Dr. J.G.  Holland gives a vivid picture of Lincoln’s reception of the exciting news.  “In the little city of Springfield,” says Dr. Holland, “in the heart of Illinois, two hundred miles from where these exciting events were in progress, sat Abraham Lincoln, in constant telegraphic communication with his friends in Chicago.  He was apprised of the results of every ballot, and with some of his friends sat in the ‘Journal’ office receiving and commenting upon the dispatches.  It was one of the decisive moments of his life—­a moment on which hung his fate as a public man, his place in history.  He fully appreciated the momentous results of the convention to himself and the nation, and foresaw the nature of the great struggle which his nomination and election would inaugurate.  At last, in the midst of intense excitement, a messenger from the telegraph office entered with the decisive dispatch in his hand.  Without handing it to anyone, he took his way solemnly to the side of Mr. Lincoln, and said:  ’The convention has made a nomination, and Mr. Seward is—­the second man on the list.’  Then he jumped upon the editorial table and shouted, ’Gentlemen, I propose three cheers for Abraham Lincoln, the next President of the United States!’ and the call was boisterously responded to.  He then handed the dispatch to Mr. Lincoln, who read it in silence, and then aloud.  After exchanging greetings and receiving congratulations from those around him, he strove to get out of the crowd, and as he moved off he remarked to those near him:  ’Well, there is a little woman who will be interested in this news, and I will go home and tell her,’ and he hurried on, with the crowd following and cheering.”

As soon as the news spread about Springfield a salute of a hundred guns was fired, and during the afternoon Lincoln’s friends and neighbors thronged his house to tender their congratulations and express their joy.  “In the evening,” says one narrator, “the State House was thrown open and a most enthusiastic meeting held by the Republicans.  At the close they marched in a body to the Lincoln mansion and called for the nominee.  Mr. Lincoln appeared, and after a brief, modest, and hearty speech, invited as many as could get into the house to enter; the crowd responding that after the fourth of March they would give him a larger house.  The people did not retire until a late hour, and then moved off reluctantly, leaving the excited household to their rest.”

Among the more significant and intimate of the personal reminiscences of Lincoln are those by Mr. Leonard W. Volk, the distinguished sculptor already mentioned in these pages.  Mr. Volk arrived in Springfield on the day of Lincoln’s nomination, and had some unusually interesting conversation with him.  He had already, only a month before, made the life-mask of Lincoln that became so well and favorably known.  It is one of the last representations showing him without a beard.  The circumstances and incidents