1306 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
of botli, even civil war, with carnage widespread and fearful, 
seemed not so dreadful as a further extension of human slavery 
over half a continent by consent of possessors whose immediate 
ancestors had themselves been freed from British oppression, 
not half so terrible, at great cost of blood and treasure. There 
was yet hope that the resolute champions of the curse would stay 
their demands, but the prospect was sadly faint, for even then 
the need of preparing for the worst was painfully felt. 
I need hardly say that my conviction of the greatness of 
Mr. Lincoln, already gained by a reading of his discussions of 
the all-engrossing questions of the time, was yet further deep¬ 
ened by that night’s experience and study of the homely, ro¬ 
bust statesman before me, and that, with a glad heart I bore 
away, at midnight, his promise to be with us, in Milwaukee, 
at the appointed time. 
When, at the moment of departure, he was asked to let me 
know the time of his leaving Chicago, so that I could meet him 
on his arrival in Milwaukee, he merely said, with his charac¬ 
teristic simplicity: “Oh, don’t trouble yourself on my account; 
I’ll be at the ISTewhall in good time, all right.” And so he 
was, some eight months later. 
But it so happened that his actual arrival was at midnight, 
and that the room intended to be reserved for him had, by 
the blunder of a clerk, been given to a man and his wife who 
were already in bed and asleep. There was no remaining va¬ 
cant room in the house, and the clerk, having been stoutly ar¬ 
raigned by the landlord, was in distress of mind; seeing which, 
Mr. Lincoln, with a smiling countenance and comforting words, 
said: “Oh, my dear sir, don’t be unhappy on my account. I 
see there is vacant space enough right here, at the end of the 
counter. Just bring a cot and clothes-rack, with sheet for a 
screen, and I’ll sleep like a top.” The thing was done, and 
the distinguished guest, after a cheerful and hearty “Good¬ 
night, gentlemen,” handsomely retired. 
Of course I Was prompt to fulfill my promise to come down 
in good time to breakfast with him, but he was a little tardy, 
so that when, having heard a little stir behind the screen, I 
