The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-11

member of the 51st congress. TON"
Reed would have had no trouble I'm
seeing and counting that monumental
plug.
Judge Springer of Illinois told me
that Ltncoln't hat was the most indis-
pensabie part of his whole outfit.
1T was. in fact, n sort of file rack -
said the judge. Here were all the
briefs Of his various law cases. Curl
oUsly enough. he carried the accounts
in his head and that is why he lost
so much money. Had he reversed the
process. and kept his accounts in his
hat and the cases in his head. he would
have been better off. His hat served
/ for his satchel on a journey, and ali
/ that was needed besides this were his
! saddle bags and his horse"
! Cartoonists and correspondents Of
newspapers had a good deal of snort
out of the noble tile. While Lincoln
was one Of the long time" in the I'LL
nois legislature. not only was he guyed
about there being 80 much of himself
on the ground" referring TO the size
of his feet, but he was also twitted
about there being so much of him tow
erinS above ground. In the collection
OF Lincoln relics in Washington 1 saw
some Of the cartoons that were used
in the early political campaigns. One
sketch sets forth the advantage of the
high hat MIR. Lincoln is represented
as being concealed by his admirers on
his trip to Washington. The artist pic
lures the friends encircling him. and
then portrays the towering tile some
what after the fashion of the present
Washington monument.
Lincoln used to carry a good nanv
ideas under his hat which he would
not always express on public occasions.
Some Of these reveal the inner charac-
ter OF the man. / learned the other
day from the Rev. Robert Collyer.
pastor of the Unitarian church, New
York. that Lincoln was practically a
Unitarian, and was very fond of read
ing Claiming and Parker's works.
This accounts for his broad and liberal
views optimistic to the last degree.
Two incidents in his career were
strangely prophetic. In a speech de-
livered in Philadelphia in 1861 on
Washington's birthday. from notes
carried as usual in his silk tile, he pro
nounced this striking passage: But
If this country cannot be saved with
out giving up the principle that all
men are created equal, ! would rather
be assassinated than surrender it,"
Again. in 1850 he was engaged on a
case involving the ownership of some
land on the Chicago river. During the
preceding autumn he had been defeat
ed by Douglas in the canvass for the
United states senate. In order to have
little quiet fun at his expense. the
opposing attorney, Mr.. Arnold. took
occasion TO remark:
There have been great changes in
this suit since its commencement Ev-
crything is possible in this life For
example, it Is within the range of pos
sibilty that my learned friend, Abra-
ham Lincoln may some time occupy
the presidential chair"
The remarks caused a good deal of
fun at LincCln's expense, and as he
walked away from court that evening
he little dreamed that he was one dav
to occupy a pinnacle in the nations
history as high as that Of George
Washington.
Lincoln's hat was only typical Of hts
character. He was generous and broad
In all things. 1t is n we'll known fact
that ne would invariably throw up his
brief when he had a bad case. He
would only undertake suits that he be
lieved to aim at justice. What he
would have carried I'm his trusty tile
I'm the way of the reconstruction and
regeneration Of the South. had he lived.
can only be conjectured. But it Is
safe to surmise that the hat would
have contained many n good scheme
for the welfare Of the country.
Francis Leon Chrisman.