OCR Text |
Show low, and there we-e numerous vacant k paces. Inntend of as; l.alt, the car riago pHRFod ovr robblextonrs. Not did the present stalely and beautiful appioach to the capitol exist. Tl. west front rose abrupt and stiff fron-sn fron-sn tinkept lawn. The great bulldln Itself was still uncompleted, and high above his bead Mr. Lincoln could Kt the swinging arm of an enormoui crane rising from the unfinished dome Hut, as he drove that morning fron Wlllard's to the capitol, the president elet saw far more significant sightf than thes-. Closed about hl.i carnage "so thickly," complained the r.cwspn ports, "as to hide It from view," was a protecting guard. Stationed at Inter vuls aloi.g the avenue were platoon:-of platoon:-of soldiers. At every corner were mounted orderlies. On the rooftopt were groups of riflemen. When Lln coin reached the north side of tl capitol, where he descended to eniei the building, ho found a board tunnel strongly guarded at Its mouth through which be passed Into th building. Arm In arm with Mr. Iiuchanan Mr. Lincoln passed through the lon: tunnel erected for his protection, en tered the capitol, and rasped into thf scnato chamber, filled to overflowing with senators, members of the dlplo matle corps, and vliiltors. The con trast between the two men as lhe entered struck every observer. "Mr lleelianan was so withered and bowed wltb age," wrote George W. Julian ol Indiana, who was among the srec tutors, "that In contrast with the tow ering form of Mr. Lincoln he seemed little more than half a man." A lew moments delay and tho move merit from the senate towards tl. ciest front beg.m, tho Justices of the j Supreme court, In rap and gown leading the procesrlon. As toon as the i large company was seated on the plat f form erected on the east portico of the capitol, Mr. Lincoln arose and advane ed to the front, where ho was Intro dueed by his friend. Senator Laker ol Oregon. lie carrb'd a cane and a lit tie roll- the manuscript of bis In augural address. There was a moment's pause after : the Introduction, ns ho vainly looked! for a sot where be might place his high silk hat. Ilocg'as, who was se;;t ed Just behind him, stepped forward ( quickly and look the bat which Mr j Lincoln held helplessly In his hand. "If I can't be president," he w his-; pered, smilingly to Mrs. Itrown, a J cousin of Mrs. Lincoln, "I at least csd bold his bat," HIS HAND 20JM HELM AYPKKAK of March 4. 1RC1, PlNj aya Mian Tarbcll, found pi'i f l'A, he city of Washington miy aRtlr. The senate, which &liy' na( m1 at ' o'clock the night before, was still In session; scores of persons who had pome to see the Inauguration of tho first Republican president, and who had been unable to find other bed than the floor, were walking the streets; the morning trains were bringing new crowds. Added to the stir of those who had not slept throucli the night were sounds unusual un-usual In Washington the clatter of cavalry, the tramp of soldiers. All this morning bustle of the city must have reached the ears of the president-elect at bis rooms at Wlllard's Wll-lard's hotel, where from an early hour he bad been at work. An amendment to the constitution of the I' tilted States had passed the senate In tho all night session, and as It concerned the subject of bis Inaugural, be must ' Incorporate a reference to It In the address. ad-dress. Then be bad not replied to the I note he had roeelvd two days before ' from Mr. Seward, asking to be released releas-ed from his promise to accept the portfolio of state. He could wait no longer. ! "I can't afford," be r.i'.d to Mr. NIc ' olay, his secretary, "to let Seward take the first trirlt." And he dispatched the following let I ter: "My Dear Sir Your note of the 2nd instant, asking to withdraw your acceptance ac-ceptance of my Invitation to take cbnrgo of the state department, was duly received. It Is the subject of the most painful sollcltudo to me, and I feel constrained to beg that you will countermand the withdrawal. The i public Interest, I think, demands that you should; and my personal feelings I..-9 deeply Interested In the same direction. di-rection. Please consider and answer by 9 a. rj. tomorrow. Your obedient servant A. LINCOLN." At noon Mr. Lincoln's work was Interrupted. The president of the t'nlted States was announced. Mr. Ituchatian had come to escort his successor suc-cessor to the capitol. The route of the procession was the historic one over which almost every president since Jefferson had traveled to lake bis oath of oflUe; but the scene Mr. Lincoln looked upon as bis carriage rolled up the avenue was different from that upon which one looks today. to-day. No great blocks lined the streets; Instead, the buildings were |