The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-17
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
His Seemingly Incongruous Characteristic
Literary Likes and Storytelling Habits.

Literary Likes anu SGOry-IeIlins HaDItS.
Huge McCulloch, in New York Tribune.
Mr.. Lincoln's character it is difficult to ana
lyze, so rare and seemingly incongruous were its
combinations. Instead, therefore, of attempt
ing an analysis, must conine my remarks to a
description Of his appearance and of his promi-
nent and singular, if not inconsistent, charac-
teristics.
In form Mr. Lincoln was tall and angular,
lacking in compactness, but strong and sturdy,
with great capacity for work and power of en-
durance. His features wero COARSE and to
strangers uncomely,. but prepossessing to those
who became his friends. His face dull and
heavy when in repose was all alight with in
telligence when in conversation. II thought,
said lady, when first saw him that he was
one of the ugliest of men. Now that | know
him we'll, he seems to me to be perfectly charm
ing" Grave and sedate in manner, he was full
of kind and gentle emotions. He was fond Of
poetry. Shakespeare was his delight. Few men
could read with equal expression the plays of the
great dramatist.
The theater had great attractions for him. but
it was comedy not tragedy he went to hear He
had great enjoyment of the plays that made him
laugh no matter how absurd and grotesque, and
he gave expression to his enjoyment by hearty
and noisy applause He was man of strong re-
ligious convictions but he cared nothing for the
dogmas of the churches and had little respect
for their creeds. As lawyer and advocate Mr.
Lincoln had no superior in Illinois and few SUI
periors in the older States His practice was
not broad or varied enough to require constant
study of authorities, but his mind. was keen,
clear, discriminating, and he was we'll grounded
IN the elementary principles OF the law. His
arguments before the court were always
carefully prepared, pointed and cogent. Before a
jury he was especially effective. One of his most
distinguished characteristics as an advocate was
the suppression of himself in his arguments to
the jurors 1t was his aim to fix the facts, and
the facts only, upon their minds. Comprehend
ing perfectly the points which the case de-
pended-to them he directed the attention Of
the jury, wasting no words upon uuimportant
matters; never wearisome by long speeches;
with great aptitude discovering the characters of
jurors; always ineligible and earnest. he never
failed to interest, and rarely to convince. The
same qualities were displayed in his public
speeches-nodels they were of clear, simple and
consequently. OF forcible speaking.
The first time L saw and heard him was at In
dianapolis, shortly after the conclusion of his
debate with Mr. Douglas Careless of his attire,
came forward to address the audience that his
was the most unganly figure I had ever see
upon platform. Could this be the Abraham
Lincoln whose speeches hac read with so much
interest and admiration-this plain dull looking
man the one who had successfully encountered
in debate of the most gifted speakers of his
time? The question was sueedily answered by
the speech. The subject was slavery its
character. its incompatbity with republican in
situations, its demoralzing influences upon So
= =
the Constitution; all of which were discussed
with such clearness simplicity, earnestness and
force as to carry me with him to the conclusion
that the country could not long continue part
slave and part free--that freedom must prevail
throughout the length and breadth of the land,
or that tie great Republic, instead of being the
home of the free and the hope of the oppressed,
would become a bywor9 ard reproach among
the nations.
Mr. Lincoln was not polished writer. but he
tn nd ciSio Tn
clearness of expression, in conciseness, in the
use OF apt and appropriate language, which
everybody could understand. it would be diff
cult to find his superior. His letters in eXplana-
ton and defense of his hesitation to proclaim
freedom to the slaves, especially his reply to
Mr.. Greeley, are masterpieces of clear and forci
Die writing. The concluding paragraph of his
first inaugural The mystic chords of memory,
stretching from every battlefield and patriot
grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all
over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of
the Union, when again touched, as surely it will
be. by the better angels of our nature,"-is is
happy 10 expression az it is touching and beauti
ful in thorght.
Mr.. Lincoln exceled ms story-teler The
habit of storytelling was formed in his early
professional life, when in company with few
other prominent members of the bar lie visited
counties at long distances from his own, to try
important cases The journeys from county to
county were long and protracted, and as there
were newspapers or books in the cabins where
they spent the nights. these lawyer circuitriders
as they were called killed the time as the say
ing was, by telling stories, in which invention
as we'll as memory was brought into play. In
inventing stories and skill in telling them Mr..
Lincoln was the acknowledged leader. The habit
Of story telling. thus formed, became part of his
nature, and he gave free rein to it, oven when
the fate of the Nation seemed to Do trembling in
the balance Some eight or ten days after the
first battle of Bull Run, when Washington was
utterly demoralzed by its result called upon
him at the White House. in company with u few
friends and was amazed when, referring to
something which had been said by one of the
company about the battle which was so disas
trons TO the Union forces, he remarked in his