The White House Years Ago

The Rev. C'. Van Santvoord describes in the February Century, 'A Reception by President Lincoln,' at which-he was spectator, and of which the following re characteristic paragraphs: About two weeks after the official and other privileged visitors had taken heir departure, the doors of the Presi[ent's reception room would be thrown open to whomsoever might be waiting without. Happening ta be there on one of these occasions, I entered with about a score of these expectante; and curious to observe the character and rocess of this informal audience given ,o the people, I stationed myself in a corner near the President, where I could sec and hear all that was goins: on. The notes referred to were jotted down soon after the interview. President Lincoln's appearance is too well known to need particular descripción, ïhe tall, thin, wiry forra, which no burdens secmed able to bend and no amount of labor to deprive of elasticity; the calm, rugged, honest face, grave and deeply melancholy when in repose, yet wont to be lighted up under ;he influence of some humorous sally - these are familiar to the world. He was ciad plainly but becomingly in a black broadcloth snit, nothing in his dress betokening disregard for conventinnalitv. aavfi. nerhans. his neatrlrtth slippers, which were doubtless worn for comfort. He was seated beside a plain, cloth-covered table, in ft commodious arm-ciiair. When the visitor had withdrawn, an immenso. snfifiimen of a man nrosented himself. Broad shouldered, robust, with thews and sinews to match his grcat height, and withal an honest, good-natured countenance - all seemed to mark nim as belonging to the hardy yeomanry of the West. He sidled up awkwardly to the President, seeming almost afraid to accost him, but after some hesitation contrived to say, that being on a visit to Washington Se simÍdy wanted befoi'e leaving to sec the 'resident, and have the honor of shaking hands with him. He found a kindly reception, and after some introductory civilities Mr. Lincoln ran his eye over his huge caller, surveying him from head to foot, and then saying with a humoxous look and accent it would be hard to describe: "I rather think you have a little advantage of me in height; you are a taller man than I am." "Ieuess not. Mr. President," replied the visitor with the self-abnegating air of one who seemed to regard any claim on his part, of possessing an advantage over the Chief Magistrate, as an onence little short of treason - "the advantasre can not be on rny side." "Yes, it is," was the rejoinder; "I have a pretty good eye for distances, and 1 think I can't be mistaken in the fact of the advantasre beiner slisrhtly with you. I measure six feet three and a half inches in my stockings, and you go, I think, a little beyond that." The man still demurred, insisting very respectfully that the precedence in the matter lay on the President's side. "It is very easily tested," said the President, and rising very briskly from his chair, and taking a book from the table, he placed it edgewise against the A-all, iiist hiher than his head. Then, turning to his doubting eompetitor for the nonce, he bade him "come under." This the man did not do at once, pausing with a flnshed face and irresolute Iook, as if not certain how far he might venture to trust the lion in his playful mood- his countenance the while wearing a bewildered, halffrightened, and yet half-smiling expression that was reallv comical to see. "Come under, ï say," repeated the President, in a more peremptory tone, and then the visitor slowly complied. "Now straighten yourself up, and move your head in this wav," - suiting the action to the word. ïhis being done. Mr. Lincoln added, "Now you hold the bobk, and be suro not to let it slip down a hairs breadth, and I will try." Planting himself aecordingly underneath the book, and moving his head from right to left, it was found that he feil a trifle short of the other's measurement. "There," said he, "it is as I told you. I knew I couldn't be mistaken. I rarely fail in taking a man's altitude by the eye." "Yes, but Mr. President' said the man, his courage, amid the merriment "1 LUCÍ V' '111 J'1 11 í . UCglUlllUg tW 11UI1I1, yon have slippers on and I boots, and that makes a big differenee. " "Not enough to amount to anything in this reckoning," was the reply. "You onght at least to be satisfied, my honest friend, with the proof given that you actually stand highcr to-day than your president."