The San Francisco call., 1896-03-04
STORIES OF LINCOLN.
The Very Last Law Case That He Was
ENGAGED In.


speaking of Lincoln's birthday" said
Senator Palmer yesterday, reminds me
that the very last case Lincoln ever tried
was one in which /, too, was engaged. II
was in Springfield, in Jane, 1860, after Mr..
Lincoln had received the Presidential
nomination. Old David Baker, who had
been Senator in the early days, had sued
the trustees of Shurtleff College. my alma
mater, for expelling his grandson, a lad
named Will Gilbert Mr.. Lincoln appeared
for the prosecution. was the college at
torney. Mr.. Lincoln came into court and
the Judge said TO him: Mr.. Lincoln, I'll
argue this case for you. You have too
much on your hands already. You haven't
any case. And he explained the law and
application.
"'Well, said Mr.. Lincoln, with smile,
don't you want to hear speech from me p
"'No,' said the Judge, and the last case
Mr.. Lincoln tried he-well, be didn't try it
at ALL"
1.-The first time l met Mr.. Lincoln was in
1889, when / went 10 Springfield to be ad-
mitted to the bar. He was already recog-
nized as a Whig leader. He wore, l re-
member, suit of linsey woolsey, that
could not have been worth more than So
even in those days. The last time saw
him was in February OF 1865. l had come
to Washington at the request OF the Gov
ernor, to complain that lllinos had been
credited with $4,000 too few troops. saw
Mr.. Lincoln one afternoon, and he asked
me to come again in the morning.
Next morning | sat in the anteroom
while several officers were relieved. AT
length was told to enter the Presidents
room. Mr.. Lincoln was in the hands of
the barber.
"sCome in, Palmer he called out, come
in. You're home folks. / can shave be-
fore YOU I couldn't before those others,
and have to do it some time
1--WE chatted about various matters, and
at length | said:
"sWell. Mr.. Lincoln, if any body had told
me that in great crisis like this the peo-
pie were going out to little one.horse
town and pick out a one-horse lawyer for
President wouldn't have believed it,
''Mr. Lincoln whirIed about in his chair,
his face white with lather, q towel under
his chin. At first l thought he was angry.
Sweeping the barber away he leaned for
ward, and placing one hand on my knee
said:
Neither would I. But it was a time
when a man with policy would have
been fatal to the country. | have never
had policy. l have simply tried to do
what seemed best each day, as each day
came.
Lincoln was not an eloquent man. He
was strong lawyer, and an ingenious one.
His stronghold was his ability to reason
logically and clearly. He was a very self
contained man, and not easily excited. l
remem ber the night when the news of his
election was received at Springfield. The
patriotic ladies of the town were serv-
ing lunch in an upper room opposite the
Capitol. Mr.. Lincoln was there, and read
the returns as they were brought to him.
The returns from New York decided the
day. Mr.. Lincoln stood up and read the
telegram. He was the calmest man in the
room. When he had finished he said
simply, Well, / must go and tell my
wife
"Mr. Lincoln never told story except
for purpose. | remember one that he
told in my presence. A certain Judge
Krum, lawyer, had been complaining of
the treatment he had received from local
Judges. He swore he meant to carry his
case to the Supreme Court and humiliate
the upstart Judge who had decided against
him. Mr.. Lincoln spoke in his quiet, dry
way:
"'That makes me think of story.
There was a certain man who dreamed
that treasure was buried, and that to
find it he had but to dig in q certain spot.
his labors were to be crowned with sue