Mike Donovan Remembers Abraham Lincoln on Eve of Election 1860 - Chicago

"I want to tell here, while it occurs to me, of the time that I met Abraham Lincoln. I was in Chicago at the time, and it was in the fall of the year 1860 when Mr. Lincoln was speaking in his campaign against Douglas. He came down the street, followed by a large crowd. He was leading a small boy by the hand, who was Tad, his son.

"I can just see that great tall man : high hat, big black stock, the sleeve of his coat open, sauntering down the street, bowing to every one and shaking hands with those that were near — careless in dress and free in his manner. I wanted to shake hands with him, too, so I crowded up, and as I approached him, he leaned over and, extending his hand, asked me my name.

" 'Michael Donovan,' repeated Mr. Lincoln, 'That's a good name, and you are a fine boy. Here, Tad, shake hands with Michael Donovan.'

"Tad was not as fair and easy as his father. I looked Tad over and I remember the thought occurring to me: I can lick you.' I was about thirteen and Tad was about twelve.

"Mr. Lincoln won me at once, and you bet he would have got my vote.

"The people followed him into a picture gallery. I went in, and there I saw him pointing out the pictures of interest to Tad — especially the battle of Waterloo, and also one of Sebastopol. Finally, leaving the gallery, he walked down the street to the post office, and I went home.

"That night he spoke from the balcony of the Tremont House. I was there, and how he did make fun of Douglas! The people were all with him. This was his last speech before election day, and he felt that he must spread himself, and he did.

"This great tall man, with his fine, homely face, taking the crowd into his confidence just as if he were talking to a friend, won them all. Never saying a mean or small thing or showing any annoyance or bad feeling against Douglas, he had the people all laughing at his jokes and the wise way of putting things. 'Old Abe' had them going, all right. He was a wonderful man.

"I'm glad to tell that story about Lincoln just at this time, because I get tired of talking about my-self. It doesn't seem right to say too much about myself. People might think I was chesty, and I wouldn't blame them."

(Source: Mike Donovan; the making of a man, by Marshall Stillman. 1918)


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