New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-21

~ the district could teach him. Then, had ne
been common lad, he would have naturaily
swayed himself level with the stunted HE
around him.
But nothing is so clearly shown forth in this
biography as the innate capacity OF this
roughly cased pioneer His difference from MS
neighbor appears precisely al the point where
the fragmentary education of the region ended'
Instead of being content to acquire I" the three
RS tho boy Lincoln instantly began to edu-
cate himself, and the measure OF his resolution
ia the extent of the obstacles to his progress.
Working all day at hard manual labor, he
would on reaching his log-cabin home go 10
the curboard, snatch piece of corn-bread,
take down book, sit down, cock his legs up as
HIGH a. his head, and read" His passion for
knowledge was sometimes oddly exhibited
Tins we are told that he used to go to
David Turnhams, the town constable, ana
devour the Revised Statutes OF Indiana, as
bows in our days do the Three q uardsmen.
Nor did he read aimessly, but took full notes
of everything worth preserving, and then,
because paper was so scarce, committed MS
notes to memory q He would sit by the fire at
night and cover the wooden shovel with essays
and arithmetica exercises, which he would
shave of and begin again" All this time ne
WAS doing mans work in the woods and
fields. 1t was in his les sure that these intel
lectual tasks we're carried forward. There IS
no more striking illustration in history of the
triumph Of a great spirit over adverse circum-
stances. 1t is sometimes alleged that the
pioneer life develops character in a special
way. AS rule it cannot be so. Hardship,
-. 80.
must depress the average man. One thing
indeed this life may do-namely, instll more
genuinely democratic independence and self
confidence than urban culture tends to pro-
duce and this one advantage, among many
drawbacks. Lincoln shared.
But what we see most plainly in his case is
the early and conspicuous superiority of the
man TO his surroundings. There was in him
the spirit which cOnquers success under all con-
ditlons From the time when he could reflect
at all it is plain that he BEGAN to look out into
larger world than he had any experience of;
that he began. instinctively almost, to prepare
himself for a higher sphere of action. The
one of strength which perhaps he owed
to the free and unsophisticated life OF the
frontier was that simple sef-appreciation, far
removed from cnncelf, WHICH SdFeu Hllu lIoi
the doubts and depressions more self-con-
scious men suffer under like conditions. Doubt
less he felt himself equal to any fortune that
might befall him, for genius, however real its
humility may be, seldom if ever remains ig2o-
rant of its own potentiality. Another fact stands
ont clearly from the record of LncolD's early
life-namely, the strong practical sense which
made him so eminently tit a type OF the best
order of American character. He knew just
what to do and how to do it and, what is much
rarer he knew what to say and how to say it,
Instance the letters to his "neer-do-weel
relatives, who wanted to borrow money which
he was too wise to lend them. Those letters
are models of clear commOn-sense and OF a
simplicity OF expression which ia admirable. II
is not cry American boy who brings into the
world Abraham Lincoln's capacities, and II
would be folly to say that all who Try can emu
late the deeds of that great man. But IN the
resolnte pursuit OF the highest aims attainable
this part of his career can be initiated by tar
less royalty gifted natures and in the success OF
his endeay or there is assurance that true
capacity will never fail of recognition OF
| reward.