of tb® gate." Tho maneuver was successfully exeouted.1
Lincoln at the Bar.
He never took advantage of a man'® low character to prejudice the jury. Mr. Lincoln thought his duty to his olienfc extended to what was honorable andhigh minded, just and noble—nothing further. Hence the meanest man at tho bar always paid great deference and respect to him.—David Davis, Sept
1866, MS.
1(V
Lincoln said, "HistoryIs not historyunless it is the truth.''