Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-07-10
Three Stories of NEr. Lincoln,
STORY NUMBER ONE.

STORY NUMBER ONE.
one summer, years ago, at the close
CT session Of the Court at Springfield
Mr. Lincoln proposed to Judge and
lawyers horseback excursion to the
comparatively unknown region of Hi,
nois lying to the South and West
They had all been wearied with pro.
fesSional labors, especially with case
or cases which concerned the interfe
renee OF navigation on rivers by pro-
posed bridges. A recreative trip would
be good thing for all
The proposition was received with
favor, horses were procured, and the
party started for the country beyond
the haskaskia river, | believe, and ex-
pected to reach it in two or three DAYS.
Mr.. Lincoln only was familiar with the
region. About the anticipated time
they came to broad sweep of water,
and the general expression was that
the river was before them, The uues-
ton arose, how shall we cross what
appeared to be the river overfowed {?
Mr.. Lincoln alone knew that it was
nothing but q swale, covered with wa
ter one or two feet deep, but he acce-
ded to the proposal that it was best Gas
the horses would probably, they said
have to swim at the deepest part) that
all the party should diyest themselves
OF so much of their clothing as would
get wet, and tasten the bundles on their
backs So the divesture was accom-
pliShed, the packs fastened, the horses
mounted, and the procession, in single
hie, began to move across the broad
waters, with Lincoln at the head. I'm
aglne the group! What a scene for a
painter!
Cautiously they move on, watching
the slow steps of the horses, with reins
securely held, momentarily expecting
the plunge when they should 90 down
the submerged bank into the deep wa
ter OF the river. On they move, half
way across, tWo-thirds across, and the
water not reaching the horses knees
ct not word was spoken, until as
they approached the other side, Mr.
Lincoln turned bis steed about, and ad,
dressing the party with mock solemn
| ty, SAID Is it the judgment of the
Court that bridge across this stream
would seriously interfere with naviga-
/ tion 2
The expedition was planned and ex-
ecuted by Mr.. Lincoln for the sake of
holding up to ridicule some LAWYERS
arguments before the Court on bridge
case.
STORY NUMBER TWO.
In certain case in court Mr.. Lin
coin had for his legal opponent a law
ycrwhOse excellent character, thorough
knowledge Of law and superior logic
combined TO exert controlling influ
ence over the jury. This lawyer whom
we will call Judge Jones) had made a
speech, aud most able speech it was
1T was necessary in some way to dissi-
pate its impression. Mr. Lincoln, in |
reply, opened his speech substantially |
as follows:
May it please the Court and gen
tIemen of the jury, we have just heard
the learned and mastery argument on
the other side. We know how thor
oughly versed is Judge Jones in the
law, and how upright he is, and we
say, really Judge Jones cannot be mis-
taken in his positions. We also know
how true a gentleman Judge Jones is,
how irreproachable are his manners
and dress and | presume if | should
say to you that Judge Jones had put
on his shirt wrong side foremost this
morning, you would reply, it is impos-
sible; and yet Judge Jones has put on
his shirt a0rong side foremost this morniny;
you can look for yourselves, gentlemen,
and so in this case he has got things
wrong end foremost, and his whole ar
gument is wrong from beginning to
end
Surely enough, the irreproachable
lawyer, while pondering over his com
ing speech, had dressed himself in the
mistaken mannerindicated After the |
laugh had subsided consequent upon
the detection, Mr. Lincoln analyzed |
the argument of the Judge and won
his case
STORY NUMBER THREE.
Years before Mr.. Lincoln was Presi-
dent il happened, at the close of mat
ter of business at some hotel in which /
several gentlemen were engaged with
Mr. Lincoln, that a Mr.. Whitney ask
ed the circle to take something to
drink. All assented except Mr. Lin
coin. Mr. Whitney urged him, but he
declined on the plea that he never
drank. Mr.. Whitney still pressed him,
saying: Come, Mr.. Lincoln, and take
u glass of lager, that's harmless bev.
erage, and it will do you good to
which Mr.. Lincoln finally, in the kind
ness of his heart, assented The lager
made him very sick.