Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-09-06

never attend horse race without DelnB
importuned to act as a judge, or witness
bet without assuming the responsible
ty of stakeholder. =" In the spring or
summer of 1882" says Henry McHenry,
| had horse race with George War
burton. / got Lincoln, who was at the
race, to be judge of the race, much
against his will, and after hard persua-
sion. Lincoln decided correctly; and
the other judge said, Lincoln is the
fairest man ever had to deal with if
Lincoln is in this county when | die,
want him to be my administrator, for he
is the only man | ever met with that
was wholly and unselfshly honest
His ineffable purity in determining a
scrub-race had actually set his colleague
to thinking of his latter end.
"Two nelghbors, Harry Clark and
Ben Wilcox" says Mr.. Rutledge, had
had lawsuit. The defeated declared,
that, although he was beaten in the suit,
he could whip his opponent. This was
formal challenge, and was at once car
ried to the ears of the victor (Wilcox),
and as promptly accepted. The time,
place and seconds we're chosen with due
regularity 3; Mr.. Lincoln being Clark's,
and John Brewer, Wilcox's second. The
parties met, stripped themselves all but
their breeches, went in, and Mr.. Lin
coins principal was beautifully whipped.
These combats were conducted with as
much ceremony and punctiliousness as
ever graced the dueling ground. After
the conflict, the seconds conducted their
respective principals to the river, washed
off the blood, and assisted them to dress.
During this performance, the second of
the party opposed to Mr.. Lincoln re
marked, Well, Abe, my man has whip
ped yours, and / can whip yon.' Now,
this challenge came from man who was
very small in size. Mr.. Lincoln agreed
to fight, provided he would chalk out
his size on Mr.. Lincoln's person, and ev-
cry blow struck outside of that mark
should be counted foul. After this sally,
there was the best possible humor, and
all parties we're as orderly as if they had
been engaged in the most innocent amuse-
ment."
When running for the Legislature in
1884, we have these anecdotes of him
from his friend Row Herndon Lin
coin came to my house, near Island
grove, during harvest. There were some
thirty men in the field. He got his din
ner and went out in the field where the
, men were at work: | gave him an in
PRODUCTION, and the boys said they could
r not vote for a man unless he could make
hand. Well, boys, said he, if that
is all, | am sure of your votes He took
. hold of the cradle, and led the way all
r the round with perfect ease. The boys
5 were satisfied, and don't think he lost
{ vote in the crowd. The next day was
t speaking at Berlin. He went from my
: house with DIR. Barnett, the man that
+ had asked me who this Lincoln was. /
a told him that he was candidate for the
e Legislature. He laughed and said
f Can't the party raise any better mate.
a rial than thatY | said, Go tomorrow
e and hear all before you pronounce judg-
5 ment.' When he came back, l said
f Doctor, what say you now Why sir,
t said he, he is a perfect take-in : he
: knows more than all of them put togeth
er.'"
7 Lincoln was elected representative
y by very hattering majority, and began
n to look about for the peeuniary means tc
il maintain his new dignity. In this ex
y tremity he had recourse to an old friend
: named Coleman Smoot.
/ One day in 1882. while he was clerk
/ ing it for Offutt, stranger came into the
store, and soon disclosed the fact that hi:
g name was Smoot. Abe was behind the
f counter at the moment but, hearing the
name, he sprang over and introduced
o himself. Abe had heard of Smoot, and
h Smoot had often heard of Abe. They
O had been as anxious to meet as ever two
s celebrities were but hitherto they had
never been able to manage it. "Smoot,
P said Lincoln, after steady survey oI
his person, am very much disappoint
g ed in you; | expected to see an ole
e Probst of fellow" (Probst, it appears
a was the most hideous specimen of hu
0 manity in all that country.) Yes" re
; piled Smoot; "and | am equally disap
IS pointed, for / expected to see good
l. looking man when | saw you" A few
neat compliments like the foregoing lait
e the foundation of a lasting intimacy be
tween the two men, and Lincoln knew
d no one more likely than Smoot to re
If spond more favorably to an application
o for money.
II "Ater he was elected to the Legisla
e ture," says Mr.. Smoot, " he came to my