Lincoln's life, stories, and speeches . ning Star, had scattered all over its third page,divided among the advertisements in a sensationalmanner in a hundred different places: The President and his lady will be at the theaterthis evening. Lincoln was fond of the theater. I have myself seenhim there several times. I remember thinking howfunny it was that he, the leading actor in the greatestand stormiest drama known to real historys stage,through centuries, should sit there and be so com-pletely interested in those human jackstraws, movingabout with their silly little gestures, foreign spirit,
Lincoln's life, stories, and speeches . ning Star, had scattered all over its third page,divided among the advertisements in a sensationalmanner in a hundred different places: The President and his lady will be at the theaterthis evening. Lincoln was fond of the theater. I have myself seenhim there several times. I remember thinking howfunny it was that he, the leading actor in the greatestand stormiest drama known to real historys stage,through centuries, should sit there and be so com-pletely interested in those human jackstraws, movingabout with their silly little gestures, foreign spirit, andflatulent text. So the day, as I say, was propitious. Early herbage,early flowers, were out. I remember where I was STORIES AND INCIDENTS. 239 stopping at the time, the season being advanced, therewere many lilacs in full bloom. By one of thr^iecaprices that enter and give tinge to events withoutbeing a part of them, I find myself always reminded ofthe great tragedy of this day by the sight and odor ofthese blossoms. It never HOUSE IN WHICH LINCOLN DIED, WASHINGTON, D. C On this occasion the theater was crowded, manyladies in rich and gay costumes, officers in their uni-forms, many well-known citizens, young folks, theusual cluster of gas lights, the usual magnetism of somany people, cheerful with perfumes, music of violinsand flutes—and over all, that saturating, that vast,vague wonder. Victory, the nations victory, thetriumph of the Union, filling the air, the thought, thesense, with exhilaration more than all the perfumes a4o STORIES AND INCIDENTS. The President came betimes, and, with his wife,witnessed the play from the large stage boxes of thesecond tier, two thrown into one, and profusely drapedwith the national flag. The acts and scenes of thepiece—one of those singularly witless compositionswhich have at the least the merit of giving entirerelief to an audience engaged in mental action or busi-ness excitements and cares during the day, as it makesnot the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidlincolnslife, bookyear1902
