Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-20
SrIetteO 9llsfellanp.
Mr.. Lincoln as a Poet--A Chapter i'm
History.

Mr.. Lincoln as a Poet--A Chapter i'm
History.
A fugitive piece fpOetry-"Oh why should the
spirit of mortal be proud has been going the
rounds of the papers, attributed TO abraham
Lincoln Esq, of Illinois. now President of the
United States" A correspondent informs US that
the same poem may be found in Griswolds Sa-
cred Poets OF England and America, where it is
attributed to William Knox, Scotchman, born
1883, died 1926. As DIR. GriswOd tolerably
good authority, and we have none better than
current rumOr in favor of Mr.. Lincoln, it is pos
sible that the Scotchman was guilty of it. The
Presidents reputation will not suffer by the loss
". Y Journal of Commerce.
If the Scotchman referred to wrote the partic-
uar article in question, it Of course follows that
Mr.. Lincoln did not; at all events We doubt
whether Mr.. Lincoln will lay any claims to it. In
deed from circumstances which we propose to re-
late we doubt whether Mr. Lincoln was not effec-
tually cured some years ago, of all ambition to be
considered the writer of verses.
Somewhere less than thirty years ago, Mr.. Lin
coin and Gen. Shields we're very brave and
gallant cavaliers, and lions in the social cir
Gle of our State capital. Springfield at that time
was the fashionable metropolis OF the State The
Legislature then met annually, and the winters
generally found cOngregated at the State capital
the beauty, the wealth and the fashion of the
State. all the rich farmers of the State, and at
that time nearly all of that class resided south of
Springfield, made visit to Springfield taking
with them their grown up sons and daughters. IL
linois has sent forth TO other States many of the
men who in those days took an active part in her
public affairs, and most of these bore away wives
whose loves and whose hands were won during
the good old times when Springfield made
brilliant by the gay throngs that visited there ev
cry winter. In those days were Douglas, Bissell,
Richardson, Browning. Trumbull McClernand
" Srl.. III. ID
ker, Hardin, NcDOugal, COL Taylor, Lincoln,
Scates, and hosts of other men, who since have
become historical, who were, even then, brilliant
In the social circles.
Mr.. Lincoln was, of course, gallant gentle
man in those days; his fat-boat experience had
then been unhelrd of, or, if known, was never
mentioned. General Shields was also one of the
beaux of the times, and it so turned out that, in
the course of time, he and Mr.. Lincoln became
visitors at the same house in which were dom-
ciled bevy of young ladies of whom we can not
speak more particularly, as they now both occu-
py social positions of the highest grade, and
through the official positions OF their husbands
may rank with the very highest. The two gen
tlemen were accustomed to visit the house, often
meeting there. and often in the absence of each
other. The ladies, in addition to being lovely
and fascinating, were remarkable for the bril-
liancy of their wit and for their accomplishments
ancy OF spirits and charming gayety that attend
light hearted innocence. Many were the CON-
mentS upon the peculiarites of their visitors, and
Notwithstanding the high respect and esteem in
which they both held Mr.. Lincoln and Mr. Shields
they could not restrain playful jests upon each
others supposed admirers. One day when the
object of Mr.. Lincolns visit had been mercilessly
rallied upon the grace and elegance of her sup
posed lover. she determined upon having her re
venge by practical experiment. Accordingly
when the future hero Of Cerro Gordo called that
evening, he was requested to take seat, and did
take one that was standing in delightful proximi-
ty to that occupied by his fair entertainse But
hardly had he sat down, when with a bound he
stood upon his feet again. Something sharp had
rendered the seat uncomfortable The evening
passed off pleasantly and the wooing doubtless
progressed most happily until few days after
Mr.. Lincoln was seen now in the halls of the Leg
islature, now IN the Supreme Court library, now
upon the State House steps, now at the street
corner, at the hotels and everywhere, entertain
ing delighted crowds By reading some dozen YER
ses, having for their object the little incident of
the setting down and getting up in haste. The
reading of these verses produced as the news
paper reporters say, 'roars of laughter" The
verses were not only capit;l poetry, but, like in
the case of Ferdmorz, the poetry lost nothing of
its effect by being sung by the poet himself. OF
course it was not long before this matter relched
the ears of Shields, and what had been Joke up
to that time was a joke no longer.
We pass over what followed, and come TO the
results Shields challenged Mr.. Lincoln. There
were those who believed that the verses had been
iudiiel By fairer hands than L,ncon's, but he had
re,d them 20 thousands as his own, and it was i'm
possible for him 20 back out by throwing the
sppnSibility upon another, and that other a lady
So he accepted the challenge Gen. Whteside,
at that time ire surer of State was the second Of
Shields. and DR.. Merriman and Mr.. Butler, pres
ent State treasurer, were the friends Of Mr. Lin
coin.
AT that time Bloody Island" in the Mississip-
pi.nearly opposite ST. Louis. the universal field
for all afEairs Of honor. The seconds rsc: tc
range the terms Of meeting the place and time
were agreed upon readily but when the weapons
were named old General Whitesde utterly
astonished. Mr.. Lincoln, having the choice Of
weapons. selected long cavalry swords, the two
principals to t,e placed opposite TO each other /;
that between The comhatants there should be erec-
tel rail barrier four feet and half high, and
all blows TO be exchanged over this barrier each
party Of course to be at liberty to approach as
near the barrier OF keep as distant from it AZ he
might choose, but not to jump over or go around
t. r
These extraordinary terms were at first indig-
nantiy rejected, and their proposal was denounc-
ed as evidence Of cowardice, but Mr.. Lincoln