Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN•253Since Lincoln's friends were afraid that other thieves mightsteal the body, the Lincoln Monument Association hid it awayfor two years in an iron coffin under a heap of loose boardslying in a damp, dark passageway behind the catacombs—a sortof cellar. During that time thousands of pilgrims paid their respectsto an empty sarcophagus.For various reasons Lincoln's remains have been movedseventeen times. But they will be moved no more. The coffinis now imbedded in a great ball of steel and solid concrete, sixfeet beneath the floor of the tomb. It was placed there on September26, 1901.On that day the casket was opened, and human eyes gazeddown for the last time upon his face. Those who saw him thenremarked how natural he appeared. He had been dead thirtysixyears; but the embalmers had done their work well, and hestill looked very much as he had looked in life. His face was atrifle darker, and there was a touch of mold on one wing ofhis black tie.