The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-23

Speed OF kentucky. All OF the blOgrapherS
of Lincoln appear to agree as to this. The
friendship began in 1887 and lasted
throughout Lincoln's life. Mr.. Speed, who
died i'll 1882, was 4 man of great reserve,
and though often asked to write about
Lincoln always refused upon the ground
that he had not the literary capacity 10 do
justice to such a subject. He was, how
ever, consulted by the biographers care
full enough TO seek original sources of in
formation, and usually gave te such in
quirers What facts and documents he had
in his possession. Once, however in 1874,
/ think, Mr.. Speed prepared lecture on
Lincoln to be read before some of his
friends, and from this l shall, make ex-
tracts and so let him tell the particulars
of the friendship so far as possible
'In the spring of 1896, wrote Mr.. Speed,
81 first saw Abraham Lincoln. He had
been laborer, fatboatman, deputy
surveyor and for one term a member of
the Legislature. heard him spoken of
by those who knew him as a wonderful
character. They boosted that he could
outwrestle any man in the county and
could beat any lawyer in Springfield speak
ing. In 1886 he was a candidate for re
election to the Legislature, and l believe
heard the first speech he ever made at the
county seat.
An Unhappy Effort to Take Young Abe
Lincoln Down.
''At the time there We're but two parties,
Wing and Democrat. Lincoln was Wing
and the leading man upon the ticket.
was then fresh from Kentucky and had
heard many Of her great orators. 1t seemed
to me then, as it seems to me now, that |
never heard more effective speaker He
carried the crowd with him and swayed
them as he pleased. So deep an impress
sion did he make that George Forquer, a
man OF much celebrity as a sarcastic
speaker, and with a great reputation
throughout the State as an orator. rose and
asked the people to hear him. He began
his speech by saying that this young man
would have to be taken down, and he was
sorry that the task devolved upon him.
He made what was called one of his
sIasher-gaf speeches, dealing much in rid
lcuie and sarcasm. Lincoln stood near
him with his arms folded, never interrupt
ing him. When Forquer was done Lincoln
walked to the stand and replied so fully
and completely that his friends bore him
from the Courthouse on his shoulders.
$50 deep an impression did this first
conclusion now after lapse of thirty-eight
years. Said he:
The gentleman commenced his speech
by saying that this young man will have
TO be taken down, and he was sorry the
task devolved upon him. / am not so
young in years as L am in the tricks and
trades of politician, but live long or die
young, l would rather die now than, like
the gentleman, change my politics, and
simultaneously receive with the change
an office worth $4,000 and then have
to erect a lightning rod over my house to
protect guilty conscience from an Of
Tended God
ITO understand the point of this it n ust
be explained that Forquer had been
Wing, but had changed his politics ard
had been appointed Register of the Land
Office, and over his house was the only
lightning rod in the town or county Lin
coin had seen the Gghtning-rod for the first
time on the day before. Not understand
ing its properties, he made it a study that
pose, but he knew all about ii. The same
quality of mind made him look into and
understand all he saw No matter how
ridiculous his ignorance upon any subject
might make him appear, ne was never
ashamed to acknowledge it; but he imme-
dlateiy addressed himself to the task of be-
ing Ignorant no longer"
Lineoln's First Lodging in Sprin gfeId.
at the time of which Mr.. Speed speaks,
Lincoln did not live IN Springfield, nor had
he yet been admitted to the bar He was
studying Law, however, al his humble home
or the banks of the Sangamon, from books
borrowed from John T. Stuart, who was
afterward his partner. at was in the
spring of 1897 said Mr. Speed, ''and on
the very day that he obtained his license
that our intimate acquaintance began. He
had ridden into town on a borrowed horse,
with no earthly property save a pair OF
saddle-bags containing a few clothes.
was merchant at Springfield, and kept
large country store, embracing dry goods.
groceries, hardware, books, medicines,
beuclothes, mattresses, in fact everything
that the country needed. Lincoln came
into the store with his saddle bags on his
arm. He said he wanted TO buy the furni-
ture for single bed. The mattress,
blankets, sheets, coverlet and pillow, &C
cost $7. He said that perhaps that was
cheap enough; but small as the price was
he was unable 70 pay it. But if would
credit him till Christmas, and his expert
ment as lawyer was success, he would
pay then, saying In the saddest tone, If I
fail in this, do not know that can ever
pay you As | looked up at him | thought
- h@4AtA4A AAOh, bi8t -ACfSi nuW
sadder face.
81 said to him: You seem to be Sc much
panied at contracting so small debt, |
think l can suggest a plan by which you
can avoid the debt and at the same time
attain your end. | have a large room with
double bed upstairs which you are very
welcome TO share with me-.
Where is your room p said he.
Upstairs, said |, pointing TO pair of
winding stairs which led from the store to
my room.
s,'He took his saddle bags on his arm,
went upstairs. Sc. them down on the floor
and came down with the most changed
expression of countenancc. Beamipg with
pleasure, he exclaimed:
We'll, Speed, am movedI'
AT that time Mr.. Lincoln was 81 wears
old, "a lawyer without client, no money.
and all his earthly wealth consisting of the
clothes he wore anu the contents OF his
saddle-bags."
Lincoln's Rapid Rise as Lawyer and
Politician.
Mr.. Speed was Lincoln's junior by four
years, a man of some inherited means and
a merchant with a prospecting business.
They lived thus intimately and together
for four years, during which time, Lin
<.1f,1 10 60,