I had first encountered the newly elected President the afternoon of the day in the early morning of which he had arrived in Washington.

It was a Saturday, I think.

He came to the capitol under the escort of Mr.Seward, and among the rest I was presented to him.

His appearance did not impress me as fantastically as it had impressed some others.

I was familiar with the Western type, and whilst Mr.Lincoln was not an Adonis, even after prairie ideals, there was about him a dignity that commanded respect.
I met him again the next Monday forenoon in his apartment at Willard's Hotel as he was preparing to start to his inauguration, and was struck by his unaffected kindness, for I came with a matter requiring his attention.