The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-11

Lincoln would have had time to have
raised his sword
lit has been claimed by some that this
duel arose out Of rivalry existing between
JAMES SHIELDS AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN
as to Mary Todd's hand.n Judge Solomon
went on: 81 think this is very doubtful
Mary Todd had number of lovers, but
do not think General Shields was among
them. L have heard a number of good
stories OF Llncoln's courtship. In fact
some have questioned whether he wanted
to marry Mary Todd. He was in love with
her cousin, but she married some one else
and at the last Lincoln hesitated as to the
match, and at one of his wedding engage
ments he failed to come to time and the
wedding had to be postponed from the alb
sence of the groom. The night he was to
be married he BACKED his shoes at his own
Office, and while making these preparations
for the event a boy came in and said:
Why, MIR. Lincoln, where are you
going.''
Lincoln started up and replied: ITO the
devil as fast rs the Lord will let me- and
then went on backing his shoes 1t is a
! question as 10 whether the match was q
happy one. He certainly treated Mary
Todd very well. and if he did not love her
he allowed no one to witness his trouble
speaking of the funny incidents of their
courtship," Judge Solomon continued. II
heard of one which illustrates the humor-
Gus element of Lincolns character Il
happened at Mrs. Clay's house in Jackson
vile. Mary Todd was sitting at tho piano
playing an old tune very popular in those
days. Lincoln was standing behind her
and accompanying her in the song, which
ran something like this, L will tninl, OF
thee nightly till lifes sun is set Lincoln
sang, 1 will think OF thee nightly if | DON'T
forget whereupon Mary Todd hearing the
last part of the verse turned around
quickly and said:
"What Is that Mr.. Lincoln?n
Lincoln repeated the verse and this time
rightly. 1t is small thing but it il
Illustrates the humor that afterwards
formed such part of his Presidential ad
ministration.
WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN GOOD LAwYERln
L asked. There is no doubt but that he
was" replied the Judge. HE had a good
practice as soon as he was admitted to the
bar, and though he was an ungaiulv fell
low, ne knew now to manage a case and a
jury. He was not so good looking a man
then as when he was President. He was
thinner and his tall, lean frame his angu-
lar body and his rugged face were strik.
lngly homely and countrified Long before
he gained any note as lawyer and poll
Springfield to undertake case for him
which was to be tried in Cincinnati.
and here occurred one of the most curious
incidents in Lincoln's history. He went
with this farmer to Cincinnati and it hap
pened that there were nine other defend
ants in the case. Edwin M Stanton. then
one of the most prominent lawyers at the
Ohio bar, was the attorney for these nine
defendants. When he saw the old farmer
come in with Lincoln. he took INN aside
and in stage whisper begged him for
Gods sake not to bring that tall. angular
gawk into the case. His presence in the
| court will ruin u.s." said Stanton. 81 have
the whole proceedings well in hand and can
do you more good without him. | beg as
you regard the interests of the case to send
your man back to Illinois, Lincoln over
heard these words.
HE WAS VERY ToUcHY
and was so much hurt about it that shortl "
after this he told his client that he would
not have anything to do with the case and
that he had better get Stanton to try it.
This the farmer refused to do. He said he
had paid for Lincoln's services and he was
bound that he should present the case to
the court and act as his attorney. He told
Stanton this and Stanton in his grand
eloquent way called Lincoln and said he
! had looked into the case and that such and
] so were the issues and that he had pre-