Some Lincoln enthusiast in Kansas, with much more pretensions than
power, wrote him in March, 1860 proposing to furnish a Lincoln
delegation from that State to the Chicago Convention, and suggesting
that Lincoln should pay the legitimate expenses of organizing, electing,
and taking to the convention the promised Lincoln delegates.
To this Lincoln replied that “in the main, the use of money is wrong,
but for certain objects in a political contest the use of some is both
right and indispensable.” And he added: “If you shall be appointed a
delegate to Chicago, I will furnish $100 to bear the expenses of the
trip.”
He heard nothing further from the Kansas man until he saw an
announcement in the newspapers that Kansas had elected delegates and
instructed them for Seward.
“ABE” WAS NO BEAUTY.
Lincoln’s military service in the Back Hawk war had increased his
popularity at New Salem, and he was put up as a candidate for the
Legislature.
A. Y. Ellis describes his personal appearance at this time as follows:
“He wore a mixed jean coat, claw-hammer style, short in the sleeves and
bob-tailed; in fact, it was so short in the tail that he could not sit
on it; flax and tow linen pantaloons and a straw hat. I think he wore a
vest, but do not remember how it looked; he wore pot-metal boots.”
“HE’S JUST BEAUTIFUL.”
Lincoln’s great love for children easily won their confidence.
A little girl, who had been told that the President was very homely, was
taken by her father to see the President at the White House.
Lincoln took her upon his knee and chatted with her for a moment in his
merry way, when she turned to her father and exclaimed:
“Oh, Pa! he isn’t ugly at all; he’s just beautiful!”