The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-27

| smooth face. yellow hair. and seedy clothes.
~ wont in to see how he would make out" says
| Mr.. HAL, and confess that he didn't impress
| me favorably. There was an impcdimcnt i'm
his speech, and his gestures were unRainly and
awkward. He seemed to have n large. active
| stoppcd up" Mr.. Halls impressions OF tho
young young lay student we're not borne out by tho
| result OF me case. Tho jury found q verdict for
the deiendant. and John won his first laures.
| In December 1889, after less than year's
study tho young lawyer bought the. cloth for a
SUIT OF clothes. induced Mr. Goodsell, q
and walked to Springfield to apply Tor n license
| from the supreme Court to practise as an at
tcrnoy and and c9nnse,ior-at;law He had Dor.
| his expenses. In Springfield he again met
Stephen A. Douglas. who. received him with
admission to the bar. 1t was accompanied with
eo certiicails Of good moral character. The
scamnon of Chicago examiners The exnmi.
| nation was made In the upper rooms Of the Cen
| trail Hotel. scammon asked the applicant what
books he had read. and seemed pleased
with the answer. Douglas then made speech.
dwelling especially upon the Importance OF
man. be roared. you may not now DO able 10
tnke charge OF important law cases, but from
clothes am satisfied that you will soon be able
TO DO So Scammon said he thought 80. too.
ana in nlteen minutes the exam nation was
over, Douglas wrote the license presented II
TO the court, and II .wns signed by Judges
Brown and Smith; That might there was a
field Young, John strayed in. A tall. loose.
pony featured man was entertaining the audi
ence with stories and chop logic. Palmer
listened to him with much interest. and asked a
farmer who IL was. Abe Lincoln" was the
reply;% knowed him in the Black Hawk war,
Hes blue heron, but Lord how he can sdualk."
| The next day Palmer was introduced to Lincoln
In tho Court House. and from that day to the
death OF the Presidential martyr they were
warm friends. They worked side by side in
law, cases. were, occasionally piued against
ench other, ana though political opponents for
years nothing severed their mutmul petppm
Young Palmer returned 70 Carlinvile u full
nedged lawyer. His sole library, was Black
stone. Chester'e General Practice" and Green
leufs Equity and Evidence" David A. Smith
an eminent lawyer, having supplied himself
Cling Kentuckian. and Palmer was fairly
embarked up3n the sea OF iiie. He was not at
debts. he would have left the village and sought
anew home He has often said that this early
poverty was the foundation Of his success.
in 1870 he supported Van Buren, for the Pres
idency. taking an active part in the canvass. In
ls4l he devoted himself TO his profession paid
his debts. and began TO make living.
Nj.
One morning. while Palmer was sitting in his
office at Carlinvlle q very pretty girl passed
the door on her way TO school. Her name was
Melinda Ann Nicely. Her father was a poor
mechanic. A year before he had moved to
Illinois from Kentucky. and supported his
large family with difficulty. Melinda was a
brunette. with sparkling black eyes and glossy
curls. She was loyal daughter Of her native
State. and wore the traditional No. slippers.
When the Governor first saw her she was not
fourteen. He fell deeply in love. and after a
short courtship married her. with the consent
OF her parents. Palmer was then % years old
The wedding took place in the house of the
brides parents in Carnville. on Dec 20, 1912
The weather was very cold and windy. There
was snow in the air. The couple were Joined at
early candle light by the Rev DIR. Smith, n
Methodist clergyman. The room was filled with
relatives of both parties and the house sur
rounded by admiring acquuintanccs, who made
night hideous with the music Of cow-bclls and
horse-nddies. The bridegroom acknow lodged
the compliment in neat speech.
The bride wore white Swiss dress, with
short whist. plain skirt rather short and
scant with wide hem around tho bot
tom. Her hair was coiled At the back. aud
her cheeks were shaded with long black curls.
She wore lace mits and kid slippers. Her
father had ridden 20 Springfield. about forty
miles. and brought back this trousseau in his
coat and IA wnistcoat and stock of black satin.
Ii is not remembered whether he wore gloves or
not. but probably not. They had a royal wedding
supper Aunt Malinda McLarring did the
planning. and old Aunt Mary. colored woman
once owned by David A. smith Of Jacksonville
did the cooking, assisted by the bride. The
table groaned under weight OF turkey chicken
aa 49, bfsAsts s.Ssl roast VA ha Nspison
lellies and pickles. Kentucky coffee and wills,
key were served. and the goodly company sang
songs around roaring fire In the open Chin
ney corner.
on the following Sunday Aunt Malnda gave
an Unfair, or family dinner party. The bride
was attired In a handsome calico dress 1t was
customary for the family OF the groom to give a
dinner party alter the wedding but as Johns
iather lived so far away, this dinner at Aunt
Maindas was substituted The young couple
began housekeeping two weeks after the we'd
6orfowed Ross rom rg Sam R Sen on ror
to Alton for an outfit He paid 1850 for nifty
pounds oi, OF sugar, $50 for twenty-five and
a coffee pot. shovel and tongs skillet frying
pan. and Dutch oven for baking light bread and
biscuits. He was guilty OF one extravaganza.
He brought home a beautiful china tea set or
namented with gilt bands and tiny eprigs OF
blue flowers, The bed and bedding were the
GIT OF the brides mother. John bought a
cherry wood bureau from Josiah Ryan. An
antiduated cupboard filled with clothes. dishes.
made up a list OF the furniture. Ryan alter
ward made capacious cradle. 1t has with
grandchildren. and Is to-day none the worse
for wear.
On the day after the house was furnished
to try lawsuit He charged his client five
dollars. and took his pay in corn meal at twenty
Ave cents bushe. 1t was delivered at his
house IN SIX open barrels. and was regarded as
the basis OF the family supplies. In those days
called good providep Mrs Pa% %sS 20 wise Se
liors frequently congratulated her on the fact
mat her husband was such good provder."
winter the young lawyer took $50 bushels Of
corn Tor a fee, fed the corn 10 his COW and pigs.
hOMn a libuHALu louuub OF pOfk
before the end Of the year. His cow cost him
81. His house stood on the northwest
corner OF the Court House square. The rent
was SO per month. Before his marriage he
boarded at the best tavern in town Tor 81 80 a
week. H., soon purchased house. aud Ryan's
old cradle began It's work.
XII.
Meantime the young lawyer took an active In
terest in politics. In those days the most Of the
canvasslng and speechitying WAS during court
week. The brightest politicians and best
orators were lawyers The first day Of tho
week was devoted to an exhibition OF well-bred
horses. The lawyers wrangled in court during
the day, and flooded the town with political elo-
quence at night. One night Democrat made
speech. and the next night Wing replied The
campaign Of 1910 was a hot one The Wings
had placed Harrison on the track. and were
after Van Buren's scalp Meetings were held
every night, everybody spoke. and the prairies
we're ablaze. Young Palmer stumped the dis
81, t..ftl No, n.,a