a coat of arms of a State or Territory. The car was drawn by six white horses with white covers on which was inscribed in red letters "Union". A little while after Mr. Lincoln arrived at the White House so did the car and its charming contents. The little Misses climbed down and the crowd of them called on Mr. Lincoln. Each he picked up and kissed. A curl of one caught in his buttonhole and a bystander slyly remarked that he was trying to take possession of it.

Perhaps somewhere in the United States lives or perhaps yet abides in the Capital City, a lady with hair touch that indicates three score and ten who was one of the thirty-seven; and who smiles sweetly as she calls to mind her pleasant part in the episode.1

"The platform for the cermony of taking the oath, and the tribute for the inaugural address, had been erected in front of the Senate wing of the Capitol.

"After the oath had been administered, Mr. Lincoln proceeded to the tribune. He carried his hat in his right hand and a roll of papers in his left. As he looked about for some place to put his hat, he turned this way and that, when Senator Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, who had been one of his competitors for the Presidency and had polled a very large popular vote, although he had received only the electoral vote of Missouri, courteously reached out his hand-as he was on Mr. Lincoln's right and a little behind him-took the embarrassing hat and held it during the address.

"Mr. Lincoln unrolled the paper, which seemed to be

Virginia Jacobs, Martha Raley, Hannah Williams, Harriet S. Gordon, Mary S. Gordon, Jane S. Gordon, Ellen Grimes, Martha E. Milstead, Mary E. Milstead, Elizabeth Ann Marshall, Caroline Fishman, Margaret Goodwin, Emma Fishman, Emilie Fishman, Mary Herrity, Belle Garcia, Emma Slade, Maria Newman, Anna Newman, Lizzie Childress, Sarah Brown, Isabella Childress, Sarah Cronin, Margaret Cronin, Lucy A. Miller, Jane Miles, Mary Cassidy, Rosanna King, Alice Avery, Cora V. Crampsey, Mary Noon, Anna Noon, Lucy V. Blanchard, Willie Plant, Florence Kelly, Minana Hodges, and Elizabeth R. Cramp

sey.

in the form of galley proof, placed it upon the desk or lectern and put a cane across the top to prevent its rolling up, and to keep it in place. Although the portico and the projecting steps were well filled, they were not crowded. There was no great number of people on the open ground immediately in front of the President and it was easy to move up close to him. All who were anxious to hear could get within earshot. Whether it was due to fear or to some other cause, the majority of those in front of the President were evidently disposed to keep at a respectful distance. Captain Reynolds and I stood directly in front of Mr. Lincoln, not over twelve or fifteen feet off, and had plenty of room to move around. We saw above us an honest, kindly but careworn face, shadowed into almost preternatural serious

ness.

991

Joseph Howard, Junior, at the time the correspondent of The New York Times, says:

"There had always been a feeling of friendship existing between Mr. Lincoln and Judge Douglas; and the manner in which the latter acted just prior to the Inauguration, and the gallant part he sustained at that time, as well as afterwards, served to increase their mutual regard and esteem. It was my good fortune to stand by Mr. Douglas during the reading of the Inaugural of President Lincoln. Rumors had been current that there would be trouble at that time, and much anxiety was felt by the authorities and the friends of Mr. Lincoln as to the result. 'I shall be there,' said Douglas, ‘and if any man attacks Lincoln, he attacks me, too.' As Mr. Lincoln proceeded with his address, Judge Douglas repeatedly remarked, 'Good!' 'That's fair!' 'No backing out there!' 'That's a good point!' etc., indicating his approval of its tone, as subsequently he congratulated the reader and endorsed the document.'

'Rev. George Williamson Smith. A Critical Moment for Washington. Records of the Columbia Historical Society. Vol. 21.

2

2 Reminiscences of Stephen A. Douglas. Atlantic Monthly. Vol. VIII, p. 211.

The inaugural ball room was parallel to the north wall of the City Hall. It was entered through the center by a covered stairway. The promenade hall and the supper room, south and north respectively of equal length, adjoined.

At eleven o'clock, Mr. Lincoln arrived with Mr. Berret, the Mayor, his escort; and Mrs. Lincoln with Judge Douglas, her escort. It had been rumored that the people of Washington did not intend to patronize the affair. Judge Douglas gave an effectual snub to this hostility which won him friends among his political opposites. Gautier, caterer of local celebrity, built a wonderful centerpiece, a pyramid, with thirty four flags, each stamped with the seal of a state.'

The Evening Star of the initial reception tells, March 9:

"But the downright serious hard work of the evening was performed by President Lincoln, who for more than two hours (i.e. from quarter past eight o'clock till half past ten) shook hands in right good earnest with all comers, at the rate of twenty-five per minute, (as timed by a gentleman in his vicinity) or one thousand five hundred per hour.

"The last scene of the levee was a tragic one. The mob of coats, hats and caps left in the hall had somehow got inextricably mixed up and misappropriated, and perhaps not one in ten of that large assemblage emerged with the same outer garments they wore on entering. Some thieves seem to have taken advantage of the opportunity to make a grand sweep, and a very good business they must have done. Some of the victims utterly refusing to don the greasy, kinky apologies for hats left on hand, tied up their heads in handkerchiefs and so wended their way sulkily homeward."

Mr. Mangan was cautious with reward for his cautiousness. The Washington Post, August 3, 1924:

2

1 Atlantic Monthly. Vol. VIII, p. 211.

Charles Gautier. 1217 '19 Pennsylvania Avenue.

"I went to Mr. Lincoln's first reception, and the doorman told me I would have to leave my overcoat outside. I told him pretty quick that it was the only heavy overcoat I had and that I didn't care to lose it, so I didn't go in. I heard from the doorkeeper afterward that there were nearly three hundred overcoats taken by mistake or otherwise that night."

With the title "First Visit of an Old Lady to Washington," The Sunday Morning Chronicle, April 14, 1861, is reference to the first levee:

"Well, I went to the levee. I was too curious to allow myself to be worried by the rush, and presently I got into a corner on a sofa and indulged myself at the scene. Mr. Lincoln did not seem much frightened because he was elected President, and I never thought it was exactly right to blame him because he was.

"Mrs. Lincoln reminded me very much of a very dear friend at home. She was graceful, modest and kind to everybody. I wondered whether she could keep her temper through all the troubles that are before her?"

Isaac N. Arnold. The Life of Abraham Lincoln:

"Returning home, (Charleston), she found a party of secessionists, and on entering the room she exclaimed: "I have seen him! I have seen him! * ** That terrible monster, Lincoln, and I found him a gentleman, and I am going to his first levee after his inauguration."

"At his first reception, this tall daughter of South Carolina, dressing herself in black velvet, with two long white plumes in her hair, repaired to the White House. She was nearly six feet high, with black eyes, and black hair, and in her velvet and white feathers she was a striking and majestic figure. As she approached, the President recognized her immediately."

Mrs. Briggs, of the levee many years subsequently, writes:

"At that time, as all Americans know, Lincoln was the most jovial of men and the contrast in his appearance when I saw him at the levee was startling. If you have

ever seen an oak tree, standing alone in a field, with its great gnarled trunk and branches stretching heavenward, the atmosphere about it charged with electricity, and the black, thundering clouds on the horizon threatening any moment a war of the elements, you will realize the impression made upon me by Abraham Lincoln as he stood there in perpetual fear of a dagger thrust or a bullet, and the warning notes of internecine strife sounding from the South.

"Every line in his face evidenced the kind, rugged character of the man, and every pose of his gigantic figure indicated democratic nobility.""

In writing Abraham Lincoln at the National Capital I have intended to adhere to the personal and avoid the political. In the preparation books have been almost entirely ignored. The material is from the newspapers. The newspaper accounts must be accurate for they are concurrent. I have faith in the newspapers, an inherited faith. My granduncle was a Whig and he swore by The Herald, the Whig organ. What was in it he knew was right. My other granduncle was a Democrat and with equal loyalty swore by The Globe, the Democratic organ. He knew what was in it could not be wrong. That which in this paper is apparently digressive was, with slight exception, connected with Mr. Lincoln-it, at least, came under his eye. The newspapers from which I have compiled are the local Intelligencer, Chronicle, National Republican, and The Star. Mr. Lincoln read these splendid newspapers; once in hand he could not help so to do. It is a recorded fact that he did read them and let his secretaries read the out-of-town papers for him.

1

Ida M. Tarbell in The Life of Abraham Lincoln:

"He was a very early riser, being often at his desk

Washington Times. February 9, 1902.