The strictly religious went so far as to call the Lincoln assassination
a judgment(!), as it happened in a playhouse on a Good Friday! It
appears that the President had compunctions, and at the last moment was
disinclined to go, though a party had been made up to oblige a young
espoused couple; but General Grant, who was to be a feature of the
commanded performance, was called away--no doubt escaping the knife the
murderer had in reserve to his pistol. The President said that he must
go, not to disappoint the people on this gala night, as the rejoicing
was wide over the dissolution of the Confederacy.
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