A Doorman At Richmond. Committeemen, Soldiers and Guards.

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ACT I

Set Scene: The President's room in the White House, August 23, 1864. A flat desk left center. At right a long table and chairs. Doors open right and left. Large windows open center. Beside the center window stands an upright desk. In one corner a rack with map rollers and folios of maps on the floor and leaning against the wall.

At Rise: Colonel Nicolay, the President's Secretary, is seen writing before an enormous pile of mail. He reads a letter and throws it down in disgust. Reads another and hurls it into the waste basket. He rises—turns back to the desk and hurls an armful of the letters into the corner on the floor and removes enough letters to clear a space for his Chief to write.

[Edward enters dragging a mail bag.]

Nicolay

[Calling to the Doorman.]

Edward!

Edward

Yes, sir——

Nicolay

Hold that door tight this morning——

Edward

Tight as a drum, sir——

Nicolay

If any men of importance try to crowd in before their time——

Edward

I'll look out for them, sir—here's another bag of letters, Colonel Nicolay——

Nicolay

Another——?

Edward

And there's two more outside——

Nicolay

My God——!

Edward

Don't blame me, sir—I didn't write 'em——

Nicolay

No, I'll vouch for your loyalty to the President.

Edward

Where'll I put these——?

Nicolay

Throw the bag in the corner—there's no room on his desk now——

Edward

[Obeying.]

Yes, sir——

[Edward throws the bag in the corner of the room where Nicolay has already piled the letters from the desk, and turns to Nicolay. He watches Nicolay destroying letters for a moment.]

Nicolay

Well, Edward——?

Edward

Will you tell me one thing, Colonel Nicolay——?

Nicolay

If I can——

Edward

What do they say in these letters to the President——? I've served through four administrations—I've never seen such piles of letters in the White House before——

Nicolay

Well, Edward—these letters ask two things of Abraham Lincoln: That he dismiss General Grant from command of the Army——

Edward

The idiots——

Nicolay

And stop the war to-day—August 23, 1864,—make peace—peace at any price—to-day——

Edward

God save us! After nearly four years—quit, with nothing settled——?

Nicolay

That's what these letters demand——

Edward

You couldn't believe it—— No wonder his eyes sink back in his head, an' he looks as if he were seeing ghosts——

[Pauses and starts.]

Nicolay

Watch out for that door, Edward——

[Edward bows, and exits to door leading to the main corridor. Nicolay returns to his task of reading the letters—one he tosses into the basket wearily—one he crumples in anger and hurls into the basket.]

Nicolay

The fools——!

[He is absorbed in a letter when Mrs. Lincoln enters in a state of nervous excitement. He rises quickly, and goes to meet her.]

What is it, Mrs. Lincoln——?

Mrs. Lincoln

I have just heard that the Republican National Committee is in Washington——!

Nicolay

They are——

Mrs. Lincoln

In conference at Senator Winter's house——?

Nicolay

Yes——

Mrs. Lincoln

What do they want?

Nicolay

There are ugly rumors——

Mrs. Lincoln

What——? What——? What——?

Nicolay

I can't discuss it, Madam, until the Chief knows——

Mrs. Lincoln

Mr. Lincoln doesn't know——

Nicolay

Not yet. He will, this morning. They've just sent a demand to me that he see them before his public reception begins——

Mrs. Lincoln

You've heard something—you know something—tell me—I can't endure the suspense——

Nicolay

Only rumors—and they're too ugly to put into words—they're incredible——

Mrs. Lincoln

All the same, you believe them——

[Impetuously.]

What have you heard——?

Nicolay

[Shakes his head.]

The Chief wouldn't like it if I talk, before he knows. I'll tell you a few things I'm thinking in plain English—if you'd like to hear——

Mrs. Lincoln

You can't make it too plain to suit me——

Nicolay

In my opinion, the devil is to pay. Weak-kneed fools are deserting the Chief. Every man who loves Abraham Lincoln must get off his coat now and fight. He is the only man who can save this Nation to-day, and he's too big and generous to be trusted alone with wolves——

Mrs. Lincoln

What can you mean——? The Republican National Committee have no power over the President of the United States——

Nicolay

No, Madam—— But they have certain powers over the Nominee of their party——

Mrs. Lincoln

But Mr. Lincoln is already the nominee of his party for the second term ... chosen two months ago—and the election is but eight weeks off—what do you mean——?

[Edward enters.]

Edward

Miss Betty Winter to see you, Ma'am——

Mrs. Lincoln

How fortunate—they're at her father's house——!

Nicolay

Yes——

Mrs. Lincoln

Show her right in here, Edward——

Edward

Yes, Madam——

Mrs. Lincoln

[To Nicolay.]

And she's loyal to Mr. Lincoln—

Edward

[At door left.]

Right this way,—Miss Betty——

[Betty enters—a young woman 25 years old—poised, cultured, charming.]

Mrs. Lincoln

[Meeting Betty.]

Welcome—my child——

Betty

You're always so kind——!

Nicolay

Excuse me, ladies—while I go out and get rid of some of these people waiting to see the President——

[Nicolay exits.]

Mrs. Lincoln

Tell me, dear, you've heard something—the Republican