The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-09-24
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECITALS OF CAMP AND BAT
TIE INCIDENTS.
Survivors of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents of Marches, Camp Life, Forag-
Another Lincoln Story.

ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
Another Lincoln Story.
1t would seem that even as early as
1852 Lincoln had acquired a reputa-
ton for story telling. When not busy
during the session of the court he was
"habitually whispering stories to his
neighbors, frequently to the annoyance
Of Judge Davis, who presided over the
eighth circuit" If Lincoln persisted
too long the judge would rap on the
chair and exclaim: Come, come, Mr..
Lincoln, I can't stand this! There is
no use trying to carry on two courts.
l must adjourn mine or yours, and l
think yours will have to be the one"
AS soon as the group had scattered the
judge would call one Of the men to him
and ask: What was that Lincoln was
telling?'
In his law practice Lincoln seems to
have been %singularly conscientious, his
first effort being to try to arrange mat
tiers SO as TO avoid litigation. Nor
would he assume a case that he felt
wasnot founded upon right and justice.
1--WE will not take your case" he said
to a man who had shown that by a legal
technically he could win property val
ued at $500. "You must remember that
ONE things legally right are not NOR
ally right. We will not take your case,
but will give you a little advice for
which we will charge you nothing. You
seem to be a sprightly, energetic man;
we would advise you to try your hand
at making $500 in some other way"
One Of the most interesting anec-
dotes is the one quoted from Joe JEFF
ferson's autobiography. Jefferson and
his father were playing at Springfield
during the SESSION of the Legislature,
and as there was no theater in the town
had gone to the expense of building one.
Hardly had this been done when a
religious revival broke out. The church
people condemned the theater and pre-
vailed upon the authorities to impose
a license, which was practically prohi-
bition. I'm the midst Of u trouble"
says Jefferson, "a young lawyer called
ON the managers. He had heard of the
injustice and offered, If they would
place the matter in his hands, to have
the license taken off, declaring that he
only desired to see fair play, and he
would accept no fee whether he failed
or succeeded. The young lawyer began
his harangue. He handled the subject
with tact, skill and humor, tracing the
history of the drama from the time
when Thespis acted in a cart to the
stage of to-day. He illustrated his
speech with a number Of anecdotes and
kept the council in a roar of laughter.
His good humor prevailed and the ex-
orbitant tax was taken off. The young
lawyer was Lincoln"
The notes of one of his speeches in a
Ease against a fraudulent pension agent
have been preserved. They are anus
ingly brief, as were all Lincoln's notes:
mo contract-not professional ser
vices. Unreasonable charge-money re-
tanned by def't not given to pl'f-Rev-
dictionary war-Soldiers' bleeding feet
-PTf's Observation-Disclosures leaving home
for army-Skin def't-Close."
Another one Of the anecdotes is re-
lated in connection with a case ivolv-
ing a bodily attack. Mr.. Lincoln de-
Tended, and told the jury that his eli
ent was in the fix Of a man who, in
going along the highway with a pitch
fork over his shoulder, was attacked
by a fierce dog that ran out at him from
a farmers door yard. In parrying off
the brute with the fork it's prongs stuck
into him and killed him.
What made you kill my dog?" said
the farmer.
What made him bite me?"
But why did you not go at him with
the other end Of the pitchfork?"
why did he not come at me with
his other end?" At this Mr.. Lincoln
whirled about in his long arms an i'm
aginary dog and pushed his tail end
toward the jury. This was the defense
plea of "Son assault demesne"-loosely,
that 1.-The other fellow brought on the
6ght"-quickly told and in a way tho
dullest mind would grasp and retain
McClure's Magazine.