HEARD LINCOLN IN I860. Oldtimer Writes of an Excursion From Chicago to Springfield. HI., Where He Firat Listened

c 1- ' , J to Speech from the Idol of the West.

There frequently come to my mind the tumultuous days of 1860, when the comparatively unknown Abraham Lin­coln was nominated for the presidency In the wigwam at Chicago for the first time, writes A. B. C. Hitchcock in the Chicago Inter Ocean. Though in the city I did not have a coveted ticket to the convention, either as a delegate or silent spectator; but there were thousands in the same tix, so there was enough going on on the outside to •ngage the attention of boy. fresh from the farm, with a decided bucolic flavor.

All through the summer of that year there was intense political ac­tivity in the Queen of the Lakes, and outspoken loyalty mingled with dis­loyal and defiant mut.terings almost everywhere, for the impending san­guinary conflict was in the air. Some time in September a great Republican meeting was widely advertised to be held in Springfield, the home of Lin­coln, and the railways all over the

gency, and, while they were not very i nourishing, they kept the blood thin and the stomach distended, thus pre­venting an utter collapse.

After a breakfast of crackers, cheese and melon, I went to Lincoln's home, which was not thronged at that early hour, was ushered into his unpreten­tious two-story house, was warmly welcomed by the future president, and sat down at his bidding for a few min­utes on a haircloth sofa. Finding oul that 1 was a boy from Vermont—the state that, though the birthplace of Douglas, eagerly embraced Republican doctrines from the very first and has never wavered in its fidelity—he plied me with questions and seemed glad to hear from my lips the esteem for him held by the sturdy residents of the Green Mountain state. I shall nev­er forget the warm clasp of his long, bony fingers, nor the sad but inde­scribable benignity and tenderness of his homely face when he smiled. His magnanimous spirit and almost in fin-

multitude is a treasured remembrance. All through the afternoon and even­

ing More boxes, steps and porches were utilized by spellbinders, polit­ically bubbling over, and, as lodging quarters for the host were out of the question, speechinaking, at sporadic in­tervals, broke out until the morning hour. By a chance, deemed good luck, I climbed to the top of a fannwig mill standing on the platform at the sta­tion, and curled up in the hopper, out of all danger of being stumbled over or stepped on. It was not exactly of the shape to fit the human form, so the form had to assume a shape to fit it. It was a coveted place to rest, however, but when I awoke in broad daylight there was an excruciating stiffness in the joints of my frost-cov­ered body which made it exceedingly hard to get off the perch, and some time elapsed before normal shape was assumed, cast, as 1 had been, in a hop­per mold. Not until Chicago was reached was tlie delight of a square

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state and adjoining states planned ex­cursions. offering extremely low rates —the round trip from Chicago being but $3. I concluded to be among the excursionists.

Three long passenger trains start­ed from the city and it was our mis­fortune to board the last one. Mis­fortune, I say, for the other two trains seemed filled with patriotic gluttons on a foraging expedition, for the trairis followed each other so closely that the eating houses did not have time to re­cuperate or replenish, so they were as bare, when our train arrived, as the cupboard of Old Mother Hubbard—not a bone left. The day was delightful, the air just keen enough to whet our ap­petite to an edge which would not have questioned the quality of any spread obtainable—even breakfast food half sawdust would have been relished. Our train missed but a very few of the side tracks, and lingered for a while on most of them. So a day and a night were consumed before Springfield hove in sight. The city •was but an insignificant one compared to what it is now, and was pervaded by the spirit of the sluggish, turbid Sangamon on whose banks it reposed, and was in no way prepared to taka care of such a congested mass of hu­manity, estimated at over 100,000 peo­ple. Square meals and lodgings we.re out of the question and tortiinate was he who could get crackers, a stale sandwich or a second-hand cup of coffee.

The only thing, except people, was watermelons. Every available spot seemed piled with them, huge speci­mens, at from 5 to 10 cents apiece. They were bought for refreshing seats, to slake thirst, and the seeds and pulp rinds made walking exceedingly pre­carious, as much so as a highway of banana skins. Rubber boots were a necessity if one would have dry feet. It must have been the banner season for the esculent, the people having largely planted the prairies for a crop, having got an inkling somehow that there would be a great demand for campaign purposes. In any event, they were a godsend in this emer-

ite tenderness of heart irradiated every lineament and made it beautiful, as rugged scenery becomes charming in the play of sunlight and shadow.

The fair grounds had been selected as the speaking place of the great gathering, and a dozen stands, per­haps. erected, for no one man's voice could reach one-tenth of the listeners. Senator Lyman Trumbull, Illinois, Sen­ator Doolittle, Wisconsin, and scores of lesser lights were there to discuss at length the grave issues with in earn­est intensity not equaled since the re­public was born. The defiant and threatening mutterings of the south­ern wing of the democracy were full of ominous forebodings and seemed to inspire the orators of the occasion.

About 3 o'clock a barouche, drawn by white horses, brought Lincoln to the grounds. The crowd was too dense for the team to be driven to the stand, so he alighted and was born upon stal­wart shoulders. They were so jostled that it kept the great man waving very much like a turkey perched upon a slender branch in a high wind. The sight was somewhat ludicrous, but he could not fall, for there were too many hands eager to hold him up, deeming it a privilege to but touch the hem ot his garment. His trousers were pushed up to his knees, and, though but an humble spectator of the scene, I may be called an assistant in car­rying the precious burden, for I grasped one ankle. The plattorm was finally reached, and, with air ol heaven caressing and tossing his locks, he raade a brief address in acknowledg­ment ol the honor of being chosen as the exponent of the young party so soon to take the reins of government in its giant hands. He was a natural orator, with a charming voice, and his usually heavy eyes lighted up and re­flected the fire of his inmost soul as he warmed to his subject, and a pe­culiar sweetness irradiated his fea­tures, which in repose had not a linea­ment of anything but sadness. If ever an inworking spirit came to the sur­face, it was the spirit of Abraham Lin­coln. The recollection of those few minutes when he was addressing the

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meal experienced, a fast of nearly four days, in which time no boots or gar­ments had been shuffled off, no face washed save in watermelon juice; but as in the economy of our nature pains are not remembered, the recollection of that excursion with its collateral de­lights, is pleasant to recall.

One of Lincoln's Stories. , "Did you ever hear Mr. Uncoln's lightning-rod story?" asked Speaker Cannon of 6ome friends who were spinning yarns. —Well, it 's a good one.

"Mr. Lincoln said he had attended meeting at a country church where one of the stingiest creatures on God's footstool went through the make-me-good idea he was worship­ing the Savior. The minister asked for a free contribution to enable the church fathers to buy a lightning rod for the edifice.

" 'Surely you are willing to lend to the Lord,' said the minister. 'Is he not the owner of the cattle on a thou­sand hills? Will he not repay?'

"This was the chance for the old miser to get in his work by giving a reason for not contributing. Rising in ln.s seat, he said:

" 'You say the Lord is the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills Then, why can't he sell some of the cattle and buy a lightning rod?' "— Washington Times.

Lincoln's Response.

An enthusiastic supporter from Buf­falo made the trip to Washington during the civil war to see President Lincoln. The visitor, whose name was Johnson, had prepared this polite speech to address to the president, as he reached him at the public recep­tion: "The people of Buffalo, sir, be­lieve in Almighty God and in Abra­ham Lincoln."

The president gave an extra warm grasp of his visitor's hand, whisper­ing in his ear: "You tell them th'at they are more than half right."—Buf­falo Courier. _i!f

FACULTY TAKES A HAND.

University Faculty Asks Board to Re­ject Droppers' Resignation.

The following letter, signed by ev­ery member of the faculty of the state university at Vermillion except Gar­rett Droppers, has been received by the president of the state board of re­gents of education:

Hon. I. W. Goodner, Pierre, S. D.— Dear Sir: We address you as president of the board of regents relative to the resignation of President Droppers. At a meeting of the senate of the univer­sity representing all its departments and colleges, called without the kuowl-ed •" President Droppers, it was unanimously voted to address you as president of the board of regents and lay before your honorable body a re­quest signed by every member of the faculty now present on the ground, asking that the resignation of Presi­dent Droppers be not accepted by the regents.

We do this not for any selfish or personal reasons, but in what we be­lieve to be the best interests of the university over whose destinies he has so successfully presided for more than six years. He came to the uni­versity in a time of peculiar diffi­culty. He found a faculty divided against itself, and the work of the in­stitution in a more or less disorganiz­ed condition. He was beset with diffi-cufties, both within and without the institution. Questions of the greatest importance regarding the organization of the university were at issue. Its courses of study and plan of organiza­tion had to be radically reconstructed if the institution was to become what the citizens of the state wished it to be, and what it must be if the State of South Dakota would march abreast of the educational movement of the times. The institution at that time was little more than a fitting school for Eastern colleges and universities, with no affiliation and no organic re­lation with the high schools of the state. The great body of students at the beginning of his administration, were doing preparatory work.

Under his skillful management and wise leadership the courses of study have been entirely recast and modern­ized. In the past six years the num­ber of college students has more than doubled. The college work proper has been greatly increased Vy the addition of numerous elective courses of study in every department. The university is already making a respectable showing in graduate work in spite of limited facilities in library equipment and in scientific apparatus. The work in every department of the university has shown steady and most satisfactory growth, and numerous ad­ditions have been made to the teach­ing force, including several assistant professors and two or more full pro­fessors. At the present time still far­ther additions must be made to the faculty in order to provide properly for the enlarging work of the institu­tion. Largely through President Drop­pers' effortsvthe college of law has been added to the university and is now making a most satisfactory prog­ress with a fully equipped faculty.

President Droppers' strong person­ality and his scholarly equipment have made friends for himself and for the university in spite of petty detractors. The faculty is entirely harmonious and stands strongly united in support of the president and his administra­tion. Without exception tliey would regard his departure from the univer­sity at this time as a calamity. The entire body of students is thoroughly in sympathy with his administration and yield him most, loyal support. The morale of the institution was never better, and will stand comparison with any similar institution in this state or any other.

President Droppers is, we believe, one of the most scholarly men who has ever graced the educational cir­cles of our state, and his teaching is highly appreciated by those under 5)is instruction. The charge that has sometimes been made against him that he is pessimistic and unsafe in his teaching is to our personal knowl­edge utterly unfounded and untrue.

The work of the university has been brought into touch with the high schools of the state by the revision of the courses of study, by a liberalizing of the requirements for admission, and by bringing the high schools into close and intimate relations with the uni­versity. The requirements for admis­sion to the university are now prac­tically the same as those established by sister institutions of the West. A larger number of high schools are fitting for entrance to the university than ever before. The steady increase in the number of preparatory students clearly shows the wisdom of the plans inaugurated by President Droppers, and likewise demonstrates that the growth of the university is along solid, substantial lines.

It is for these reasons and in view of these considerations that we ven­ture to address you at this time to the end that President Droppers may be continued in its present position at the head of the university for which he has done so much and through whose wise iind liberal policy its present prosperity is largely due. We most respectfully ask the considera­tion of this communication by your­self and your honorable colleagues of the board of regents.

THE HAND OF LINCOLN.

BY EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN. The subject of this poem Is a plnstc* cast of Abraham Lincoln's hand. It i» ;

now in the National Museum at Washin jtfnn. Atlas. according lo the old myth-jV* was a on whoso shouldors the \vhol»> weight ol Uua oarth reatod. Ac- -"

oording- to the Bible, Anak was the an itistor of n race of giants.

John A. Young, held at Huron for complicity in the murder of G. M. Todd, near Wessington, last October, is about 23 and is a bright looking fel­low. He declines to make any state­ment. Rumor says enough la now known to warrant the early arrest of another man.

OOK on this cast, and know the hand > That bore a nation in its hold:

From this mute witness understand What Lincoln was*—how large o£ mould

The man who sped the woodman's team. And deepest sunk the ploughman's share,

And pushed the laden raft astreain, Of fate before him unaware.

This was the hand that knew to swinsj The axe—since thus would freedom traia .

Her son—and made the forest ring, And drove the wedge, and toiled amain.

Firm hand, that loftier office took. A conscious leader's will obeyed,

And, when men sought his word and look, j ; With steadfast might the gathering swayed.

No courtier's, toying with a sword. Nor minstrel's, laid across a lute;

A chief's, uplifted to the Lord When all the kings of earth were mute!

The hand of Analf, sinewed strong. The fingers that on gifatness clutch;

Yet,, lo! the marks their lines along ' > Of one who strove and sutlered much.

For here, in knotted cord and vein. , I trace the varying chart ol ^ars: *

I kn"w the troubled heart, the "•.Main, The weight of Atlas—and the tears

Again I see the patient brow That paim erewhiie was wont to press; '-'a'*'

And now 'tis furrowed deep, and now Made smooth with hope and tenderness. 5 '

For something of a formless grace ' TIiis moulded outline plays about;

A pitying flame, beyond our trace, Brcatces like a spirit, in and out. , ,

v The love that cast an auteole >

Round one who, longer to endtite. Called mirth to ease his ceaseless dole, *> • , ••

Yet kept his nobler put pose sure. •,

Lo, as I gaze, the statured man. Built up from yon large hand, appears: • -i

A type that Nature wills to plan , But once in all a people's years. • <, ^

What better than this voiceless cast To tell of such a one as he,

Since through its living semblance passed >» . . The thought that bade a race be free!

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NOT A RAIL SPLITTER.

Lincoln Said to Have Denied WWely Prevalent Belief.

The Boston Republic lately printed some reminiscences ot the Hon. John Conness, U. S. senator from California from 18G3 to 1S69, and the sole survivor of the eight, pallbearers at the funeral of Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Conness, who is now a resident of Boston, attacked one well-rooted tradition. "Lincoln was not a rail-splitter," he said. "He once told me he never split a rail in his life.

"I recall distinctly the occasion on which Lincoln told me about the rail-splitting. I was at the White House one morning by appointment, discus­sing some official matter, and by de­grees our conversation drifted into other channels. John Hay, then the assistant secretary, came in for a sec­ond with some papers, among wluch were one of the weeklies of the day with some picture or statement refer­ring to the 'Illinois Rail-Splitter.'

'"Do you know, Conness,' said Mr. Lincoln to me, 'there isn't a word of truth in this rail-splitting business, not a word; and yet what am 1 to do about it? The day aftV I was nom­inated I was standing on the frout porch of my house, and the people were coming up to congratulate me. and parading by, some of them actu­ally carrying on their shoulders the rails which I was supposed to have split.

" 'I was much confused and trou­bled, and did not know exactly what I could do about it. My impulse was to tell them, but then, I thought, here were masses of men taking their own means of expressing their pleasure at my nomination, and I asked myself if I should dampen the ardor of my supporters on the very threshold of the campaign, or let it go on ami treat it as a means or incident in our election.

" 'Then all of a sudden there oc­curred to me a little story about an old farmer who lived up near where I did when I was a boy. He was an old bachelor, and didn't have much of a farm, and was a peculiar chap. Farm-hands didn't like to work tor him, and he used to have a lot of trouble getting them.

"'Finally he got one, a good, hard­working fellow, who was a great help to him, and who stayed longer than any of the others. This fellow had only one fault, he used to love to sing. He sang all the time about the house, and when the was working in the field.

" 'By and by the old farmer got so that the singing disturbed him con­siderable. So he called up the man and said; "Look here, John, you must stop this singing. It's really more than I can stand. Don't let me hear rou again." . ^ -

"'John went out and tried silence for a couple of days, but one morning the old farmer found a note for him saying: "Have gone to hoe where I can sing." So, Conness, I just thought I'd let 'em sing.' "

The real value of the tradition lies in its clear assertion of the fact that Lincoln was one of the humble peo­ple who grew to high estate. That is true, and because the tradition put the truth in a form that every one could grasp, it has survived.

• • Emerson on Lincoln. The president Impressed me more

favorably than I had hoped. A frank sincere, well-meaning man, with a lawyer's habit ot mind, good, clear statement of his fad, correct enough, not vulgar, as described; but with a sort of boyish cheerfulness, or that kind of sincerity and jolly good mean­ing that our class meetings on com­mencement days show, in telling our old stones over. When he has made his remark, he looks up at you 'with great satisfaction, and shows all his white teeth, and laughs. He argued to Sumner the whole case of Gordon, the slave trader, point by point, and added that he was not quite satisfied yet, and meant to refresh his memory by looking again at the evidence. All this showed a fidelity and consci­entiousness very honorable to him. When I was introduced to him, he said, "Oh, Mr. Emerson, I once heard you say in a lecture, that a Kentuckian seems to say by his air and manners, 'Here am I; if you don't like me, the worse for you.' "—Diary of R. W. Em­erson in the Atlantic-

Can You Improve This? It is not very well known that in

the hall of one of the great colleges of England there hangs a frame in­closing a tew sentences of which Abraham Lincoln is the author. They are considered the best English that was ever written. You or I might read them over and call them very simple indeed. And they are so sim­ple that any child who reads at all can read and understand them. That is one thing that makes them great. It was his being simple and plain that made Lincoln liimselt great.

Now, here is a litt.lo paragraph by Lincoln which he made a rule of his conduct. Suppose you try to write it over and see how much you can im­prove it. See it each word is the right one, and try to find a better word for the place. Notice how simpie this is; all but two are words ot a single syllable:

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to. succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong."