The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-30
Mr.. IIneoIn;s Literary TASTE.

We extract the following paragraphs, in
regard to Mr.. Llncoln's literary tastes,
from an article In Harpsr's Magazine for
July. It is very interesting, as every
thing Is which throws light upon the
character of that wonderful man.s
Of IIatterly Mr.. Lincoln's reading wss with
the humorous RfiterE He liked to repeat
from memory whole chapters from these
books; and on such occasions he always
preserved his own gravity though his audi
fort might be convulsed with laughter. He
said that he had q dread of people who
could not appreciate thsfan Of such things;
and be once ifItanced q member OF his
Cabinet, Of whom he quoted the savings of
Sidney Smith, lithat it required surgical
operation to eetA Joke into his hesd."-.
The light trihs spoken of diverted his
mind, or, as he said Of his going to the
theatre, gave him refuge from himself and
his WEAKNESS. But he also was 8 lover of
many philosophical books, and particular
ly liked Buffers Analogy of Religion, Stuart
Min on Liberty, and he always hoped! TO
get. President Edwards on the Will
These p0ldeFouB writers found queer
companiOnship in the ehrOnicler OF the
Mackerel Brigade, !PATson Nasty, and Pri-
vate Miles o Reilly. The Bible was very
-Eamilisy study with the President, whole
chapters of Isaiah, the New Testament
and the Ps&lms being fixed in his memory,
and he would sometimes correct 5 ,misquo-
tation OF Scripture. CITING generally the
chapter Xnd Verse where it could be found.
Heiliked the Old Testament best, and dWelt
on the simple besuty Of the historical books.
Once, speaking of his own age and strength
he quoted with admiration that passage,
I" His eye Wss NOT dim, nor his natural force
sbated." do not know that he thought
then how, like thst Moses Of old, he was
to stand on PSgah and see q peaceful land
which he was not to enter. a..
OF the poets the Prelident appeared to
prefer Hood and Holmes, the, mixture of
humor and pGthos in their wri-
ting being attractive to him beyond
anything else which he read. of
the former authoT be Khed best the last
part Of miss KilmAnsegg g and her Golden
Log" aFAithlass Sally B roWn," and one or
two Others TieE sans-alis 40 Dop,,lar- 90
those which are called Hoods best poems.
Holmes September Gale" tLast Leaf
uOhambefed NautlnISR aud GBallad of an
OystermAnp were among his very few fs-
yOrite poems. LOIigfelloW's "PsAlm of
Life" and "Birds of Kilingworth' were
the only productions of that author he
ever mentioned " ith praise, the latter Of
which he picked up somewhere in q news
paper, cut out and carried in his vest
pocket until It was coEnmitted TO memory.
james Russell Lowell he only knew as
''Hosea Biglov,p every one of whose effu-
sions he knew. T. BE sometimes. repeated,
word for word the Ehole Of John Z. Rob
inson, he" giving the uncessing refrain
with great unction sud enjoyment. Ee
once said that originality and daring i'm
pudence were sublimed In this stsnZa of
LoVelfs: -Ofs q 81 -'i-'-'7-i7s'
"a sssEf yos take sword and drOrIt, -ti.
- - An stick fsller ereotur thru, l..
GOTmant hAin't to answer for iE,
-. - God'l ssnd.ths bill to you."a'' ''-t 7
T. Mr.. Lincoln's love Of music was some.
thing passionate, bat his tastes were sim
ple and uncnltivgted, his choice being old
Airs, songs and ballads, among which the
plsihtive Scotch songaa were best liked.
fAHnie Laurie, Mary OF Argyle" and
especially Auid RobiR Gray never lost
their charm for hin; And all songs which
had for their theme the rapid flight of
time, decay, the recollsctions Of early days
were sure 70 make deep impression. The
song which he liked, above ali ethers, ,was
! one called 1T TYentyy YeArs Ago I-aI simple
air, the words to which are supposed 10 be
uttered by q man VINO reVisits the play
ground of his youth. He greatly desired
to find music for his fAyOrite poem, "ohi
1 why should ths spirit Of mortal be proud7"
and said once, when told that the newsps-
pers had credited him with the authorship
/ Of the piece: ~ should not care much fol
the reputation Of having written that, but
would be glad if could compose music as
Fl 70 convey she sentiment as the words
new do.l bas ,,u..s,r b-o1 ~ s'is I'D 5'4.