The inner life of Abraham Lincoln : $b Six months at the White House — John Shaqi
The inner life of Abraham Lincoln : $b Six months at the White HouseCarpenter, F. B. (Francis Bicknell)
History
The inner life of Abraham Lincoln : $b Six months at the White House
Carpenter, F. B. (Francis Bicknell)
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Anecdotes; Presidents -- United States -- Anecdotes
Then, unconsciously assuming the character, Mr. Lincoln repeated, also
from memory, Richard’s soliloquy, rendering it with a degree of force
and power that made it seem like a new creation to me. Though familiar
with the passage from boyhood, I can truly say that never till that
moment had I fully appreciated its spirit. I could not refrain from
laying down my palette and brushes, and applauding heartily, upon his
conclusion, saying, at the same time, half in earnest, that I was not
sure but that he had made a mistake in the choice of a profession,
considerably, as may be imagined, to his amusement. Mr. Sinclair has
since repeatedly said to me that he never heard these choice passages
of Shakspeare rendered with more effect by the most famous of modern
actors.
Mr. Lincoln’s memory was very remarkable. With the multitude of
visitors whom he saw daily, I was often amazed at the readiness with
which he recalled faces and events and even names. At one of the
afternoon receptions, a stranger shook hands with him, and, as he did
so, remarked, casually, that he was elected to Congress about the
time Mr. Lincoln’s term as representative expired. “Yes,” said the
President, “you are from ----,” mentioning the State. “I remember
reading of your election in a newspaper one morning on a steamboat
going down to Mount Vernon.” At another time a gentleman addressed him,
saying, “I presume, Mr. President, that you have forgotten me?” “No,”
was the prompt reply, “your name is Flood. I saw you last, twelve years
ago, at ----,” naming the place and the occasion. “I am glad to see,”
he continued, “that the _Flood_ flows on.” Subsequent to his reëlection
a deputation of bankers from various sections were introduced one
day by the Secretary of the Treasury. After a few moments’ general
conversation, Mr. Lincoln turned to one of them, and said: “Your
district did not give me so strong a vote at the last election as it
did in 1860.” “I think, sir, that you must be mistaken,” replied the
banker. “I have the impression that your majority was considerably
increased at the last election.” “No,” rejoined the President, “you
fell off about six hundred votes.” Then taking down from the bookcase
the official canvass of 1860 and 1864, he referred to the vote of the
district named, and proved to be quite right in his assertion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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